[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H5432-H5445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3448, SMALL BUSINESS JOB PROTECTION 
     ACT OF 1996, AND H.R. 1227, EMPLOYEE COMMUTING FLEXIBILITY ACT

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 440 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 440

       Resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution it 
     shall be in order without intervention of any point of order 
     (except those arising under section 425(a) of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974) to consider in the House 
     the bill (H.R. 3448) to provide tax relief for small 
     businesses, to protect jobs, to create opportunities, to 
     increase the take home pay of workers, and for other 
     purposes. The amendment in the nature of a substitute 
     recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in 
     the bill shall be considered as read. All points of order 
     against the committee amendment (except those arising under 
     section 425(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974) are 
     waived. The bill and the amendment shall be debatable for one 
     hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
     ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. 
     The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the 
     bill and the amendment to final passage without intervening 
     motion except one motion to recommit with or without 
     instructions. The yeas and nays shall be considered as 
     ordered on the question of passage of the bill and on any 
     conference report thereon. Clause 5(c) of rule XXI shall not 
     apply to the bill, amendments thereto, or conference report 
     thereon.
       Sec. 2. After disposition of H.R. 3448 it shall be in order 
     without intervention of any point of order (except those 
     arising under section 425(a) of the Congressional Budget Act 
     of 1974) to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 1227) to 
     amend the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 relating to the 
     payment of wages to employees who use employer owned 
     vehicles. The amendment in the nature of a substitute 
     recommended by the Committee on Economic and educational 
     Opportunities now printed in the bill, modified by the 
     amendment printed in section 3 of this resolution, shall be 
     considered as adopted. The previous question shall be 
     considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and any 
     further amendment thereto to final passage without 
     intervening motion except: (1) ninety minutes of debate on 
     the bill, which shall be equally divided and controlled by 
     the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
     Economic and Educational Opportunities; (2) the further 
     amendment printed in part 1 of the report of the Committee on 
     Rules accompanying this resolution, which may be offered only 
     by Representative Riggs of California or his designees, shall 
     be in order without intervention of any point of order 
     (except those arising under section 425(a) of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974), shall be considered as 
     read, shall be separately debatable for ninety minutes 
     equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an 
     opponent, and shall not be subject to a demand for division 
     of the question; (3) the further amendment printed in part 2 
     of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this 
     resolution, which may be offered only by Representative 
     Goodling of Pennsylvania or his designee, shall be in order 
     without intervention of any point of order (except those 
     arising under section 425 (a) of the Congressional Budget Act 
     of 1974), shall be considered as read, shall be separately 
     debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the 
     proponent and an opponent, and on which the question shall be 
     divided between the proposed subsection 3(d) and the 
     remainder of the proposed section 3(and shall not otherwise 
     be subject to a demand for division of the question); and (4) 
     one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
       Sec. 3. The amendment in the nature of a substitute 
     recommended by the Committee on Economic and Educational 
     Opportunities now printed in H.R. 1227 is modified by the 
     following amendment: Immediately after the enacting clause 
     insert the following new section (and redesignate succeeding 
     sections accordingly):
       ``Section 1. This act may be cited as the `Employee 
     Commuting flexibility Act of 1996'.''.
       Sec. 4. (a) In the engrossment of H.R. 3448, the Clerk 
     shall--
       (1) await the disposition of H.R. 1227 pursuant to section 
     2 of this resolution;
       (2) add the text of H.R. 1227, as passed by the House, as 
     new matter at the end of H.R. 3448;
       (3) conform the title of H.R. 3448 to reflect the addition 
     of the text of H.R. 1227 to the engrossment;
       (4) assign appropriate designations to titles within the 
     engrossment; and
       (5) conform provisions for short titles within the 
     engrossment.
       (b) Upon the addition of the text of H.R. 1227 to the 
     engrossment of H.R. 3448, H.R. 1227 shall be laid on the 
     table.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] is 
recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, for 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 purposes of debate 
only.
  (Mr. SOLOMON asked and was given permission to include extraneous 
material.)
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, this rule is a little different from the 
usual rule we bring to the House floor. Today we have one rule which 
makes in order two separate bills.
  The first bill is a bill out of the Committee on Ways and Means, H.R. 
3448, which provides a series of tax benefits to small business.
  The second piece of legislation, H.R. 1227, is a bill out of the 
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, the Employee 
Commuting Flexibility Act. This bill will clarify confusion about 
situations where employees

[[Page H5433]]

use the vehicles of their employers for transportation to and from 
work. This second bill will also serve as the vehicle for two 
amendments specified in the rule.
  One of these amendments will be offered by the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Riggs], the gentleman from New York [Mr. Quinn], the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. English], the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Martini], and others who have taken the lead on the 
majority side of the aisle in the effort to increase the minimum wage.
  The amendment provides for a two-step increase in the minimum wage, 
from the current $4.25 an hour to $4.75 an hour beginning on July 1, 
1996, just a couple of months away. Then it raises to $5.15 per hour 1 
year later. That is a 90-cent increase. The Riggs-Quinn-English-Martini 
amendment will be debatable for 90 minutes.
  The second amendment will be offered by the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling], and will be debatable for 1 hour. It 
includes provisions establishing, and these are very, very important, 
Mr. Speaker, a tip credit, and providing for an opportunity wage, a 
training wage. It also includes an exemption for small businesses which 
will be subject to a separate vote under the provisions of this rule.
  Mr. Speaker, this rule waives points of order to allow for the 
consideration of both of these bills, but it does not waive any points 
of order to protect an unfunded mandate that may be included in either 
of these bills. In other words, that provision is not protected from a 
point of order.
  This means that the House will have to follow the procedures set 
forth in the unfunded mandates law that we all voted for back last 
year, and have a separate debate and a separate vote on whether to 
consider an amendment against which an unfunded mandate point of order 
is properly raised. There will be someone from this side of the aisle 
that is going to raise that point of order at the appropriate time.

  Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Ways and Means bill, like almost every 
tax bill for many years, will not be thrown open to further amendments 
on the House floor. This long-standing policy is designed to keep the 
Internal Revenue Code from becoming any more cluttered than it is 
already with special interest provisions.
  Also, amendments offered on short notice on the House floor might 
turn out to have unintended consequences which could not be fully 
appreciated without adequate time to research those issues. That is why 
we have not opened up Committee on Ways and Means measures to the Tax 
Code in years past under either Republican or Democrat control.
  The Committee on Ways and Means bill will be subject to 1 hour of 
debate, and the minority is protected in its right to offer a final 
amendment and a motion to recommit with instructions.
  Mr. Speaker, while Chairman Archer has stated that there is no 
increase in income tax rates included in this bill, a waiver of the 
rule requiring a three-fifths vote to increase income tax rates has 
been included out of an abundance of caution. Different people have 
interpreted the three-fifths vote requirement differently, and this 
rule errs on the side of caution.
  Now with regard to the second bill, H.R. 1227, reported by the 
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, there will be a 
total of 90 minutes of debate on that bill. In addition to the two 
amendments I already mentioned, there will be a motion to recommit with 
or without instructions.
  Finally, the rule provides that after the House has completed action 
on each of these two bills, the Clerk, in the engrossment of the Ways 
and Means Committee bill, will add in the text of the Opportunities 
Committee bill as passed, so that only one bill will be sent to the 
Senate. In other words, they will be married together and sent over to 
the Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, both of these bills made in order by this rule present 
important issues which need to be debated on this floor and in this 
House today.
  As one who owned and ran a small business before I came to this 
Congress 18 years ago, I am particularly pleased that we are finally 
making an effort to give some tax relief to the hard-working people who 
run these businesses and who provide jobs.

  Mr. Speaker, these small business provisions include an increase in 
the amount small businesses can expense, which will make it easier to 
start up and expand a small business. The provisions also include a 
modification of the rules governing subchapter S corporations. If any 
of my colleagues have been in business, they know that that is 
extremely important to small businessmen. For example, it will increase 
from 35 to 75 the number of shareholders an S corporation may have.
  The small business provision also includes pension simplification 
provisions which are intended to strengthen and to encourage retirement 
plan provisions for employees of small businesses. There are several 
other provisions designed to encourage and protect jobs in this 
measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I represent a rural district that has many, many, many 
small businesses. As a matter of fact, we do not have too many of the 
large 500 corporations. They are an important part of the economy in my 
district, and I know how difficult it is to start up and maintain a 
small business. As a matter of fact, many small businesses fail before 
the first year is even out.

                              {time}  1715

  You have to ask why. It is not because of a lack of acumen by these 
small businessmen. But it is because of an unfair tax law and heavy 
regulatory burdens that eat up so much available operating capital that 
they just cannot meet the expenses in those early years.
  But even with all the difficulties, small businesses create more jobs 
than any other types of businesses, much more than the Fortune 500 
corporations. In fact, small businesses account for almost 75 percent 
of every new job in America every single year. That means every kid 
graduating from high school, every student graduating from college, all 
of those new jobs, 75 percent are created by these small 
entrepreneurial start-up businesses.
  So, Mr. Speaker, these small business tax provisions do not just help 
small businesses, they help everyone by encouraging job growth.
  Let me just say in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the 
rule we are considering now, and I would urge support of both bills the 
Committee on Rules has made in order. Let us get on with it and give 
the small businessmen in this country some vital relief that they have 
needed for so long.
  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, I thank my colleague from New York 
[Mr. Solomon] for yielding me the time.
  House Resolution 440 is a modified closed rule that provides for the 
consideration of two bills, H.R. 3448, the Small Business Job 
Protection Act of 1996, and H.R. 1227, the Employee Commuting 
Flexibility Act of 1996.
  The rule makes in order no amendments to H.R. 3448. It permits only 
two floor amendments to H.R. 1227, including an amendment that would 
gradually increase the minimum wage from the current $4.25 an hour to 
$5.15 an hour on July 1, 1997.
  I congratulate the House leadership for finally permitting a vote on 
the House floor to increase the minimum wage.
  This long overdue change will increase wages for those at the bottom 
of the pay scale. The minimum wage has not been raised since 1991. As a 
consequence, a worker making the minimum wage receives a little more 
than one-third the average American's hourly earnings. Adjusted for 
inflation, the minimum wage is near the lowest level in the last 40 
years.
  Our working poor deserve better.
  I have met some of these people--one step away from poverty--in soup 
lines and emergency feeding programs. Who is fighting for them? They 
have no unions. They have no spokesmen. They are not organized. They 
have only the U.S. Congress to protect their basic human dignity.
  That's why we in the House have to pass this, today.
  I wish that we could have debated this last week, or last month. 
There is no excuse for the delay. This issue is too important to 
Members of Congress

[[Page H5434]]

and to the people we represent to be stifled.
  To my bold colleagues on the other side of the aisle who supported 
increasing the minimum wage and who brought about the opportunity for 
this debate, I thank you.
  Mr. Speaker, though I am grateful that at long last the House is 
considering raising the minimum wage, I must express dismay at the rule 
governing the process.
  The rule is a sort of patchwork quilt that makes in order various 
bills and amendments and patches them together into one measure. We've 
got an amendment on minimum wage. We've got a bill on employer-owned 
vehicles for commuting. Throw in some tax provisions from another bill 
and add an amendment printed in the Rules Committee report. Patch them 
all together and out comes one bill, ready to send to the Senate.
  The Democrats have argued for a straight vote for the minimum wage. 
Up or down. This is a simple, straightforward matter. And now that we 
have been given a vote on the minimum wage, the issue still gets 
fuzzed.
  This is not the way to treat something like the minimum wage which is 
so important not only to our low-income workers, but all who are 
concerned with fairness in the labor marketplace. This rule is a sign 
of only the most grudging support for the poorest and neediest of our 
workers.
  In fact, the rule does not even guarantee a vote on the minimum wage 
because it leaves in place one more hurdle. Before we get to the 
minimum wage, the majority can force a vote on the question of 
consideration to prevent the amendment from coming up.
  I am also disappointed that the rule permits so few amendments. 
During Rules Committee consideration, Democrats attempted to make in 
order other worthwhile provisions. One would permit taxpayers to deduct 
up to $5,000 a year for the cost of college or job training. Another 
amendment would allow penalty-free withdrawals from an IRA for people 
who have been unemployed for a long time. Another amendment would 
exclude from taxation employer-provided graduate education. All of 
these attempts were defeated along party-line votes.
  Finally, I call to the attention of my colleagues the provision in 
House Resolution 440 which waives clause 5 of rule 21 requiring a 
three-fifths vote on measures raising taxes. This rule was written by 
the Republican leadership with great fanfare at the beginning of this 
Congress as a demonstration of their commitment to holding the line on 
new taxes. However, since it was established, the rule has been 
consistently waived. By again waiving this rule today, we are exposing 
it as an empty public relations gesture.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for us to proceed on the minimum wage 
increase, but not under this rule, which I must oppose.
  Decent and honest working men and women should be able to earn a 
decent and honest living wage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Indiana [Mr. Burton], one of the outstanding Members of this body 
since he came here back in, I believe, 1980.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the kind remarks of 
my colleague, the chairman of the Committee on Rules.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the things that bothered me last year when the 
President vetoed the reconciliation bill was he gave a reason that I 
thought was just way off base, and that reason was that the 936 
program, which gives tax credits to companies that go down to Puerto 
Rico and create jobs, was totally out of line.
  There are companies in Puerto Rico today, pharmaceutical companies 
and others, that are getting as much as $200,000 in tax credits to hire 
one person making $50,000.
  Let me repeat that. They are getting a $200,000 tax credit for some 
jobs where they only pay $50,000. And for the past 20 years, they were 
supposed to create jobs in Puerto Rico. They created 100,000 jobs, many 
of those people came from the United States to go down there. There 
were 100,000 jobs created. In the last 20 years, they have not created 
one more job, and we continue to give these huge tax credits. It is 
about $5 billion over a 5- to 6-year period; $5,000 million. These 
corporations do not want to give up these tax credits.
  Now, we wanted to use these tax credit moneys as offsets for these 
other things in these bills so there would be some balance. In other 
words, we were going to do away with, phase out the 936 program, and 
use those tax credits, those moneys to offset other expenses in the 
bills that we are talking about here today. The President has said once 
again that would be a reason for him to veto it.
  My Democrat colleagues talk about corporate welfare all the time. 
They say that they are against corporate welfare, and here is a classic 
example of corporate welfare that we could do something about and the 
President says he is going to veto it because of this issue.
  Can you imagine, $200,000 in tax credits for one $50,000 jobs, $5 
billion over 5 to 6 years, and they are not creating one job, and that 
is what they are supposed to do.
  In addition to that, any money that they make in Puerto Rico, if they 
invest in Puerto Rican banks, it is tax exempt. They do not pay any 
taxes on it.
  So I just would like to say to my colleagues, I hope that they will 
talk to the administration, I am talking about the Democrats and 
Republicans, because this is one area where we could save $5 billion. 
And if we were creating a lot of new jobs and it was not costing an arm 
and leg, if there was another way to handle it, maybe with some wage 
credits, I would say OK. But to give $5 billion, to give $200,000 in 
tax credits for a $50,000 job, when they are not creating one 
additional job in Puerto Rico, is just dead wrong.
  So I think that we ought to talk to the administration. The 936 
provision phaseout is in the bill. It ought to stay in the bill, and we 
ought to make sure this is not a reason for the President to veto it.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Michigan [Mr. Bonior], one of our very distinguished leaders.
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, now I have seen it all. Now I can honestly say I have no 
idea what planet the Gingrich Republicans are living on. For months 
now, Democrats have been trying to raise the minimum wage. Five 
separate times we have offered a bill to raise the minimum wage, a 
clean bill.
  Five times Newt Gingrich has blocked it. But now that public pressure 
is finally building, prompting them to act, now that they cannot block 
it or bury it or duck it or delay it any longer, we have a bill before 
us today that does not just raise the minimum wage, it actually repeals 
it for millions of Americans. This is just another attempt by Newt 
Gingrich and Dick Armey to kill the minimum wage.
  When our Republican colleagues brought this to the floor, they 
understood the complexity of this rule. When are they going to learn? 
The American people do not want us to cut Medicare, they do not want us 
to cut Medicaid or student loans, and they do not want us to repeal the 
minimum wage. But we have before us today a rule that uses legislative 
sleight of hand, it bogs it down, it larges it up, and it slips a 
poison pill that will kill the hopes of raising the minimum wage for up 
to 10 million people.
  So it is no wonder that two-thirds of the American people say that 
they are out of touch. This is an extreme act by an extreme Gingrich 
Congress that absolutely has no respect for working people and the work 
they do.
  These folks work hard in this country, and they work some very tough 
jobs, and they do it because they want to be good role models for this 
kids, and they do it because they want to make something for themselves 
in this world. But instead of rewarding hard work, instead of rewarding 
their decision to choose work over welfare, and that is what we have 
been talking about here passionately for years, the Republicans are 
trying to give them a pay cut.
  Just yesterday we found out that some of the most profitable 
companies in America are giving contracts to garment sweatshops that 
refuse to pay overtime and refuse to pay the minimum wage. But instead 
of coming to

[[Page H5435]]

the floor today and condemning that type of action, you are actually 
trying to pass a bill that will encourage more of it and take literally 
millions of people off the minimum wage, will not even give them that.
  Mr. Speaker, sweatshops, slave wages, and pay cuts may be Newt 
Gingrich's idea of a revolution, but it is no way, it is no way, to 
build a better America. Let us have some respect for the hard work that 
these people do, and let us do what 85 percent of the American people 
want us to do. Let us have a clean vote. Raise the minimum wage. Vote 
against this rule, send it back to the Committee on Rules, and tell the 
Gingrich Republicans, no poison pills, no pay cuts; raise the minimum 
wage.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the previous speaker said now he has heard everything. 
Well, let me tell you, now I have heard everything.
  You know, there are many of us that would like to vote for the 
minimum wage increase, but we want to do something about relieving the 
tax burden and the regulatory burdens off the backs of small business. 
The backs of small business are what is so important here. Here we have 
legislation that is going to do just that, and include the minimum 
wage? Let me tell you something: Now I have heard everything. Boy.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from 
Sanibel, FL [Mr. Goss], a member of the Committee on Rules.
  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Glens Falls, the 
distinguished Chairman of the Rules Committee Mr. Solomon, for yielding 
me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule. It's a carefully 
structured rule that will fulfill promises made to have a debate on 
several issues, including: measures to promote small business jobs, to 
clarify the rules regarding employees commuting in employer-owned 
vehicles, and to address the minimum wage. The latter has received the 
most attention, and I would like to take a moment to discuss it from 
the perspective of southwest Florida.
  Those seeking an increase in the minimum wage have yet to recognize 
the unintentional damage it will do to many Americans working at the 
low-end of the pay scale. Despite the rhetoric, raising the minimum 
wage as proposed will not create a living wage. Not even close. What it 
will do is force many Americans out of work and put up new barriers for 
those people seeking employment. Specifically a major concern is that 
seniors would be hit especially hard by an increase in the minimum 
wage.
  In southwest Florida, many retirees work part time at or near the 
minimum wage to supplement their retirement income. We have been 
notified many of these jobs would be eliminated should minimum wage be 
increased, leaving these seniors without the income that they need to 
make ends meet.
  Additionally, the inflationary pressures that this increase causes 
will erode the financial stability of the millions of seniors living on 
fixed incomes.
  Further, another concern is that in Florida, like most of the Nation, 
small businesses create the vast majority of new jobs. And despite our 
good efforts to help small businesses in this Congress, an increase in 
the minimum wage will financially strap the very employers that are the 
engine for new jobs.

  Finally, I am concerned that some of this debate is rooted in 
politics rather than substance. To those in the minority, I would point 
out that this issue never came to the floor when they ran this House.
  There was not one hearing in committee nor one vote on the floor. 
Indeed, the same President who is now demanding a minimum wage hike was 
arguing against one when he took office in 1993. The only hike he 
fought for then was a tax hike, the largest in History. Our real goal 
on the majority side has been to figure out the best way to help at-
risk workers in our economy. Rather than shrinking the job market, we 
need to fix our tax structure so that people who are working can keep 
more of their own money. Efforts to reform the earned income tax credit 
and the payroll tax would more effectively benefit the families we are 
trying to help.
  We know taxes consume an ever-increasing proportion of Americans' 
incomes--a significant factor in the decline in purchasing power of 
hard working Americans.
  So today I urge my colleagues to reject the big government big union 
solution. Let's not hold back Americans trying to enter the work force; 
vote against hiking the minimum wage, and vote for job creation and 
support for small business. And support the rule that will allow us to 
make those choices.

                              {time}  1730

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Missouri [Mr. Clay].
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. For a year 
and a half Democrats in the House, in the Senate, and the Clinton 
administration have been calling for an increase in the minimum wage, 
and the overwhelming majority of Americans support our efforts.
  The Republican majority leader said he would oppose the minimum wage 
increase with every fiber of his being. The Republican majority whip 
proclaimed that minimum wage families do not exist. And the chairman of 
the Republican Conference said that he would commit suicide before 
allowing a minimum wage increase.
  Nevertheless, public opinion and the persistence of the Democratic 
Party, with the help of a few of our Republican colleagues, have 
brought us to this debate today to decide whether there will be a raise 
for hard-working, low-income individuals.
  Amazingly, however, the rule that the Republican leadership has 
presented to this House denies us an up or down vote on a clean minimum 
wage increase and denies Democrats an opportunity to offer a single 
amendment. Only amendments offered by Republicans are allowed.
  As the ranking Democrat on the committee of jurisdiction, I sought 
permission to offer three amendments, including an amendment to simply 
allow a clean vote on the minimum wage. I also asked the committee to 
allow me to offer an amendment that would remedy problems with the 
employee commuting bill. That bill would effectively eliminate the 
right of workers to choose how they will continue to work and what they 
can do while they are commuting.
  Unless H.R. 1227 is fixed, employers may require employees to work 
without being paid for their services. At a time of unprecedented 
corporate profits and rapidly declining wages, this legislation would 
allow employers to steal both time and money from their workers.
  Mr. Speaker, after much procrastination, the leadership of the House, 
under a cynical procedure, has now consented to vote on a measure to 
let workers get a long-needed raise. But there is no need to use this 
as a vehicle for raising the minimum wage. By defeating the previous 
question on the rule, this House can achieve what the American people 
are asking of us.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. SKAGGS. Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hobson). The gentleman will state his 
inquiry.
  Mr. SKAGGS. Mr. Speaker, I apologize, I may not have caught this when 
the rule was read to the House. It is my understanding that the 
underlying legislation includes a retroactive tax increase in 
connection with repeal of section 936. Is there a provision in this 
rule that waives the new rule that was so sanctimoniously passed at the 
beginning of this session prohibiting retroactive tax increases?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The rule waives all such points of order 
against consideration.
  Mr. SKAGGS. So it does waive that prohibition against retroactive tax 
provisions; is that correct, Mr. Speaker?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. It waives all such points of order.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
just to point out that there are no income tax rate increases in this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, my 
good friend, Mr. Gekas.

[[Page H5436]]

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, on the issue of the minimum wage, I stand 
with the President of the United States. I support his concept 
enunciated in 1996 and when this election cycle began to bring 
additional earning power, as he saw it, to the minimum wage community 
of our country. I stand with the President.


                         parliamentary inquiry

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman may state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, am I permitted to go to the other podium now 
when I finish here?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman may select his own place to 
speak.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, on the issue of the minimum wage, I stand 
with the President of the United States and oppose the elevation of the 
minimum wage, because the President has said, and I stand with him, 
before this election cycle began, before the rhetoric of the election 
year came down upon us, that he opposed the minimum wage because it is 
not the way to increase the earning power of the minimum wage 
community. So I stand with the President in opposing the elevation of 
the minimum wage.
  Mr. Speaker, can you tell me where I stand? I stood over there, I 
have stood here. I stand for something about the minimum wage. The 
President does not know where he stands, I do not know which podium to 
use and where I stand. I think I am going to stand and stand and stand 
until I cannot stand it any more.
  Mr. Speaker, the parts of the minimum wage that are sought to be 
increased are increases in the cost of living for many individuals, 
including our senior citizens community. Every time the minimum wage 
goes up or artificial income is created in any way, the prices at the 
supermarket also go up. And who are the first to suffer the 
consequences of that? The senior citizens of our country, the people on 
fixed incomes.
  I stand with the senior citizens. Whether it is at this podium, I 
stand with the senior citizens.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Montana [Mr. Williams].
  Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule. My 
colleagues, if this rule passes, we have to understand what the results 
of that might be.
  If this rule passes it may be that many farm workers, migrant workers 
in this country, for the first time, would not even earn a minimum 
wage. The minimum wage would be stricken for many migrant workers in 
this country.
  If this rule passes, it is likely that two-thirds of the businesses 
in America would be exempt from paying minimum wage increases to their 
employees.
  If this rule passes, waiters and waitresses, laboring in America's 
restaurants, will be denied any increase in the minimum wage.
  If this rule passes, many of the long traditional American 
protections, called child labor, will be removed from Federal law.
  If this rule passes, it is likely that 18- and 19-year-old workers 
will work for no increase in the minimum wage.
  Surely our Republican colleagues have not reached such an extreme 
that they would remove minimum wage protections entirely, no minimum 
wage guarantees, for millions of people in the American work force.
  We all agree in a free marketplace, but the American people have long 
understood that an appropriate government tension is necessary if the 
free marketplace is to appropriately meet the needs of its workers. 
That is what minimum wage has done through the years.
  This Republican Congress is about to pass a rule that will allow 
those things which I have delineated to happen in this country, except 
for one thing. The President of the United States has yesterday sent a 
letter to this House saying if we do these things, I will veto this 
bill.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time we have 
remaining on either side?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] 
has 14\1/4\ minutes remaining, and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hall] 
has 18 minutes remaining.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from New York [Mr. Schumer].
  (Mr. SCHUMER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, the Republicans could not do it clean. They 
knew that the American people, over 80 percent, wanted an increase in 
the minimum wage law, and what they should have done is simply said 
they made a mistake and, yes, we are going to pass it.
  But because they are so wrapped up in the throes of certain special 
interest groups that are eager to pay no minimum wage or eliminate the 
minimum wage, they had to bollix it up. And what they did is end up 
taking one step forward and two steps back, for while they do raise the 
minimum wage in this proposal, they take it away from anywhere from 3 
to 10 million.
  Does anyone in America believe that we should remove the minimum wage 
in the garment industry sweatshops, with industrial homework, with farm 
workers? With the Goodling amendment that is what their proposal will 
do.
  As a result, they cannot come forward, those on the other side in the 
Republican Party, and say that they are for work and say that they are 
for justice and say that they are for fairness. Instead, the only thing 
they will be able to say after tonight's exercise is that they cared 
more about the selfish few who are unwilling to pay a mere $5.15 an 
hour for the worst and hardest kind of labor in America than they cared 
about making the American people who work hard day in, day out, those 
at the bottom end of the wage scale, receive a decent wage and move off 
welfare and on to work.
  Ladies and gentlemen, if we want to look at the beginning of the end 
of the Republican majority in this body, look at this bill. Even on an 
issue where they know that they are wrong, they cannot do it straight, 
they cannot do it clean, and they cave in to special interests.

                              {time}  1745

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Texas, Mr. Gene Green.
  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this 
partially open rule, not in the effect that it has on the bill that 
affects small business and the tax cuts but the effect the rule has on 
the minimum wage bill.
  After months of Democratic attempts to have a vote on raising the 
minimum wage, the House Republican leaders have at last allowed us a 
vote. This minimum wage bill, though, let me point out to the chairman 
of the Committee on Rules, never had a hearing in the Committee on 
Economic and Educational Opportunities, even though you gave credit to 
it earlier, we never had a public hearing, never had a vote on this 
bill. So now it is out here today but without having the committee hear 
the bill.
  We should not be fooled by this sham of a bill. This could be April 
Fool's for the American workers. Now you see the wage increased, but 
now you do not. House Republicans have attached special interest 
provisions to exempt millions of people from the minimum wage. Now you 
see it; now you do not.
  Working American families expect a clean up-and-down vote on a 
minimum wage increase, including those that are covered today, but not 
taking millions out of protections for minimum wage. Instead, they are 
caving in to the special interest groups. The restaurant lobby, they 
get to freeze their minimum wage for tip workers.
  There is a training wage. We have heard this before. In 1990, there 
was an experiment with the training wage. It did not work. It did not 
work then and it will not work now. Also the amendment to exempt 
millions of workers who will lose minimum wage and fair labor standard 
protections. American families are working harder. We see the disparity 
in the income. The rich are getting richer, and we are trying to keep 
the poor from getting poorer but

[[Page H5437]]

not with this bill. It is tough to get ahead when you cannot make 
enough money in your pockets to put food on you table.
  This minimum wage legislation began in 1938 with 25 cents an hour. I 
have to admit that if it had taken the Republican votes to increase it 
over the years, we would not have had any increases.
  I ask my colleagues not to allow millions of working American 
families who now earn $4.25 an hour to say, well, I am going to get an 
increase. No, you are not, not if you work in a business that earns 
less than $500,000.
  Do not give it to them with one hand and take it away with another.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I am surprised at my friend, the previous 
speaker, because as I look at the record, he is complaining about the 
fact that we are bringing this bill up without previous hearings. He 
happened to vote in the last several weeks not to have public hearings 
when they tried to force a minimum wage on the floor. He did it on the 
debt limit bill. He did it on the public housing bill. He did it on the 
Marshall service bill. He did it on the Utah wilderness bill, as did 
most Democrats on that side of the aisle.
  Let me say one other thing, the Parliamentarian will tell you that 
this amendment that he is referring to still includes and continues to 
apply to child labor laws.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Huntington 
Beach, CA [Mr. Rohrabacher].
  (Mr. ROHRABACHER asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a reluctant supporter of the 
rule before us today because the bill, H.R. 3448, repeals a part of 
Ronald Reagan's legacy, a tax provisions that encourages the creation 
of employee owned companies where the employees own a majority of the 
stock in the company. Employee ownership, I call it workers capitalism, 
because it turns laborers into employee owners and gives them a stake 
in the American dream.
  We are talking about the opportunity of working Americans to share in 
the profit and success of their company and an opportunity they do not 
have as hourly wage earners.
  Employee ownership is a Republican idea. It is a Democrat idea. It is 
as American an idea as homesteading and homeownership. Years ago 
President Ronald Reagan teamed up with Democrat Senator Russell Long to 
craft laws promoting employee ownership. They set aside their 
partisanship to work together because employee ownership is a great 
idea.
  Now we are dismantling part of that great idea. H.R. 3448 repeals the 
section 133 ESOP lender interest exclusion. This rule denies us the 
opportunity to change this unfortunate decision to diminish the 
incentives for employee ownership in our society.
  I would like to remind my Republican colleagues that we are losing 
something we fought so desperately to keep only a few years ago. 
Chairman Rostenkowski proposed with doing away with the ESOP lender 
interest exclusion in 1989. It was Speaker Gingrich, the gentleman from 
Texas, Mr. Armey, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. DeLay, and myself and 
other members of the conservative opportunity society who pounded our 
fists on the table and said, no. You do not dare, because this is not 
corporate welfare. It is not pork. It is an incentive to help working 
people capture a piece of the American dream.
  It is ironic and more than a little frustrating that a Republican 
Congress is now voting to repeal an employee ownership provision that 
we fought so hard to protect only a few years ago.
  I urge my colleagues on the Committee on Ways and Means to take this 
issue to heart and rally to the cause of employee ownership. The ESOP 
community would like to extend the benefits of employee ownership to 
sub S corporations, for instance. There are more than a dozen sub S 
provisions in H.R. 3448, but no employee ownership provision.
  This bill has an estate tax provision but no provision to help 
smallest States transfer stock to ESOP's. Hopefully the next tax bill 
will contain such provisions.
  We should be expanding the opportunities for employee ownership, not 
eliminating them as this rule and this bill would do.
  I have a dilemma. H.R. 3448 also contains many small business tax 
provisions that I support. So I will cast my vote in favor of this rule 
with reluctance but hope that in the future the Republicans and 
Democrats can work together to expand the very basic fundamental dream 
of America, and that is for all Americans to have the opportunity to 
own their own home and, yes, own part of their own business.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton].
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this deceptive 
rule. This rule does not provide a free and fair vote on the minimum 
wage. This rule will permit matter other than the minimum wage increase 
to be part of the vote. That is not a vote on the minimum wage. This 
rule would permit sweeping exemptions. Many who favor the minimum wage 
increase do not favor these exemptions. That is not a vote on the 
minimum wage. The American people have demanded, and the Republican 
leadership had promised a vote on the minimum wage. This rule provides 
for a vote on a disguised and costumed minimum wage. This rule reflects 
a promise that was made and not kept. It is clear that the Republican 
leadership will do anything to deny a straight-forward, up or down vote 
on increasing the minimum wage.
  Once again, they have chosen to hurt millions of low-wage workers in 
order to give a break to big business. Those of us who support a clean 
vote on the minimum wage want simply to help pave a path to the future 
for the poverty level workers of America. Those who oppose a clean vote 
want to keep those workers trapped in the past. Supporters of a clean 
vote want to open doors for the millions who do not want charity but a 
chance to earn a livable wage. Opponents of a clean vote want to slam 
the door of opportunity and keep it tightly closed. We want to 
mainstream workers. They want to continue their extreme ways. The 
Goodling amendment, permitted by this rule, would lower wages for 
workers who now earn the current minimum wage. Instead of increasing 
the wage, this amendment decreases the minimum wage.
  During this debate, both sides will focus on what they perceive to be 
the facts of minimum wage. I hope neither side will forget the faces of 
minimum wage. The faces are the children of minimum wage workers, those 
young people who have been pushed into poverty, even though their 
parents work. The faces are millions of women, many of them single 
heads of households, who have been thrust into a spinning spiral 
because it takes a miracle to make ends meet on today's minimum wage.
  The faces are the minimum wage men, far too many of whom are angry 
and frustrated because it is impossible to be a proud father on $8,400 
dollars a year.
  The faces are the families that do not function because the minimum 
wage provides a little something to wear and a little something to eat, 
but not much more. In the cool comfort of these hallowed halls, we will 
argue the facts, but as we do, try to imagine the faces. For many, this 
issue is about more than opinions and numbers. All of us should want 
what is best for Americans. What is best for Americans is a job, at a 
fair wage, with dignity and respect--a livable wage. Reject this rule. 
It is a cruel hoax.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Massachusetts [Mr. Markey].
  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, Candidate Dole said earlier this year that 
he did not realize that jobs and trade and what makes America work 
would become a big issue in this campaign. A few weeks ago the House 
Republican majority whip claimed that families trying to live on $4.25 
an hour do not really exist. Just what planet are these people on? It 
appears that the Republican leadership's social circle is restricted to 
those who are already doing quite well, nicely, thank you. In fact, 
according to this week's Forbes magazine, the bible of the Republican 
Party, the median income of the CEO's, of the 800 biggest companies in 
America was $1.5 million, up 15 percent from last year.
  When it comes to salaries, Republicans apparently subscribe to the

[[Page H5438]]

Forbes doctrine: more dough for the CEO, but not even a dollar if you 
are blue collar, while corporate chieftains may be breaking out the 
champagne and caviar in the boardrooms this year, millions of American 
families are still scraping to make ends meet.
  Indeed, the Republican majority leader has promised corporate America 
that he will resist an increase in the minimum wage with every fiber in 
his being. It is just like Harry Truman always said, the Republican 
Party supports a minimum wage, the lower the minimum the better for the 
working people in this country. Unfortunately, the GOP leadership has 
now loaded up the bill with a grabbag of back-door bennies for their 
broadroom buddies.
  They just cannot stop themselves. Clearly, Republican leaders in 
Washington are out of touch with the needs of ordinary Americans.
  Yesterday this body voted with much fanfare to repeal the gas tax. 
That is $15 for each American. The minimum wage is $1,800 a year for 
working Americans.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Miami, FL [Mr. Diaz-Balart], a member of the Committee on Rules.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of 
Committee on Rules for yielding time to me.
  I was listening to this debate. I had to come down because of this, I 
did not think that it was on the same rule that we worked on in the 
Committee on Rules that this debate was on. Apparently there is just a 
tremendous misconception or purposeful falsehoods being thrown by the 
other side. I do not really know if some may really believe what they 
are saying.
  Let us be clear as to what this rule permits. It permits an upon-or-
down vote on an amendment that would be introduced by the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Riggs] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Quinn] 
to raise the minimum wage from $4.25 an hour to $5.15 an hour. That is 
a fact, cannot be denied.
  The Democrats time after time after time again on procedural motions, 
they propose nongermane amendments or on questions on the previous 
question, motions to move the previous question, and they say that they 
are votes on the minimum wage, when they are not votes on the minimum 
wage many times. This is a vote on an increase in the minimum wage from 
$4.25 to $5.15. I want all my friends on the other side who are going 
to vote no on this rule to know that, when they vote no on this rule, 
they will be voting against the minimum wage. None of these falsehoods 
that are being thrown over now can cover that fact.
  If my colleagues vote against this rule, the Democrats, even though 
they have presented all those nongermane motions before to say that 
they want to support the minimum wage, even though when they had the 
majority they did not propose the minimum wage, and when they had the 
Presidency and the majority they did not propose an increase in the 
minimum wage, today despite the fact that our leadership opposes an 
increase in the minimum wage, they are permitting an up or down vote on 
it.
  So I just want my colleagues to know, despite all these speeches we 
have heard here which I thought were on another bill and on another 
rule, what they will be voting on, and they cannot hide it anymore, 
they cannot hide it. I want it to be clear.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
New Jersey [Mr. Pallone].
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, what a cruel hoax the last speaker from the 
other side of the aisle is trying to pull on the American people. The 
choice here essentially under this rule is either vote for the minimum 
wage increase for some workers and at the same time eliminate minimum 
wage protection for probably the vast majority of those 10 million or 
so Americans that are now receiving the minimum wage, or simply vote 
the rule down and we will not bring up the minimum wage at all.
  That is exactly the cruel hoax we are playing on the American people 
today. What the Republican leadership is doing is setting up this bill 
for defeat because they know that, if they have this exemption under 
the Goodling amendment that is going to take out so many people from 
any minimum wage protection, they know that the President cannot sign 
that bill. So they are making it impossible for a real minimum wage 
increase for the average American worker to be brought up on this floor 
and to be passed by both Houses and go to the President. It is a hoax 
because they are opposed to minimum wage protection. They do not care 
about the little guy.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute and 10 seconds to the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Roth].

                              {time}  1800

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ROTH. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin 
for yielding.
  The vote on the limitation of the minimum wage, the $500,000 cap, 
that is an amendment that is made in order. So we get the vote on the 
minimum wage, up or down, and if our colleagues do not want to limit, 
vote for the limiting amendment, they vote ``no'' on the amendment.
  Do my colleagues have it clear now?
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, I want to say that the chairman of the 
Committee on Rules is the most decent, fairest, the most patriotic 
Member we have in this body, and I appreciate him yielding me this 
time.
  This is a good rule, but I have to say something for people who 
cannot speak for themselves, and no one will speak for them on the 
floor of this House.
  When people come here and say they are going to repeal 936, what they 
are doing really is hurting the people of Puerto Rico who no one is 
speaking for. Three-hundred thousand jobs are going to be lost if we do 
that because one out of every three jobs in Puerto Rico is due to 936. 
This is going to force thousands of people from Puerto Rico back to New 
York, New Jersey, and Florida and other places.
  As Paul Harvey said, ``What is the rest of the story?'' The rest of 
the story is that 936 really is a free enterprise zone for the people 
of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's current per capita income is $6,500, 
roughly half of that of the poorest of States in the United States. If 
we eliminate 936, the economic incentives it provides for the island, 
this island is going to suffer tremendously economically. I do not 
think we want to do that.
  The cost of these changes could very easily exceed the very modest 
savings we are going to get from eliminating these incentives. Over and 
above the profound economic impetus that 936 gives to Puerto Rico, this 
is going to be devastating to the island's economy, and I ask that we 
revisit and look at that 936 repeal.
  Before I came to Congress, I owned and operated a small business in 
Appleton, WI. I know firsthand that small businesses in this country 
deserve some much-needed tax relief. The Small Business Protection Act 
is a good bill that will go a long way in lifting the heavy tax burden 
that is stifling America's engines of economic growth, our small 
businesses.
  My support for this tax relief, my friends, is tempered by the manner 
in which we plan to pay for it. Under the legislation we are 
considering today, these tax cuts are to be offset in large part by 
retroactively repealing IRC section 936. Section 936, as many of you 
know, provides for certain tax incentives for corporations operating in 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is also the single biggest rason 
Puerto Rico has prospered into the mature, financially stable democracy 
that it is today.
  Section 936 is, quite simply, one of the lifebloods of the Puerto 
Rican economy. Over the 21 years that it has been in effect, section 
936 has spurred development and economic activity throughout all 
sectors of the Puerto Rican economy. Today, it is responsible for over 
300,000 direct and indirect jobs in the island's economy, fully one-
third of all the jobs in Puerto Rico.
  Make no mistake, my friends. This is not so-called corporate welfare. 
Section 936 effectively creates an enterprise zone in Puerto Rico, 
using market-driven tax incentives to spur investment and create 
employment opportunities. Every penny that is spent in this capacity is 
recoupled 10 times over in the job creation and economic development 
that results.
  Section 936 also serves as the backbone to the financial system in 
the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In fact, it is responsible for $6 
billion in direct investments in the island, in addition to over $9 
billion deposited in Puerto Rican financial institutions. This $15 
billion

[[Page H5439]]

provides the Puerto Rican economy with a significant source of 
liquidity and stability for its financial market.
  This proposal will have other costs as well. In particular, 936 funds 
in Puerto Rico are used for a number of innovative and socially 
beneficial purposes. Perhaps the best example is the Conservation Trust 
of Puerto Rico. The Trust, a non-profit, public interest trust jointly 
created in 1970 by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the 
Government of Puerto Rico, exists to preserve the natural and historic 
resources of Puerto Rico.

  During the past 13 years, the Conservation Trust has been authorized 
to make use of a creative financial mechanism through section 936 to 
collect funds in order to pursue its conservation plan. In fact, 
because of this, the Trust has never received any direct funding from 
either the local or Federal Government.
  I have seen firsthand the excellent work the Trust has done. I can 
testify to the importance of their mission, as well as to the 
effectiveness of their efforts. The value of this service to the island 
and people of Puerto Rico is inestimable. The Trust is responsible for 
almost 80 percent of all the land acquired for permanent conservation 
purposes in Puerto Rico by all public or private entities during the 
last 20 years. More importantly, the Trust plays a vital role in 
educating the Puerto Rican people, and in particular the younger 
generations, about their cultural and historic birthright.
  The immediate elimination of section 936 would deal a severe blow to 
the Conservation Trust and other organizations like it. Eighty percent 
of the Trust's annual revenues would disappear overnight. The vast 
majority of Puerto Rico's land conservation efforts would grind to a 
halt, and the preservation and management of existing properties would 
be significantly jeopardized.
  Section 936 has been a fixture of the Puerto Rican economy for 21 
years. Over that period of time, the island's financial community has 
developed an infrastructure that depends on 936 funds.
  While I am devoted to the goal of giving our small businesses some 
much-needed tax relief, I feel that we must be mindful of the 
consequences of our actions today. Section 936 plays an integral role 
in Puerto Rico's economy. If we eliminate the ounce of prevention that 
Section 936 represents in the overall budget equation, we may end up 
paying for the pound of cure that will result.
  Puerto Rico's current per capita income is $6,500, roughly one-half 
that of the poorest State in the U.S. If we eliminate section 936 and 
the economic incentives it provides, the island economy will suffer 
tremendously. Island poverty and unemployment rates will rise, as will 
the costs of welfare and unemployment benefits to the residents of 
Puerto Rico. The cost of these changes could very easily exceed the 
very modest savings we stand to gain from eliminating these incentives. 
Over and above the profound economic impetus section 936 provides for 
the American citizens of Puerto Rico, it also relieves us from 
expenditures we would otherwise have to make on the island.
  Section 936 is an investment in the island of Puerto Rico--in its 
economy, in its people, in its future. Retroactively repealing this tax 
credit will stunt the island's economic growth, imperil hundreds of 
thousands of Puerto Rican jobs and possibly undo two decades of 
significant and steady economic improvement. We owe it to the people of 
Puerto Rico, our friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens, to seriously 
consider the implications of the repeal of section 936 as we vote on 
the Small Business Job Protection Act.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
North Carolina [Mr. Watt].
  Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I want to go back to this 
point about whether this is, in fact, a minimum wage bill or is it a 
doing away with the minimum wage bill? Because at the end of the day 
all of my colleagues need to understand this:
  There are 75 percent of the businesses in this country which have 
gross incomes of less than $500,000 a year. Those businesses employ 
over 10 million people, and for those people, this bill would do away 
with the minimum wage, do away with overtime. No such thing as overtime 
pay for those anymore.
  So, I hope the gentleman who was up here talking about this as a 
minimum wage bill will understand that for those 10 million people this 
is not a minimum wage bill; this is a bill that does away with the 
minimum wage, does away with any payment for them for even overtime 
work that they do.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute just to say that it 
is absolutely not true that millions of American workers will no longer 
be covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Nothing could be further 
from the truth. Why, the language provides a grandfather clause that 
retains coverage for any employee who is presently covered by the FLSA 
while they are employed by that small business.
  Further, any employer who fails to maintain the current coverage is 
in violation of the law, and that employee may file a complaint with 
the Department of Labor. No presently covered worker will lose 
coverage, and any employer that tries to do so will be punished by the 
law in New York State and Michigan and every other State. Every other 
State that has a minimum wage law now is not even affected by this.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Claremont, CA 
[Mr. Dreier], a member of the Committee on Rules and my very good 
friend.
  (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I consider the gentleman from North Carolina 
[Mr. Watt] to be one of my very good friends, and does he want me to 
yield him 10 seconds?
  Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am happy to have the 
gentleman yield.
  What about all those new employees?
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, let me reclaim my time and say that I think 
it is very important for us to take just a moment to recognize that we 
all share the same goal. Every single Member in this House wants to 
have the opportunity to encourage those who are at the lower end of the 
economic spectrum. The unfortunate thing is that on the other side of 
the aisle there seems to be a lack of desire to put into place the 
kinds of small business incentives which economists who believe in the 
free market are convinced will be necessary to help those at the lower 
end of the economic spectrum. It is fascinating.
  I am one who believes that increasing a federally mandated minimum 
wage is a job killer, it is something that is going to jeopardize 
opportunities at the lower end of the economic spectrum. But we have 
recognized that a majority of the Members of this House want to have an 
up or down vote, and so we are giving the membership an opportunity to 
have that vote. But those on the other side of the aisle who had a 
chance for the last several years to have that up or down vote have 
never seized the opportunity.
  I also believe that it is important for us to realize that as we look 
at the tax and regulatory burden that exists for those businesses that 
are trying to create jobs, that are trying to get those from welfare on 
to the working roles are in the present situation denied that 
opportunity, and yet this rule allows us to proceed with that. That is 
why I hope very much that my colleagues in a bipartisan way will 
support this rule, which provides a wide range of opportunities for 
people who are supportive of increasing the minimum wage, those who are 
opposed to increasing the minimum wage, a wide range of opportunities 
for them to create economic opportunity for those at the lower end of 
the spectrum.
  Support this rule.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman 
from Connecticut [Ms. DeLauro].
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose the Gingrich-Armey rule 
to kill the minimum wage. This rule denies the people's House the 
ability to carry out the people's will and to raise the minimum wage.
  The Republican leadership called for hearings on the minimum wage, 
stalled for months with every procedural trick in the book. Now we see 
yet another trick, an amendment to increase the minimum wage will be 
followed by a killer amendment to make sure that millions of American 
workers at small firms would never see an increase come payday, and 
worse, some would lose the minimum-wage protection that they now enjoy. 
Two-thirds of the firms would be excluded, excluded from dealing with 
the minimum wage.
  The Republican leadership has been against the American workers and 
raising the minimum wage from the beginning. What this rule gives with 
one hand, it takes with the other, and then some. Not only does the 
rule seek to repeal the minimum wage for millions of workers, it seeks 
to role back the Fair Labor Standards Act and open the door to 
sweatshops and to child labor.

[[Page H5440]]

  The American people want to move forward to higher wages and rising 
living standards. This rule is wrong.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Syracuse, NY [Mr. Walsh].
  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule.
  Our party, the Republican Party, the majority party in America today, 
represents many views. But we are united in our commitment to debate 
all of the important issues.
  Unlike the minority party, the Democrats who lost their majority 
because they bottled up the votes on issues like term limits, balanced 
budget, and the minimum wage: big talk, no action, no courage, no 
conviction.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] and 
his colleagues on the Committee on Rules. This rule gives us our vote. 
This increase in the minimum wage will help seniors in conjunction with 
our raising of the earnings limit for Social Security recipients, it 
will help kids save for college, it will help get people off of welfare 
and back to work, and it will help small business pay for it.
  Mr. SOLOMON. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Massachusetts [Mr. Torkildsen].
  (Mr. TORKILDSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
extremely fair rule.
  While I do not agree with every amendment made in order and every 
provision of these two bills, I feel strongly that the Rules Committee 
has done an excellent job in ensuring that all voices are heard in this 
debate. This rule gives supporters and opponents of the minimum wage 
the opportunity to state their cases, and key amendments allow all 
Members to express their own opinions and vote accordingly.
  Those who argue against this rule are some of the same people who, as 
part of the Democrat Congress, did not even give this provision an 
opportunity for a vote on the floor. It is a Republican Congress that 
is bringing this issue to the floor for a vote, while the Democrats 
stifled this vote for the past few years.
  I commend the leadership and the Committee on Rules for turning the 
tide for American workers by allowing this debate on the House floor. 
Support minimum wage by supporting this rule.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Vermont [Mr. Sanders].
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding the time 
to me.
  Mr. Speaker, the most important economic issue facing this country is 
that the people on top, the wealthiest people, are becoming richer, the 
middle class is shrinking, and more and more of the new jobs that we 
are creating in this country are low-wage jobs paying people $4.25 an 
hour, $4.50 an hour, $5 an hour. The minimum wage today in terms of 
purchasing power is at its lowest point in 40 years.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people want and the working people want to 
see a situation in which every working person in this country can work 
40 hours a week and not live in poverty. It is incumbent upon this body 
to have an opportunity to vote for a clean up-or-down increase in the 
minimum wage.
  Our Republican friends say the Democrats should have raised the 
minimum wage 2 years ago. They are right; they should have, and I had a 
bill in the hopper to do just that. But 2 years later means more and 
more people are living in poverty. Two years later means that today 
finally we should increase the minimum wage.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Georgia [Mr. Lewis].
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, how can these mean-spirited 
Republicans, too cheap to pay a worker $5.15 an hour, claim they care 
about American workers? This is not a Third World country. We do not 
tolerate sweatshops in America. We do not have slave labor, starvation 
wages. This is 1996. It is the dawn of the 21st century.
  Radical Republicans would take us back to the 19th century, no 
minimum wage, no support for working families, for those who work hard, 
play by the rules, and strive to improve the lives of their families, 
their children.
  Republicans give tax breaks to corporate bigwigs who make millions of 
dollars each year, but they think that 9-to-5 workers are overpaid. 
They think $8,000 a year is too much.
  This is not just extreme, it is nuts, it is downright crazy. Extreme, 
mean-spirited Republicans offer the American people a simple choice: Do 
we live in the 21st century or the 19th century; do we pay livable 
wages or starvation wages?
  I say, my colleagues, it is time to stand up to these right-wing 
extremists, to stand up for hard-working American families. It is time 
to raise the minimum wage, not repeal it.
  We cannot go back. We must not go back. We will not go back. Defeat 
this rule.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Bentonville, AR [Mr. Hutchinson].
  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to respond. I rise in support of 
the rule; I support the rule because it, in fact, will give us a clean, 
straight up and down vote on the minimum-wage increase, and I applaud 
our leadership in allowing that vote.
  I am going to vote against the minimum wage because I think it is 
misdirected, it is election year politics, it is not real compassion, 
it is a job killer, and that is the truth. It is not the economists, 
the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Armey] and the gentleman from California 
[Mr. Campbell], alone that are saying that, but the overwhelming 
economists in this country. In 1993 a survey of 22,000 economists in 
the United States; I suppose they probably are all right-wing 
extremists, those 22,000 economists, 77 percent of which said raising 
the minimum wage will lead to a loss of jobs in this country.
  So I suggest to my colleagues this is not real compassion, else they 
would have raised it 2 years ago when they controlled the House, the 
Senate, and the White House and it was never even brought up for a 
vote.
  What it is is election year posturing. This is not real compassion; 
it is not compassion to take that single mother with two children and 
say, ``You are going to lose your job so we can play politics with the 
American economy.''
  That is wrong.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman 
from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee].
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)

                              {time}  1815

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Texas for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, let me provide this body with a few facts that might 
help to clear up whether or not we should, in fact, have a clean vote 
on the minimum wage for the American people.
  First of all, fact: We have not raised the minimum wage more than 
seven times in the 58-year history.
  Fact: In the city of Houston, which I represent, there are 125,000 
households with salaries of $25,000 or less. The average weekly hours 
of work for minimum-wage workers is 34 hours; 2.1 million people are 
employed at the minimum rate, and 77.1 percent of them are adults, with 
another 1.9 million people employed below the minimum wage.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a need for a bill that applies to the American 
people, to give them a decent wage; that is, to increase the minimum 
wage. This rule is a minimum-wage killer. It is a poison pill which we 
all would like not to take. Let us stand up for working women; 59 
percent of them are on minimum wage. And why do we not realize that the 
fact is in New Jersey, when they increased the minimum wage they 
increased jobs. Let us increase jobs, increase the minimum wage.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman 
from California [Ms. Pelosi].
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I just was in a markup, so I walked onto the 
floor and was not able to get my chart up here. But if I had it, it 
would be a picture that I bring to the floor every time we have this 
debate on the minimum wage. It is a split screen cartoon. At the top it 
says, ``How long does it take to make $8,440?'' And on one side it has 
a full-time minimum-wage worker and it says under there, ``One year''. 
On the other side it has an executive, and it says, ``The average 
executive CEO of a large corporation in America, one-half a day.''

[[Page H5441]]

  Think of the immorality of it all. It is fine for somebody to be 
successful and to make that kind of money, as long as it is not at the 
exploitation of others at the low end. We have to respect work. We have 
to raise the morale of the worker in America by saying, ``Your full-
time employment should be a decent, living wage for you and your 
family.'' Consider, two minimum-wage earners are still below the 
poverty line in a family of four. I urge my colleagues to oppose the 
rule and to support the minimum wage.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of this Congress the Republican 
majority claimed that the House was going to consider bills under an 
open process.
  I would like to point out that 68 percent of the legislation this 
session has been considered under a restrictive process.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record certain extraneous materials.
  The materials referred to are as follows:

          FLOOR PROCEDURE IN THE 104TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION; COMPILED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS          
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Process used for floor   Amendments in
            Bill No.                    Title           Resolution No.         consideration           order    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.R. 1*........................  Compliance........  H. Res. 6            Closed................           None.
H. Res. 6......................  Opening Day Rules   H. Res. 5            Closed; contained a              None.
                                  Package.                                 closed rule on H.R. 1                
                                                                           within the closed                    
                                                                           rule.                                
H.R. 5*........................  Unfunded Mandates.  H. Res. 38           Restrictive; Motion               N/A.
                                                                           adopted over                         
                                                                           Democratic objection                 
                                                                           in the Committee of                  
                                                                           the Whole to limit                   
                                                                           debate on section 4;                 
                                                                           Pre-printing gets                    
                                                                           preference.                          
H.J. Res. 2*...................  Balanced Budget...  H. Res. 44           Restrictive; only              2R; 4D.
                                                                           certain substitutes;                 
                                                                           PQ.                                  
H. Res. 43.....................  Committee Hearings  H. Res. 43 (OJ)      Restrictive;                      N/A.
                                  Scheduling.                              considered in House                  
                                                                           no amendments.                       
H.R. 101.......................  To transfer a       H. Res. 51           Open..................            N/A.
                                  parcel of land to                                                             
                                  the Taos Pueblo                                                               
                                  Indians of New                                                                
                                  Mexico.                                                                       
H.R. 400.......................  To provide for the  H. Res. 52           Open..................            N/A.
                                  exchange of lands                                                             
                                  within Gates of                                                               
                                  the Arctic                                                                    
                                  National Park                                                                 
                                  Preserve.                                                                     
H.R. 440.......................  To provide for the  H. Res. 53           Open..................            N/A.
                                  conveyance of                                                                 
                                  lands to certain                                                              
                                  individuals in                                                                
                                  Butte County,                                                                 
                                  California.                                                                   
H.R. 2*........................  Line Item Veto....  H. Res. 55           Open; Pre-printing                N/A.
                                                                           gets preference.                     
H.R. 665*......................  Victim Restitution  H. Res. 61           Open; Pre-printing                N/A.
                                  Act of 1995.                             gets preference.                     
H.R. 666*......................  Exclusionary Rule   H. Res. 60           Open; Pre-printing                N/A.
                                  Reform Act of                            gets preference.                     
                                  1995.                                                                         
H.R. 667*......................  Violent Criminal    H. Res. 63           Restrictive; 10 hr.               N/A.
                                  Incarceration Act                        Time Cap on                          
                                  of 1995.                                 amendments.                          
H.R. 668*......................  The Criminal Alien  H. Res. 69           Open; Pre-printing                N/A.
                                  Deportation                              gets preference;                     
                                  Improvement Act.                         Contains self-                       
                                                                           executing provision.                 
H.R. 728*......................  Local Government    H. Res. 79           Restrictive; 10 hr.               N/A.
                                  Law Enforcement                          Time Cap on                          
                                  Block Grants.                            amendments; Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           preference.                          
H.R. 7*........................  National Security   H. Res. 83           Restrictive; 10 hr.               N/A.
                                  Revitalization                           Time Cap on                          
                                  Act.                                     amendments; Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           preference; PQ.                      
H.R. 729*......................  Death Penalty/      N/A                  Restrictive; brought              N/A.
                                  Habeas.                                  up under UC with a 6                 
                                                                           hr. time cap on                      
                                                                           amendments.                          
S. 2...........................  Senate Compliance.  N/A                  Closed; Put on                   None.
                                                                           Suspension Calendar                  
                                                                           over Democratic                      
                                                                           objection.                           
H.R. 831.......................  To Permanently      H. Res. 88           Restrictive; makes in              1D.
                                  Extend the Health                        order only the                       
                                  Insurance                                Gibbons amendment;                   
                                  Deduction for the                        Waives all points of                 
                                  Self-Employed.                           order; Contains self-                
                                                                           executing provision;                 
                                                                           PQ.                                  
H.R. 830*......................  The Paperwork       H. Res. 91           Open..................            N/A.
                                  Reduction Act.                                                                
H.R. 889.......................  Emergency           H. Res. 92           Restrictive; makes in              1D.
                                  Supplemental/                            order only the Obey                  
                                  Rescinding                               substitute.                          
                                  Certain Budget                                                                
                                  Authority.                                                                    
H.R. 450*......................  Regulatory          H. Res. 93           Restrictive; 10 hr.               N/A.
                                  Moratorium.                              Time Cap on                          
                                                                           amendments; Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           preference.                          
H.R. 1022*.....................  Risk Assessment...  H. Res. 96           Restrictive; 10 hr.               N/A.
                                                                           Time Cap on                          
                                                                           amendments.                          
H.R. 926*......................  Regulatory          H. Res. 100          Open..................            N/A.
                                  Flexibility.                                                                  
H.R. 925*......................  Private Property    H. Res. 101          Restrictive; 12 hr.                1D.
                                  Protection Act.                          time cap on                          
                                                                           amendments; Requires                 
                                                                           Members to pre-print                 
                                                                           their amendments in                  
                                                                           the Record prior to                  
                                                                           the bill's                           
                                                                           consideration for                    
                                                                           amendment, waives                    
                                                                           germaneness and                      
                                                                           budget act points of                 
                                                                           order as well as                     
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           concerning                           
                                                                           appropriating on a                   
                                                                           legislative bill                     
                                                                           against the committee                
                                                                           substitute used as                   
                                                                           base text.                           
H.R. 1058*.....................  Securities          H. Res. 105          Restrictive; 8 hr.                 1D.
                                  Litigation Reform                        time cap on                          
                                  Act.                                     amendments; Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           preference; Makes in                 
                                                                           order the Wyden                      
                                                                           amendment and waives                 
                                                                           germaneness against                  
                                                                           it.                                  
H.R. 988*......................  The Attorney        H. Res. 104          Restrictive; 7 hr.                N/A.
                                  Accountability                           time cap on                          
                                  Act of 1995.                             amendments; Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           preference.                          
H.R. 956*......................  Product Liability   H. Res. 109          Restrictive; makes in          8D; 7R.
                                  and Legal Reform                         order only 15 germane                
                                  Act.                                     amendments and denies                
                                                                           64 germane amendments                
                                                                           from being                           
                                                                           considered; PQ.                      
H.R. 1158......................  Making Emergency    H. Res. 115          Restrictive; Combines             N/A.
                                  Supplemental                             emergency H.R. 1158 &                
                                  Appropriations                           nonemergency 1159 and                
                                  and Rescissions.                         strikes the abortion                 
                                                                           provision; makes in                  
                                                                           order only pre-                      
                                                                           printed amendments                   
                                                                           that include offsets                 
                                                                           within the same                      
                                                                           chapter (deeper cuts                 
                                                                           in programs already                  
                                                                           cut); waives points                  
                                                                           of order against                     
                                                                           three amendments;                    
                                                                           waives cl 2 of rule                  
                                                                           XXI against the bill,                
                                                                           cl 2, XXI and cl 7 of                
                                                                           rule XVI against the                 
                                                                           substitute; waives cl                
                                                                           2(e) of rule XXI                     
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendments in the                    
                                                                           Record; 10 hr time                   
                                                                           cap on amendments. 30                
                                                                           minutes debate on                    
                                                                           each amendment.                      
H.J. Res. 73*..................  Term Limits.......  H. Res. 116          Restrictive; Makes in           1D; 3R
                                                                           order only 4                         
                                                                           amendments considered                
                                                                           under a ``Queen of                   
                                                                           the Hill'' procedure                 
                                                                           and denies 21 germane                
                                                                           amendments from being                
                                                                           considered.                          
H.R. 4*........................  Welfare Reform....  H. Res. 119          Restrictive; Makes in         5D; 26R.
                                                                           order only 31                        
                                                                           perfecting amendments                
                                                                           and two substitutes;                 
                                                                           Denies 130 germane                   
                                                                           amendments from being                
                                                                           considered; The                      
                                                                           substitutes are to be                
                                                                           considered under a                   
                                                                           ``Queen of the Hill''                
                                                                           procedure; All points                
                                                                           of order are waived                  
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendments.                          
H.R. 1271*.....................  Family Privacy Act  H. Res. 125          Open..................            N/A.
H.R. 660*......................  Housing for Older   H. Res. 126          Open..................            N/A.
                                  Persons Act.                                                                  
H.R. 1215*.....................  The Contract With   H. Res. 129          Restrictive; Self                  1D.
                                  America Tax                              Executes language                    
                                  Relief Act of                            that makes tax cuts                  
                                  1995.                                    contingent on the                    
                                                                           adoption of a                        
                                                                           balanced budget plan                 
                                                                           and strikes section                  
                                                                           3006. Makes in order                 
                                                                           only one substitute.                 
                                                                           Waives all points of                 
                                                                           order against the                    
                                                                           bill, substitute made                
                                                                           in order as original                 
                                                                           text and Gephardt                    
                                                                           substitute.                          
H.R. 483.......................  Medicare Select     H. Res. 130          Restrictive; waives cl             1D.
                                  Extension.                               2(1)(6) of rule XI                   
                                                                           against the bill;                    
                                                                           makes H.R. 1391 in                   
                                                                           order as original                    
                                                                           text; makes in order                 
                                                                           only the Dingell                     
                                                                           substitute; allows                   
                                                                           Commerce Committee to                
                                                                           file a report on the                 
                                                                           bill at any time.                    
H.R. 655.......................  Hydrogen Future     H. Res. 136          Open..................            N/A.
                                  Act.                                                                          
H.R. 1361......................  Coast Guard         H. Res. 139          Open; waives sections             N/A.
                                  Authorization.                           302(f) and 308(a) of                 
                                                                           the Congressional                    
                                                                           Budget Act against                   
                                                                           the bill's                           
                                                                           consideration and the                
                                                                           committee substitute;                
                                                                           waives cl 5(a) of                    
                                                                           rule XXI against the                 
                                                                           committee substitute.                
H.R. 961.......................  Clean Water Act...  H. Res. 140          Open; pre-printing                N/A.
                                                                           gets preference;                     
                                                                           waives sections                      
                                                                           302(f) and 602(b) of                 
                                                                           the Budget Act                       
                                                                           against the bill's                   
                                                                           consideration; waives                
                                                                           cl 7 of rule XVI, cl                 
                                                                           5(a) of rule XXI and                 
                                                                           section 302(f) of the                
                                                                           Budget Act against                   
                                                                           the committee                        
                                                                           substitute. Makes in                 
                                                                           order Shuster                        
                                                                           substitute as first                  
                                                                           order of business.                   
H.R. 535.......................  Corning National    H. Res. 144          Open..................            N/A.
                                  Fish Hatchery                                                                 
                                  Conveyance Act.                                                               
H.R. 584.......................  Conveyance of the   H. Res. 145          Open..................            N/A.
                                  Fairport National                                                             
                                  Fish Hatchery to                                                              
                                  the State of Iowa.                                                            
H.R. 614.......................  Conveyance of the   H. Res. 146          Open..................            N/A.
                                  New London                                                                    
                                  National Fish                                                                 
                                  Hatchery                                                                      
                                  Production                                                                    
                                  Facility.                                                                     
H. Con. Res. 67................  Budget Resolution.  H. Res. 149          Restrictive; Makes in          3D; 1R.
                                                                           order 4 substitutes                  
                                                                           under regular order;                 
                                                                           Gephardt, Neumann/                   
                                                                           Solomon, Payne/Owens,                
                                                                           President's Budget if                
                                                                           printed in Record on                 
                                                                           5/17/95; waives all                  
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against substitutes                  
                                                                           and concurrent                       
                                                                           resolution; suspends                 
                                                                           application of Rule                  
                                                                           XLIX with respect to                 
                                                                           the resolution; self-                
                                                                           executes Agriculture                 
                                                                           language; PQ.                        
H.R. 1561......................  American Overseas   H. Res. 155          Restrictive; Requires             N/A.
                                  Interests Act of                         amendments to be                     
                                  1995.                                    printed in the Record                
                                                                           prior to their                       
                                                                           consideration; 10 hr.                
                                                                           time cap; waives cl                  
                                                                           2(1)(6) of rule XI                   
                                                                           against the bill's                   
                                                                           consideration; Also                  
                                                                           waives sections                      
                                                                           302(f), 303(a),                      
                                                                           308(a) and 402(a)                    
                                                                           against the bill's                   
                                                                           consideration and the                
                                                                           committee amendment                  
                                                                           in order as original                 
                                                                           text; waives cl 5(a)                 
                                                                           of rule XXI against                  
                                                                           the amendment;                       
                                                                           amendment                            
                                                                           consideration is                     
                                                                           closed at 2:30 p.m.                  
                                                                           on May 25, 1995. Self-               
                                                                           executes provision                   
                                                                           which removes section                
                                                                           2210 from the bill.                  
                                                                           This was done at the                 
                                                                           request of the Budget                
                                                                           Committee.                           
H.R. 1530......................  National Defense    H. Res. 164          Restrictive; Makes in      36R; 18D; 2
                                  Authorization                            order only the            Bipartisan.
                                  Act; FY 1996.                            amendments printed in                
                                                                           the report; waives                   
                                                                           all points of order                  
                                                                           against the bill,                    
                                                                           substitute and                       
                                                                           amendments printed in                
                                                                           the report. Gives the                
                                                                           Chairman en bloc                     
                                                                           authority. Self-                     
                                                                           executes a provision                 
                                                                           which strikes section                
                                                                           807 of the bill;                     
                                                                           provides for an                      
                                                                           additional 30 min. of                
                                                                           debate on Nunn-Lugar                 
                                                                           section; Allows Mr.                  
                                                                           Clinger to offer a                   
                                                                           modification of his                  
                                                                           amendment with the                   
                                                                           concurrence of Ms.                   
                                                                           Collins; PQ.                         
H.R. 1817......................  Military            H. Res. 167          Open; waives cl. 2 and            N/A.
                                  Construction                             cl. 6 of rule XXI                    
                                  Appropriations;                          against the bill; 1                  
                                  FY 1996.                                 hr. general debate;                  
                                                                           Uses House passed                    
                                                                           budget numbers as                    
                                                                           threshold for                        
                                                                           spending amounts                     
                                                                           pending passage of                   
                                                                           Budget; PQ.                          
H.R. 1854......................  Legislative Branch  H. Res. 169          Restrictive; Makes in        5R; 4D; 2
                                  Appropriations.                          order only 11             Bipartisan.
                                                                           amendments; waives                   
                                                                           sections 302(f) and                  
                                                                           308(a) of the Budget                 
                                                                           Act against the bill                 
                                                                           and cl. 2 and cl. 6                  
                                                                           of rule XXI against                  
                                                                           the bill. All points                 
                                                                           of order are waived                  
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendments; PQ.                      

[[Page H5442]]

                                                                                                                
H.R. 1868......................  Foreign Operations  H. Res. 170          Open; waives cl. 2,               N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          cl. 5(b), and cl. 6                  
                                                                           of rule XXI against                  
                                                                           the bill; makes in                   
                                                                           order the Gilman                     
                                                                           amendments as first                  
                                                                           order of business;                   
                                                                           waives all points of                 
                                                                           order against the                    
                                                                           amendments; if                       
                                                                           adopted they will be                 
                                                                           considered as                        
                                                                           original text; waives                
                                                                           cl. 2 of rule XXI                    
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendments printed in                
                                                                           the report. Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority (Hall)                      
                                                                           (Menendez) (Goss)                    
                                                                           (Smith, NJ); PQ.                     
H.R. 1905......................  Energy & Water      H. Res. 171          Open; waives cl. 2 and            N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          cl. 6 of rule XXI                    
                                                                           against the bill;                    
                                                                           makes in order the                   
                                                                           Shuster amendment as                 
                                                                           the first order of                   
                                                                           business; waives all                 
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendment; if adopted                
                                                                           it will be considered                
                                                                           as original text. Pre-               
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority.                            
H.J. Res. 79...................  Constitutional      H. Res. 173          Closed; provides one              N/A.
                                  Amendment to                             hour of general                      
                                  Permit Congress                          debate and one motion                
                                  and States to                            to recommit with or                  
                                  Prohibit the                             without instructions;                
                                  Physical                                 if there are                         
                                  Desecration of                           instructions, the MO                 
                                  the American Flag.                       is debatable for 1                   
                                                                           hr; PQ.                              
H.R. 1944......................  Recissions Bill...  H. Res. 175          Restrictive; Provides             N/A.
                                                                           for consideration of                 
                                                                           the bill in the                      
                                                                           House; Permits the                   
                                                                           Chairman of the                      
                                                                           Appropriations                       
                                                                           Committee to offer                   
                                                                           one amendment which                  
                                                                           is unamendable;                      
                                                                           waives all points of                 
                                                                           order against the                    
                                                                           amendment; PQ.                       
H.R. 1868 (2nd rule)...........  Foreign Operations  H. Res. 177          Restrictive; Provides             N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          for further                          
                                                                           consideration of the                 
                                                                           bill; makes in order                 
                                                                           only the four                        
                                                                           amendments printed in                
                                                                           the rules report (20                 
                                                                           min. each). Waives                   
                                                                           all points of order                  
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendments; Prohibits                
                                                                           intervening motions                  
                                                                           in the Committee of                  
                                                                           the Whole; Provides                  
                                                                           for an automatic rise                
                                                                           and report following                 
                                                                           the disposition of                   
                                                                           the amendments; PQ.                  
H.R. 1977 *Rule Defeated*......  Interior            H. Res. 185          Open; waives sections             N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          302(f) and 308(a) of                 
                                                                           the Budget Act and cl                
                                                                           2 and cl 6 of rule                   
                                                                           XXI; provides that                   
                                                                           the bill be read by                  
                                                                           title; waives all                    
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the Tauzin                   
                                                                           amendment; self-                     
                                                                           executes Budget                      
                                                                           Committee amendment;                 
                                                                           waives cl 2(e) of                    
                                                                           rule XXI against                     
                                                                           amendments to the                    
                                                                           bill; Pre-printing                   
                                                                           gets priority; PQ.                   
H.R. 1977......................  Interior            H. Res. 187          Open; waives sections             N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          302(f), 306 and                      
                                                                           308(a) of the Budget                 
                                                                           Act; waives clauses 2                
                                                                           and 6 of rule XXI                    
                                                                           against provisions in                
                                                                           the bill; waives all                 
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the Tauzin                   
                                                                           amendment; provides                  
                                                                           that the bill be read                
                                                                           by title; self-                      
                                                                           executes Budget                      
                                                                           Committee amendment                  
                                                                           and makes NEA funding                
                                                                           subject to House                     
                                                                           passed authorization;                
                                                                           waives cl 2(e) of                    
                                                                           rule XXI against the                 
                                                                           amendments to the                    
                                                                           bill; Pre-printing                   
                                                                           gets priority; PQ.                   
H.R. 1976......................  Agriculture         H. Res. 188          Open; waives clauses 2            N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          and 6 of rule XXI                    
                                                                           against provisions in                
                                                                           the bill; provides                   
                                                                           that the bill be read                
                                                                           by title; Makes Skeen                
                                                                           amendment first order                
                                                                           of business, if                      
                                                                           adopted the amendment                
                                                                           will be considered as                
                                                                           base text (10 min.);                 
                                                                           Pre-printing gets                    
                                                                           priority; PQ.                        
H.R. 1977 (3rd rule)...........  Interior            H. Res. 189          Restrictive; provides             N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          for the further                      
                                                                           consideration of the                 
                                                                           bill; allows only                    
                                                                           amendments pre-                      
                                                                           printed before July                  
                                                                           14th to be                           
                                                                           considered; limits                   
                                                                           motions to rise.                     
H.R. 2020......................  Treasury Postal     H. Res. 190          Open; waives cl. 2 and            N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          cl. 6 of rule XXI                    
                                                                           against provisions in                
                                                                           the bill; provides                   
                                                                           the bill be read by                  
                                                                           title; Pre-printing                  
                                                                           gets priority; PQ.                   
H.J. Res. 96...................  Disapproving MFN    H. Res. 193          Restrictive; provides             N/A.
                                  for China.                               for consideration in                 
                                                                           the House of H.R.                    
                                                                           2058 (90 min.) And                   
                                                                           H.J. Res. 96 (1 hr).                 
                                                                           Waives certain                       
                                                                           provisions of the                    
                                                                           Trade Act.                           
H.R. 2002......................  Transportation      H. Res. 194          Open; waives cl. 3 0f             N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          rule XIII and section                
                                                                           401 (a) of the CBA                   
                                                                           against consideration                
                                                                           of the bill; waives                  
                                                                           cl. 6 and cl. 2 of                   
                                                                           rule XXI against                     
                                                                           provisions in the                    
                                                                           bill; Makes in order                 
                                                                           the Clinger/Solomon                  
                                                                           amendment waives all                 
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the amendment                
                                                                           (Line Item Veto);                    
                                                                           provides the bill be                 
                                                                           read by title; Pre-                  
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority; PQ. *RULE                  
                                                                           AMENDED*.                            
H.R. 70........................  Exports of Alaskan  H. Res. 197          Open; Makes in order              N/A.
                                  North Slope Oil.                         the Resources                        
                                                                           Committee amendment                  
                                                                           in the nature of a                   
                                                                           substitute as                        
                                                                           original text; Pre-                  
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority; Provides a                 
                                                                           Senate hook-up with                  
                                                                           S. 395.                              
H.R. 2076......................  Commerce, Justice   H. Res. 198          Open; waives cl. 2 and            N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          cl. 6 of rule XXI                    
                                                                           against provisions in                
                                                                           the bill; Pre-                       
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority; provides                   
                                                                           the bill be read by                  
                                                                           title..                              
H.R. 2099......................  VA/HUD              H. Res. 201          Open; waives cl. 2 and            N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          cl. 6 of rule XXI                    
                                                                           against provisions in                
                                                                           the bill; Provides                   
                                                                           that the amendment in                
                                                                           part 1 of the report                 
                                                                           is the first                         
                                                                           business, if adopted                 
                                                                           it will be considered                
                                                                           as base text (30                     
                                                                           min.); waives all                    
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the Klug and                 
                                                                           Davis amendments; Pre-               
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority; Provides                   
                                                                           that the bill be read                
                                                                           by title.                            
S. 21..........................  Termination of      H. Res. 204          Restrictive; 3 hours               ID.
                                  U.S. Arms Embargo                        of general debate;                   
                                  on Bosnia.                               Makes in order an                    
                                                                           amendment to be                      
                                                                           offered by the                       
                                                                           Minority Leader or a                 
                                                                           designee (1 hr); If                  
                                                                           motion to recommit                   
                                                                           has instructions it                  
                                                                           can only be offered                  
                                                                           by the Minority                      
                                                                           Leader or a designee.                
H.R. 2126......................  Defense             H. Res. 205          Open; waives cl.                  N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                          2(l)(6) of rule XI                   
                                                                           and section 306 of                   
                                                                           the Congressional                    
                                                                           Budget Act against                   
                                                                           consideration of the                 
                                                                           bill; waives cl. 2                   
                                                                           and cl. 6 of rule XXI                
                                                                           against provisions in                
                                                                           the bill; self-                      
                                                                           executes a strike of                 
                                                                           sections 8021 and                    
                                                                           8024 of the bill as                  
                                                                           requested by the                     
                                                                           Budget Committee; Pre-               
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority; Provides                   
                                                                           the bill be read by                  
                                                                           title.                               
H.R. 1555......................  Communications Act  H. Res. 207          Restrictive; waives        2R/3D/3 Bi-
                                  of 1995.                                 sec. 302(f) of the          partisan.
                                                                           Budget Act against                   
                                                                           consideration of the                 
                                                                           bill; Makes in order                 
                                                                           the Commerce                         
                                                                           Committee amendment                  
                                                                           as original text and                 
                                                                           waives sec. 302(f) of                
                                                                           the Budget Act and                   
                                                                           cl. 5(a) of rule XXI                 
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendment; Makes in                  
                                                                           order the Bliley                     
                                                                           amendment (30 min.)                  
                                                                           as the first order of                
                                                                           business, if adopted                 
                                                                           it will be original                  
                                                                           text; makes in order                 
                                                                           only the amendments                  
                                                                           printed in the report                
                                                                           and waives all points                
                                                                           of order against the                 
                                                                           amendments; provides                 
                                                                           a Senate hook-up with                
                                                                           S. 652.                              
H.R. 2127......................  Labor/HHS           H. Res. 208          Open; Provides that               N/A.
                                  Appropriations                           the first order of                   
                                  Act.                                     business will be the                 
                                                                           managers amendments                  
                                                                           (10 min.), if adopted                
                                                                           they will be                         
                                                                           considered as base                   
                                                                           text; waives cl. 2                   
                                                                           and cl. 6 of rule XXI                
                                                                           against provisions in                
                                                                           the bill; waives all                 
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against certain                      
                                                                           amendments printed in                
                                                                           the report; Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority; Provides                   
                                                                           the bill be read by                  
                                                                           title; PQ.                           
H.R. 1594......................  Economically        H. Res. 215          Open; 2 hr of gen.                N/A.
                                  Targeted                                 debate. makes in                     
                                  Investments.                             order the committee                  
                                                                           substitute as                        
                                                                           original text.                       
H.R. 1655......................  Intelligence        H. Res. 216          Restrictive; waives               N/A.
                                  Authorization.                           sections 302(f),                     
                                                                           308(a) and 401(b) of                 
                                                                           the Budget Act. Makes                
                                                                           in order the                         
                                                                           committee substitute                 
                                                                           as modified by Govt.                 
                                                                           Reform amend                         
                                                                           (striking sec. 505)                  
                                                                           and an amendment                     
                                                                           striking title VII.                  
                                                                           Cl 7 of rule XVI and                 
                                                                           cl 5(a) of rule XXI                  
                                                                           are waived against                   
                                                                           the substitute.                      
                                                                           Sections 302(f) and                  
                                                                           401(b) of the CBA are                
                                                                           also waived against                  
                                                                           the substitute.                      
                                                                           Amendments must also                 
                                                                           be pre-printed in the                
                                                                           Congressional record.                
H.R. 1162......................  Deficit Reduction   H. Res. 218          Open; waives cl 7 of              N/A.
                                  Lock Box.                                rule XVI against the                 
                                                                           committee substitute                 
                                                                           made in order as                     
                                                                           original text; Pre-                  
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority.                            
H.R. 1670......................  Federal             H. Res. 219          Open; waives sections             N/A.
                                  Acquisition                              302(f) and 308(a) of                 
                                  Reform Act of                            the Budget Act                       
                                  1995.                                    against consideration                
                                                                           of the bill; bill                    
                                                                           will be read by                      
                                                                           title; waives cl 5(a)                
                                                                           of rule XXI and                      
                                                                           section 302(f) of the                
                                                                           Budget Act against                   
                                                                           the committee                        
                                                                           substitute. Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority.                            
H.R. 1617......................  To Consolidate and  H. Res. 222          Open; waives sections             N/A.
                                  Reform Workforce                         302(f) and 401(b) of                 
                                  Development and                          the Budget Act                       
                                  Literacy Programs                        against the                          
                                  Act (CAREERS).                           substitute made in                   
                                                                           order as original                    
                                                                           text (H.R. 2332), cl.                
                                                                           5(a) of rule XXI is                  
                                                                           also waived against                  
                                                                           the substitute.                      
                                                                           Provides for                         
                                                                           consideration of the                 
                                                                           managers amendment                   
                                                                           (10 min.) If adopted,                
                                                                           it is considered as                  
                                                                           base text.                           
H.R. 2274......................  National Highway    H. Res. 224          Open; waives section              N/A.
                                  System                                   302(f) of the Budget                 
                                  Designation Act                          Act against                          
                                  of 1995.                                 consideration of the                 
                                                                           bill; Makes H.R. 2349                
                                                                           in order as original                 
                                                                           text; waives section                 
                                                                           302(f) of the Budget                 
                                                                           Act against the                      
                                                                           substitute as well as                
                                                                           cl. 5(a) of rule XXI                 
                                                                           and cl. 1(q)(10) of                  
                                                                           rule X against the                   
                                                                           substitute; provides                 
                                                                           for the consideration                
                                                                           of a managers                        
                                                                           amendment (10 min).                  
                                                                           If adopted, it is                    
                                                                           considered as base                   
                                                                           text; Pre-printing                   
                                                                           gets priority; PQ.                   
H.R. 927.......................  Cuban Liberty and   H. Res. 225          Restrictive; waives cl           2R/2D
                                  Democratic                               2(l)(2)(B) of rule XI                
                                  Solidarity Act of                        against consideration                
                                  1995.                                    of the bill; makes in                
                                                                           order H.R. 2347 as                   
                                                                           base text; waives cl                 
                                                                           7 of rule XVI against                
                                                                           the substitute; Makes                
                                                                           Hamilton amendment                   
                                                                           the first amendment                  
                                                                           to be considered (1                  
                                                                           hr). Makes in order                  
                                                                           only amendments                      
                                                                           printed in the report.               
H.R. 743.......................  The Teamwork for    H. Res. 226          Open; waives cl                   N/A.
                                  Employees and                            2(l)(2)(b) of rule XI                
                                  managers Act of                          against consideration                
                                  1995.                                    of the bill; makes in                
                                                                           order the committee                  
                                                                           amendment as original                
                                                                           text; Pre-printing                   
                                                                           get priority.                        
H.R. 1170......................  3-Judge Court for   H. Res. 227          Open; makes in order a            N/A.
                                  Certain                                  committee amendment                  
                                  Injunctions.                             as original text; Pre-               
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority.                            
H.R. 1601......................  International       H. Res. 228          Open; makes in order a            N/A.
                                  Space Station                            committee amendment                  
                                  Authorization Act                        as original text; pre-               
                                  of 1995.                                 printing gets                        
                                                                           priority.                            
H.J. Res. 108..................  Making Continuing   H. Res. 230          Closed; Provides for    ..............
                                  Appropriations                           the immediate                        
                                  for FY 1996.                             consideration of the                 
                                                                           CR; one motion to                    
                                                                           recommit which may                   
                                                                           have instructions                    
                                                                           only if offered by                   
                                                                           the Minority Leader                  
                                                                           or a designee.                       
H.R. 2405......................  Omnibus Civilian    H. Res. 234          Open; self-executes a             N/A.
                                  Science                                  provision striking                   
                                  Authorization Act                        section 304(b)(3) of                 
                                  of 1995.                                 the bill (Commerce                   
                                                                           Committee request);                  
                                                                           Pre-printing gets                    
                                                                           priority.                            
H.R. 2259......................  To Disapprove       H. Res. 237          Restrictive; waives cl              1D
                                  Certain                                  2(l)(2)(B) of rule XI                
                                  Sentencing                               against the bill's                   
                                  Guideline                                consideration; makes                 
                                  Amendments.                              in order the text of                 
                                                                           the Senate bill S.                   
                                                                           1254 as original                     
                                                                           text; Makes in order                 
                                                                           only a Conyers                       
                                                                           substitute; provides                 
                                                                           a senate hook-up                     
                                                                           after adoption.                      
H.R. 2425......................  Medicare            H. Res. 238          Restrictive; waives                 1D
                                  Preservation Act.                        all points of order                  
                                                                           against the bill's                   
                                                                           consideration; makes                 
                                                                           in order the text of                 
                                                                           H.R. 2485 as original                
                                                                           text; waives all                     
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against H.R. 2485;                   
                                                                           makes in order only                  
                                                                           an amendment offered                 
                                                                           by the Minority                      
                                                                           Leader or a designee;                
                                                                           waives all points of                 
                                                                           order against the                    
                                                                           amendment; waives cl                 
                                                                           5(c) of rule XXI (\3/                
                                                                           5\ requirement on                    
                                                                           votes raising taxes);                
                                                                           PQ.                                  
H.R. 2492......................  Legislative Branch  H. Res. 239          Restrictive; provides             N/A.
                                  Appropriations                           for consideration of                 
                                  Bill.                                    the bill in the House.               
H.R. 2491......................  7 Year Balanced     H. Res. 245          Restrictive; makes in               1D
H. Con. Res. 109...............   Budget                                   order H.R. 2517 as                   
                                  Reconciliation                           original text; waives                
                                  Social Security                          all pints of order                   
                                  Earnings Test                            against the bill;                    
                                  Reform.                                  Makes in order only                  
                                                                           H.R. 2530 as an                      
                                                                           amendment only if                    
                                                                           offered by the                       
                                                                           Minority Leader or a                 
                                                                           designee; waives all                 
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendment; waives cl                 
                                                                           5(c) of rule XXI (\3/                
                                                                           5\ requirement on                    
                                                                           votes raising taxes);                
                                                                           PQ.                                  

[[Page H5443]]

                                                                                                                
H.R. 1833......................  Partial Birth       H. Res. 251          Closed................            N/A.
                                  Abortion Ban Act                                                              
                                  of 1995.                                                                      
H.R. 2546......................  D.C.                H. Res. 252          Restrictive; waives                N/A
                                  Appropriations FY                        all points of order                  
                                  1996.                                    against the bill's                   
                                                                           consideration; Makes                 
                                                                           in order the Walsh                   
                                                                           amendment as the                     
                                                                           first order of                       
                                                                           business (10 min.);                  
                                                                           if adopted it is                     
                                                                           considered as base                   
                                                                           text; waives cl 2 and                
                                                                           6 of rule XXI against                
                                                                           the bill; makes in                   
                                                                           order the Bonilla,                   
                                                                           Gunderson and                        
                                                                           Hostettler amendments                
                                                                           (30 min.); waives all                
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendments; debate on                
                                                                           any further                          
                                                                           amendments is limited                
                                                                           to 30 min. each.                     
H.J. Res. 115..................  Further Continuing  H. Res. 257          Closed; Provides for               N/A
                                  Appropriations                           the immediate                        
                                  for FY 1996.                             consideration of the                 
                                                                           CR; one motion to                    
                                                                           recommit which may                   
                                                                           have instructions                    
                                                                           only if offered by                   
                                                                           the Minority Leader                  
                                                                           or a designee.                       
H.R. 2586......................  Temporary Increase  H. Res. 258          Restrictive; Provides               5R
                                  in the Statutory                         for the immediate                    
                                  Debt Limit.                              consideration of the                 
                                                                           CR; one motion to                    
                                                                           recommit which may                   
                                                                           have instructions                    
                                                                           only if offered by                   
                                                                           the Minority Leader                  
                                                                           or a designee; self-                 
                                                                           executes 4 amendments                
                                                                           in the rule; Solomon,                
                                                                           Medicare Coverage of                 
                                                                           Certain Anti-Cancer                  
                                                                           Drug Treatments,                     
                                                                           Habeas Corpus Reform,                
                                                                           Chrysler (MI); makes                 
                                                                           in order the Walker                  
                                                                           amend (40 min.) on                   
                                                                           regulatory reform.                   
H.R. 2539......................  ICC Termination...  H. Res. 259          Open; waives section    ..............
                                                                           302(f) and section                   
                                                                           308(a).                              
H.J. Res. 115..................  Further Continuing  H. Res. 261          Closed; provides for              N/A.
                                  Appropriations                           the immediate                        
                                  for FY 1996.                             consideration of a                   
                                                                           motion by the                        
                                                                           Majority Leader or                   
                                                                           his designees to                     
                                                                           dispose of the Senate                
                                                                           amendments (1hr).                    
H.R. 2586......................  Temporary Increase  H. Res. 262          Closed; provides for              N/A.
                                  in the Statutory                         the immediate                        
                                  Limit on the                             consideration of a                   
                                  Public Debt.                             motion by the                        
                                                                           Majority Leader or                   
                                                                           his designees to                     
                                                                           dispose of the Senate                
                                                                           amendments (1hr).                    
H. Res. 250....................  House Gift Rule     H. Res. 268          Closed; provides for                2R
                                  Reform.                                  consideration of the                 
                                                                           bill in the House; 30                
                                                                           min. of debate; makes                
                                                                           in order the Burton                  
                                                                           amendment and the                    
                                                                           Gingrich en bloc                     
                                                                           amendment (30 min.                   
                                                                           each); waives all                    
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendments; Gingrich                 
                                                                           is only in order if                  
                                                                           Burton fails or is                   
                                                                           not offered.                         
H.R. 2564......................  Lobbying            H. Res. 269          Open; waives cl.                  N/A.
                                  Disclosure Act of                        2(l)(6) of rule XI                   
                                  1995.                                    against the bill's                   
                                                                           consideration; waives                
                                                                           all points of order                  
                                                                           against the Istook                   
                                                                           and McIntosh                         
                                                                           amendments.                          
H.R. 2606......................  Prohibition on      H. Res. 273          Restrictive; waives               N/A.
                                  Funds for Bosnia                         all points of order                  
                                  Deployment.                              against the bill's                   
                                                                           consideration;                       
                                                                           provides one motion                  
                                                                           to amend if offered                  
                                                                           by the Minority                      
                                                                           Leader or designee (1                
                                                                           hr non-amendable);                   
                                                                           motion to recommit                   
                                                                           which may have                       
                                                                           instructions only if                 
                                                                           offered by Minority                  
                                                                           Leader or his                        
                                                                           designee; if Minority                
                                                                           Leader motion is not                 
                                                                           offered debate time                  
                                                                           will be extended by 1                
                                                                           hr.                                  
H.R. 1788......................  Amtrak Reform and   H. Res. 289          Open; waives all                  N/A.
                                  Privatization Act                        points of order                      
                                  of 1995.                                 against the bill's                   
                                                                           consideration; makes                 
                                                                           in order the                         
                                                                           Transportation                       
                                                                           substitute modified                  
                                                                           by the amend in the                  
                                                                           report; Bill read by                 
                                                                           title; waives all                    
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           substitute; makes in                 
                                                                           order a managers                     
                                                                           amend as the first                   
                                                                           order of business, if                
                                                                           adopted it is                        
                                                                           considered base text                 
                                                                           (10 min.); waives all                
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendment; Pre-                      
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority.                            
H.R. 1350......................  Maritime Security   H. Res. 287          Open; makes in order              N/A.
                                  Act of 1995.                             the committee                        
                                                                           substitute as                        
                                                                           original text; makes                 
                                                                           in order a managers                  
                                                                           amendment which if                   
                                                                           adopted is considered                
                                                                           as original text (20                 
                                                                           min.) unamendable;                   
                                                                           pre-printing gets                    
                                                                           priority.                            
H.R. 2621......................  To Protect Federal  H. Res. 293          Closed; provides for              N/A.
                                  Trust Funds.                             the adoption of the                  
                                                                           Ways & Means                         
                                                                           amendment printed in                 
                                                                           the report. 1 hr. of                 
                                                                           general debate; PQ.                  
H.R. 1745......................  Utah Public Lands   H. Res. 303          Open; waives cl                   N/A.
                                  Management Act of                        2(l)(6) of rule XI                   
                                  1995.                                    and sections 302(f)                  
                                                                           and 311(a) of the                    
                                                                           Budget Act against                   
                                                                           the bill's                           
                                                                           consideration. Makes                 
                                                                           in order the                         
                                                                           Resources substitute                 
                                                                           as base text and                     
                                                                           waives cl 7 of rule                  
                                                                           XVI and sections                     
                                                                           302(f) and 308(a) of                 
                                                                           the Budget Act; makes                
                                                                           in order a managers'                 
                                                                           amend as the first                   
                                                                           order of business, if                
                                                                           adopted it is                        
                                                                           considered base text                 
                                                                           (10 min).                            
H. Res. 304....................  Providing for       N/A                  Closed; makes in order          1D; 2R
                                  Debate and                               three resolutions;                   
                                  Consideration of                         H.R. 2770 (Dornan),                  
                                  Three Measures                           H. Res. 302 (Buyer),                 
                                  Relating to U.S.                         and H. Res. 306                      
                                  Troop Deployments                        (Gephardt); 1 hour of                
                                  in Bosnia.                               debate on each.                      
H. Res. 309....................  Revised Budget      H. Res. 309          Closed; provides 2                N/A.
                                  Resolution.                              hours of general                     
                                                                           debate in the House;                 
                                                                           PQ.                                  
H.R. 558.......................  Texas Low-Level     H. Res. 313          Open; pre-printing                N/A.
                                  Radioactive Waste                        gets priority.                       
                                  Disposal Compact                                                              
                                  Consent Act.                                                                  
H.R. 2677......................  The National Parks  H. Res. 323          Closed; consideration             N/A.
                                  and National                             in the House; self-                  
                                  Wildlife Refuge                          executes Young                       
                                  Systems Freedom                          amendment.                           
                                  Act of 1995.                                                                  
                                   PROCEDURE IN THE 104TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION                                   
                                                                                                                
H.R. 1643......................  To authorize the    H. Res. 334          Closed; provides to               N/A.
                                  extension of                             take the bill from                   
                                  nondiscriminatory                        the Speaker's table                  
                                  treatment (MFN)                          with the Senate                      
                                  to the products                          amendment, and                       
                                  of Bulgaria.                             consider in the House                
                                                                           the motion printed in                
                                                                           the Rules Committee                  
                                                                           report; 1 hr. of                     
                                                                           general debate;                      
                                                                           previous question is                 
                                                                           considered as                        
                                                                           ordered. ** NR; PQ.                  
H.J. Res. 134..................  Making continuing   H. Res. 336          Closed; provides to               N/A.
H. Con. Res. 131...............   appropriations/                          take from the                        
                                  establishing                             Speaker's table H.J.                 
                                  procedures making                        Res. 134 with the                    
                                  the transmission                         Senate amendment and                 
                                  of the continuing                        concur with the                      
                                  resolution H.J.                          Senate amendment with                
                                  Res. 134.                                an amendment (H. Con.                
                                                                           Res. 131) which is                   
                                                                           self-executed in the                 
                                                                           rule. The rule                       
                                                                           provides further that                
                                                                           the bill shall not be                
                                                                           sent back to the                     
                                                                           Senate until the                     
                                                                           Senate agrees to the                 
                                                                           provisions of H. Con.                
                                                                           Res. 131. ** NR; PQ.                 
H.R. 1358......................  Conveyance of       H. Res. 338          Closed; provides to               N/A.
                                  National Marine                          take the bill from                   
                                  Fisheries Service                        the Speaker's table                  
                                  Laboratory at                            with the Senate                      
                                  Gloucester,                              amendment, and                       
                                  Massachusetts.                           consider in the House                
                                                                           the motion printed in                
                                                                           the Rules Committee                  
                                                                           report; 1 hr. of                     
                                                                           general debate;                      
                                                                           previous question is                 
                                                                           considered as                        
                                                                           ordered. ** NR; PQ.                  
H.R. 2924......................  Social Security     H. Res. 355          Closed; ** NR; PQ.....            N/A.
                                  Guarantee Act.                                                                
H.R. 2854......................  The Agricultural    H. Res. 366          Restrictive; waives          5D; 9R; 2
                                  Market Transition                        all points of order       Bipartisan.
                                  Program.                                 against the bill; 2                  
                                                                           hrs of general                       
                                                                           debate; makes in                     
                                                                           order a committee                    
                                                                           substitute as                        
                                                                           original text and                    
                                                                           waives all points of                 
                                                                           order against the                    
                                                                           substitute; makes in                 
                                                                           order only the 16                    
                                                                           amends printed in the                
                                                                           report and waives all                
                                                                           points of order                      
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendments;                          
                                                                           circumvents unfunded                 
                                                                           mandates law;                        
                                                                           Chairman has en bloc                 
                                                                           authority for amends                 
                                                                           in report (20 min.)                  
                                                                           on each en bloc; PQ.                 
H.R. 994.......................  Regulatory Sunset   H. Res. 368          Open rule; makes in               N/A.
                                  & Review Act of                          order the Hyde                       
                                  1995.                                    substitute printed in                
                                                                           the Record as                        
                                                                           original text; waives                
                                                                           cl 7 of rule XVI                     
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           substitute; Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority; vacates the                
                                                                           House action on S.                   
                                                                           219 and provides to                  
                                                                           take the bill from                   
                                                                           the Speaker's table                  
                                                                           and consider the                     
                                                                           Senate bill; allows                  
                                                                           Chrmn. Clinger a                     
                                                                           motion to strike all                 
                                                                           after the enacting                   
                                                                           clause of the Senate                 
                                                                           bill and insert the                  
                                                                           text of H.R. 994 as                  
                                                                           passed by the House                  
                                                                           (1 hr) debate; waives                
                                                                           germaneness against                  
                                                                           the motion; provides                 
                                                                           if the motion is                     
                                                                           adopted that it is in                
                                                                           order for the House                  
                                                                           to insist on its                     
                                                                           amendments and                       
                                                                           request a conference.                
H.R. 3021......................  To Guarantee the    H. Res. 371          Closed rule; gives one            N/A.
                                  Continuing Full                          motion to recommit,                  
                                  Investment of                            which if it contains                 
                                  Social security                          instructions, may                    
                                  and Other Federal                        only if offered by                   
                                  Funds in                                 the Minority Leader                  
                                  Obligations of                           or his designee. **                  
                                  the United States.                       NR.                                  
H.R. 3019......................  A Further           H. Res. 372          Restrictive; self-              2D/2R.
                                  Downpayment                              executes CBO language                
                                  Toward a Balanced                        regarding contingency                
                                  Budget.                                  funds in section 2 of                
                                                                           the rule; makes in                   
                                                                           order only the                       
                                                                           amendments printed in                
                                                                           the report; Lowey (20                
                                                                           min), Istook (20                     
                                                                           min), Crapo (20 min),                
                                                                           Obey (1 hr); waives                  
                                                                           all points of order                  
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendments; give one                 
                                                                           motion to recommit,                  
                                                                           which if contains                    
                                                                           instructions, may                    
                                                                           only if offered by                   
                                                                           the Minority Leader                  
                                                                           or his designee. **                  
                                                                           NR.                                  
H.R. 2703......................  The Effective       H. Res. 380          Restrictive; makes in        6D; 7R; 4
                                  Death Penalty and                        order only the            Bipartisan.
                                  Public Safety Act                        amendments printed in                
                                  of 1996.                                 the report; waives                   
                                                                           all points of order                  
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendments; gives                    
                                                                           Judiciary Chairman en                
                                                                           bloc authority (20                   
                                                                           min.) on en blocs;                   
                                                                           provides a Senate                    
                                                                           hook-up with S. 735.                 
                                                                           ** NR.                               
H.R. 2202......................  The Immigration     H. Res. 384          Restrictive; waives        12D; 19R; 1
                                  and National                             all points of order       Bipartisan.
                                  Interest Act of                          against the bill and                 
                                  1995.                                    amendments in the                    
                                                                           report except for                    
                                                                           those arising under                  
                                                                           sec. 425(a) of the                   
                                                                           Budget Act (unfunded                 
                                                                           mandates); 2 hrs. of                 
                                                                           general debate on the                
                                                                           bill; makes in order                 
                                                                           the committee                        
                                                                           substitute as base                   
                                                                           text; makes in order                 
                                                                           only the amends in                   
                                                                           the report; gives the                
                                                                           Judiciary Chairman en                
                                                                           bloc authority (20                   
                                                                           min.) of debate on                   
                                                                           the en blocs; self-                  
                                                                           executes the Smith                   
                                                                           (TX) amendment re:                   
                                                                           employee verification                
                                                                           program; PQ.                         
H.J. Res. 165..................  Making further      H. Res. 386          Closed; provides for              N/A.
                                  continuing                               the consideration of                 
                                  appropriations                           the CR in the House                  
                                  for FY 1996.                             and gives one motion                 
                                                                           to recommit which may                
                                                                           contain instructions                 
                                                                           only if offered by                   
                                                                           the Minority Leader;                 
                                                                           the rule also waives                 
                                                                           cl 4(b) of rule XI                   
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           following: an omnibus                
                                                                           appropriations bill,                 
                                                                           another CR, a bill                   
                                                                           extending the debt                   
                                                                           limit. ** NR.                        
H.R. 125.......................  The Gun Crime       H. Res. 388          Closed; self-executes             N/A.
                                  Enforcement and                          an amendment;                        
                                  Second Amendment                         provides one motion                  
                                  Restoration Act                          to recommit which may                
                                  of 1996.                                 contain instructions                 
                                                                           only if offered by                   
                                                                           the Minority Leader                  
                                                                           or his designee. **                  
                                                                           NR.                                  
H.R. 3136......................  The Contract With   H. Res. 391          Closed; provides for              N/A.
                                  America                                  the consideration of                 
                                  Advancement Act                          the bill in the                      
                                  of 1996.                                 House; self-executes                 
                                                                           an amendment in the                  
                                                                           Rules report; waives                 
                                                                           all points of order,                 
                                                                           except sec. 425(a)                   
                                                                           (unfunded mandates)                  
                                                                           of the CBA, against                  
                                                                           the bill's                           
                                                                           consideration; orders                
                                                                           the PQ except 1 hr.                  
                                                                           of general debate                    
                                                                           between the Chairman                 
                                                                           and Ranking Member of                
                                                                           Ways and Means; one                  
                                                                           Archer amendment (10                 
                                                                           min.); one motion to                 
                                                                           recommit which may                   
                                                                           contain instructions                 
                                                                           only if offered by                   
                                                                           the Minority Leader                  
                                                                           or his designee;                     
                                                                           Provides a Senate                    
                                                                           hookup if the Senate                 
                                                                           passes S. 4 by March                 
                                                                           30, 1996. **NR.                      
H.R. 3103......................  The Health          H. Res. 392          Restrictive: 2 hrs. of            N/A.
                                  Coverage                                 general debate (45                   
                                  Availability and                         min. split by Ways                   
                                  Affordability Act                        and Means) (45 split                 
                                  of 1996.                                 by Commerce) (30                     
                                                                           split by Economic and                
                                                                           Educational                          
                                                                           Opportunities); self-                
                                                                           executes H.R. 3160 as                
                                                                           modified by the                      
                                                                           amendment in the                     
                                                                           Rules report as                      
                                                                           original text; waives                
                                                                           all points of order,                 
                                                                           except sec. 425(a)                   
                                                                           (unfunded mandates)                  
                                                                           of the CBA; makes in                 
                                                                           order a Democratic                   
                                                                           substitute (1 hr.)                   
                                                                           waives all points of                 
                                                                           order, except sec.                   
                                                                           425(a) (unfunded                     
                                                                           mandates) of the CBA,                
                                                                           against the                          
                                                                           amendment; one motion                
                                                                           to recommit which may                
                                                                           contain instructions                 
                                                                           only if offered by                   
                                                                           the Minority Leader                  
                                                                           or his designee;                     
                                                                           waives cl 5(c) of                    
                                                                           Rule XXI (requiring                  
                                                                           \3/5\ vote on any tax                
                                                                           increase) on votes on                
                                                                           the bill, amendments                 
                                                                           or conference reports.               

[[Page H5444]]

                                                                                                                
H.J. Res. 159..................  Tax Limitation      H. Res. 395          Restrictive; provides               1D
                                  Constitutional                           for consideration of                 
                                  Amendment.                               the bill in the                      
                                                                           House; 3 hrs of                      
                                                                           general debate; Makes                
                                                                           in order H.J. Res.                   
                                                                           169 as original text;                
                                                                           allows for an                        
                                                                           amendment to be                      
                                                                           offered by the                       
                                                                           Minority Leader or                   
                                                                           his designee (1 hr)                  
                                                                           ** NR; PQ.                           
H.R. 842.......................  Truth in Budgeting  H. Res. 396          Open; 2 hrs. of                   N/A.
                                  Act.                                     general debate; Pre-                 
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority.                            
H.R. 2715......................  Paperwork           H. Res. 409          Open; Preprinting get             N/A.
                                  Elimination Act                          priority.                            
                                  of 1996.                                                                      
H.R. 1675......................  National Wildlife   H. Res. 410          Open; Makes the Young             N/A.
                                  Refuge                                   amendment printed in                 
                                  Improvement Act                          the 4/16/96 Record in                
                                  of 1995.                                 order as original                    
                                                                           text; waives cl 7 of                 
                                                                           rule XVI against the                 
                                                                           amendment;                           
                                                                           Preprinting gets                     
                                                                           priority; **NR.                      
H.J. Res. 175..................  Further Continuing  H. Res. 411          Closed; provides for              N/A.
                                  Appropriations                           consideration of the                 
                                  for FY 1996.                             bill in the House;                   
                                                                           one motion to                        
                                                                           recommit which, if                   
                                                                           containing                           
                                                                           instructions, may be                 
                                                                           offered by the                       
                                                                           Minority Leader or                   
                                                                           his designee. **NR.                  
H.R. 2641......................  United States       H. Res. 418          Open; Pre-printing                N/A.
                                  Marshals Service                         gets priority; Senate                
                                  Improvement Act                          hook-up. **PQ.                       
                                  of 1996.                                                                      
H.R. 2149......................  The Ocean Shipping  H. Res. 419          Open; Makes in order a            N/A.
                                  Reform Act.                              managers amendment as                
                                                                           the first order of                   
                                                                           business (10 min.);                  
                                                                           if adopted it is                     
                                                                           considered as base                   
                                                                           text; waives cl 7 of                 
                                                                           rule XVI against the                 
                                                                           managers amendment;                  
                                                                           Pre-printing gets                    
                                                                           priority; makes in                   
                                                                           order an Obestar en                  
                                                                           bloc amendment.                      
H.R. 2974......................  To amend the        H. Res. 421          Open; waives cl 7 of              N/A.
                                  Violent Crime                            rule XIII against                    
                                  Control and Law                          consideration of the                 
                                  Enforcement Act                          bill; makes in order                 
                                  of 1994 to                               the Judiciary                        
                                  provide enhanced                         substitute printed in                
                                  penalties for                            the bill as original                 
                                  crimes against                           text; waives cl 7 of                 
                                  elderly and child                        rule XVI against the                 
                                  victims.                                 substitute; Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority.                            
H.R. 3120......................  To amend Title 18,  H. Res. 422          Open; waives cl 7 of              N/A.
                                  United States                            rule XIII against                    
                                  Code, with                               consideration of the                 
                                  respect to                               bill; makes in order                 
                                  witness                                  the Judiciary                        
                                  retaliation,                             substitute printed in                
                                  witness tampering                        the bill as original                 
                                  and jury                                 text; waives cl 7 of                 
                                  tampering.                               rule XVI against the                 
                                                                           substitute; Pre-                     
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority.                            
H.R. 2406......................  The United States   H. Res. 426          Open; makes in order              N/A.
                                  Housing Act of                           the committee                        
                                  1996.                                    substitute printed in                
                                                                           the bill as original                 
                                                                           text; waives cl 5(a)                 
                                                                           of rule XXI against                  
                                                                           the substitute; makes                
                                                                           in order a managers                  
                                                                           amendment as the                     
                                                                           first order of                       
                                                                           business (10 min); if                
                                                                           adopted it is                        
                                                                           considered as base                   
                                                                           text; Pre-printing                   
                                                                           gets priority;                       
                                                                           provides a Senate                    
                                                                           hook-up.                             
H.R. 3322......................  Omnibus Civilian    H. Res. 427          Open; waives cl                   N/A.
                                  Science                                  2(l)(2) of rule XI                   
                                  Authorization Act                        against the bill's                   
                                  of 1996.                                 consideration; makes                 
                                                                           in order a managers                  
                                                                           amendment as the                     
                                                                           first order of                       
                                                                           business (10 min); if                
                                                                           adopted it is                        
                                                                           considered as base                   
                                                                           text; waives cl 5(a)                 
                                                                           of rule XXI against                  
                                                                           the bill; pre-                       
                                                                           printing gets                        
                                                                           priority.                            
H.R. 3286......................  The Adoption        H. Res. 428          Restrictive; provides           1D; 1R
                                  Promotion and                            consideration of the                 
                                  Stability Act of                         bill in the House;                   
                                  1996.                                    makes in order the                   
                                                                           Ways & Means                         
                                                                           substitute printed in                
                                                                           the bill as original                 
                                                                           text; makes in order                 
                                                                           a Gibbons amendment                  
                                                                           to title II (30 min)                 
                                                                           and a Young amendment                
                                                                           (30 min); provides                   
                                                                           one motion to                        
                                                                           recommit which may                   
                                                                           contain instructions                 
                                                                           only if offered by                   
                                                                           the Minority Leader                  
                                                                           or his designee.                     
H.R. 3230......................  Defense             H. Res. 430          Restrictive...........      41 amends;
                                  Authorization                                                      20D; 17R; 4
                                  Bill FY 1997.                                                       bipartisan
H.R. 3415......................  Repeal of the 4.3-  H. Res. 436          Closed................            N/A.
                                  Cent Increase in                                                              
                                  Transporation                                                                 
                                  Fuel Taxes.                                                                   
H.R. 3259......................  Intelligence        H. Res. 437          Restrictive...........            N/A.
                                  Authorization Act                                                             
                                  for FY 1997.                                                                  
H.R. 3144......................  The Defend America  H. Res. 438          Restrictive...........              1D
                                  Act.                                                                          
H.R. 3448/H.R. 1227............  The Small Business  H. Res. 440          Restrictive...........              2R
                                  Job Protection                                                                
                                  Act of 1996, and                                                              
                                  The Employee                                                                  
                                  Commuting                                                                     
                                  Flexibility Act                                                               
                                  of 1996.                                                                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Contract Bills, 67% restrictive; 33% open. ** All legislation 1st Session, 53% restrictive; 47% open. *** All 
  legislation 2d Session, 69% restrictive; 31% open. **** All legislation 104th Congress, 58% restrictive; 42%  
  open. ***** NR indicates that the legislation being considered by the House for amendment has circumvented    
  standard procedure and was never reported from any House committee. ****** PQ Indicates that previous question
  was ordered on the resolution. ******* Restrictive rules are those which limit the number of amendments which 
  can be offered, and include so-called modified open and modified closed rules as well as completely closed    
  rules and rules providing for consideration in the House as opposed to the Committee of the Whole. This       
  definition of restrictive rule is taken from the Republican chart of resolutions reported from the Rules      
  Committee in the 103d Congress. N/A means not available.                                                      



             Legislation in the 104th Congress, 2d Session

       To date 13 out of 31, or 42% of the bills considered under 
     rules in the 2d session of the 104th Congress have been 
     considered under an irregular procedure which circumvents the 
     standard committee procedure. They have been brought to the 
     floor without any committee reporting them. They are as 
     follows:
       H.R. 1643, to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory 
     treatment (MFN) to the products of Bulgaria.
       H.J. Res. 134, making continuing appropriations for fiscal 
     year 1996.
       H.R. 1358, conveyance of National Marine Fisheries Service 
     Laboratory at Gloucester, Massachusetts.
       H.R. 2924, the Social Security Guarantee Act.
       H.R. 3021, to guarantee the continuing full investment of 
     Social Security and other Federal funds in obligations of the 
     United States.
       H.R. 3019, a further downpayment toward a balanced budget.
       H.R. 2703, the effective Death Penalty and Public Safety 
     Act of 1996.
       H.J. Res. 165, making further continuing appropriations for 
     fiscal year 1996.
       H.R. 125, the Crime Enforcement and Second Amendment 
     Restoration Act of 1996.
       H.R. 3136, the Contract With America Advancement Act of 
     1996.
       H.J. Res. 159, tax limitation constitutional amendment.
       H.R. 1675, National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 
     1995.
       H.J. Res. 175, making further continuing appropriations for 
     fiscal year 1996.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, to sum up, I urge a no vote on the 
rule. The resolution does not provide the opportunity for a straight 
up-or-down vote on the minimum wage. And make no mistake about it; the 
small business exemption will drag this legislation down. This issue is 
too important for working families. Let us send it back to the 
Committee on Rules. Vote no on the rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would just say that we would think from the rhetoric 
spewing forth from the Democrats that they were not going to have a 
chance to vote up-or-down on a minimum wage. Come back in about an 
hour-and-a-half and I want everybody to see what takes place. It will 
be an up-or-down vote on a minimum wage.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a shame that we have to get into these partisan 
fights on something that is so terribly important. Yes, it is important 
for a minimum wage increase, but yes, it important that we relieve 
small business of some of the expenses in order to pay for that minimum 
wage increase. That is exactly what this bill does.
  Small business incentives, decreasing expenses for small businesses, 
that means a lot to small businesses. Home office deductions, do 
Members know what that means to so many working mothers that want to 
work out of their homes? That is what Members are voting for when they 
come over here and vote for this rule. That is terribly important to 
working mothers that want to stay in their homes and take care of their 
children.
  Mr. Speaker, we can go down and line. Here are dozens and dozens of 
little benefits that add up to so much: employer-provided educational 
assistance. That is so important. The Democrats ought to be standing up 
there voting for this bill. Pension implication provisions, to allow 
pensions for the few employees that small businesses have. That is what 
this whole debate is all about.
  Everyone should come over here, they should vote for this rule, and 
then they should do a favor for small business and a favor for working 
people that might be on the minimum wage. This is a good bill. It is a 
compromise. That is what we all have to learn in politics: We cannot 
always have it our own way. Let us work together. Come over here and 
vote for the rule and then vote for the bill. Members will be doing 
something for people of this country.
  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 SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hobson). The question is on the 
resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the noes appeared to have it.
  Mr. SOLOMON. 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 219, 
nays 211, not voting 4, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 189]

                               YEAS--219

     Allard
     Archer
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baker (CA)
     Baker (LA)

[[Page H5445]]


     Ballenger
     Barr
     Barrett (NE)
     Bass
     Bateman
     Bereuter
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Blute
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bono
     Brownback
     Bryant (TN)
     Bunn
     Burr
     Burton
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Canady
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Chenoweth
     Chrysler
     Clinger
     Coble
     Coburn
     Collins (GA)
     Combest
     Cooley
     Cox
     Crane
     Crapo
     Cremeans
     Cunningham
     Davis
     Deal
     DeLay
     Diaz-Balart
     Doolittle
     Dornan
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Emerson
     English
     Ensign
     Everett
     Ewing
     Fawell
     Fields (TX)
     Flanagan
     Foley
     Forbes
     Fowler
     Fox
     Franks (CT)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Frisa
     Funderburk
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gekas
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gingrich
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Goss
     Graham
     Greene (UT)
     Greenwood
     Gunderson
     Gutknecht
     Hansen
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Heineman
     Herger
     Hilleary
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hoke
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Houghton
     Hunter
     Hutchinson
     Hyde
     Inglis
     Istook
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones
     Kasich
     Kelly
     Kim
     King
     Kingston
     Klug
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     LaHood
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Laughlin
     Lazio
     Leach
     Lewis (CA)
     Lightfoot
     Linder
     Livingston
     LoBiondo
     Longley
     Lucas
     Manzullo
     Martini
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDade
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McKeon
     Metcalf
     Meyers
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Moorhead
     Morella
     Myrick
     Nethercutt
     Neumann
     Ney
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oxley
     Packard
     Parker
     Paxon
     Petri
     Pombo
     Porter
     Portman
     Pryce
     Quillen
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Ramstad
     Regula
     Riggs
     Roberts
     Rogers
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roth
     Roukema
     Royce
     Sanford
     Saxton
     Schaefer
     Schiff
     Seastrand
     Sensenbrenner
     Shaw
     Shays
     Shuster
     Skeen
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Solomon
     Spence
     Stearns
     Stockman
     Stump
     Talent
     Tate
     Tauzin
     Taylor (NC)
     Thomas
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Torkildsen
     Upton
     Vucanovich
     Walker
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Watts (OK)
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     White
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wolf
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)
     Zeliff
     Zimmer

                               NAYS--211

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Andrews
     Baesler
     Baldacci
     Barcia
     Barrett (WI)
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Becerra
     Beilenson
     Bentsen
     Berman
     Bevill
     Bishop
     Bonior
     Borski
     Boucher
     Brewster
     Browder
     Brown (CA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Bryant (TX)
     Bunning
     Cardin
     Chapman
     Christensen
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Coleman
     Collins (IL)
     Collins (MI)
     Condit
     Conyers
     Costello
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Cubin
     Cummings
     Danner
     de la Garza
     DeFazio
     DeLauro
     Dellums
     Deutsch
     Dickey
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Dixon
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doyle
     Durbin
     Edwards
     Engel
     Eshoo
     Evans
     Farr
     Fattah
     Fazio
     Fields (LA)
     Filner
     Flake
     Foglietta
     Ford
     Frank (MA)
     Frost
     Furse
     Gejdenson
     Gephardt
     Geren
     Gibbons
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Green (TX)
     Gutierrez
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hamilton
     Hancock
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Hefner
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Holden
     Hoyer
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jacobs
     Jefferson
     Johnson (SD)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnston
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy (MA)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kleczka
     Klink
     LaFalce
     Lantos
     Largent
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Lincoln
     Lipinski
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Luther
     Maloney
     Manton
     Markey
     Martinez
     Mascara
     Matsui
     McCarthy
     McDermott
     McHale
     McIntosh
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek
     Menendez
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (CA)
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Mollohan
     Montgomery
     Moran
     Murtha
     Myers
     Nadler
     Neal
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Orton
     Owens
     Pallone
     Pastor
     Payne (NJ)
     Pelosi
     Peterson (FL)
     Peterson (MN)
     Pickett
     Pomeroy
     Poshard
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Reed
     Richardson
     Rivers
     Roemer
     Rose
     Roybal-Allard
     Rush
     Sabo
     Salmon
     Sanders
     Sawyer
     Schroeder
     Schumer
     Scott
     Serrano
     Shadegg
     Sisisky
     Skaggs
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Souder
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stenholm
     Stokes
     Studds
     Stupak
     Tanner
     Taylor (MS)
     Tejeda
     Thompson
     Thornton
     Thurman
     Torres
     Torricelli
     Towns
     Traficant
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     Volkmer
     Ward
     Waters
     Watt (NC)
     Waxman
     Williams
     Wilson
     Wise
     Woolsey
     Wynn
     Yates

                             NOT VOTING--4

     Bliley
     Molinari
     Payne (VA)
     Scarborough

                              {time}  1840

  The Clerk announced the following pair:
  On this vote:

       Mr. Scarborough for, with Mr. Payne of Virginia against.

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

                          ____________________