[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 77 (Thursday, May 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H5655-H5659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3517, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 442 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 442

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule 
     XXIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the State of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 3517) making appropriations for military 
     construction, family housing, and base realignment and 
     closure for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes. The first 
     reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. Points of order 
     against consideration of the bill for failure to comply with 
     clause 7 of rule XXI are waived. General debate shall be 
     confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally 
     divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority 
     member of the Committee on Appropriations. After general 
     debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the 
     five minute rule. Points of order against provisions in the 
     bill for failure to comply with clause 2 or 6 of rule XXI are 
     waived. During consideration of the bill for amendment, the 
     Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may accord priority in 
     recognition on the basis of whether the Member offering an 
     amendment has caused it to be printed in the portion of the 
     Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 6 
     of rule XXIII. Amendments so printed shall be considered as 
     read. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone 
     until a time during further consideration in the Committee of 
     the Whole a request for a recorded vote on any amendment. The 
     Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may reduce to not less 
     than five minutes the time for voting by electronic device on 
     any postponed question that immediately follows another vote 
     by electronic device without intervening business, provided 
     that the time for voting by electronic device on the first in 
     any series of questions shall be not less than fifteen 
     minutes. After the reading of the final lines of the bill, a 
     motion that the Committee of the Whole rise and report the 
     bill to the House with such amendments as may have been 
     adopted shall, if offered by the majority leader or a 
     designee, have precedence over a motion to amend. At the 
     conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the 
     Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with 
     such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous 
     question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and 
     amendments thereto to final passage without intervening 
     motion except one motion to recommit with or without 
     instructions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Quillen] 
is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hall], pending 
which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration 
of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
  (Mr. QUILLEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks and to include extraneous material.)
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 442 is an open rule 
providing for the consideration of H.R. 3517, the military construction 
appropriations bill for fiscal year 1997. The rule provides 1 hour of 
general debate, and waives the 3-day requirement for availability of 
printed hearings and the committee report. In this case, the committee 
report has been available for the required amount of time but the 
complete set of hearings has not.
  The rule also waives the prohibition against unauthorized 
appropriations and legislation in general appropriations bills. This is 
primarily necessary because the Defense authorization bill has not yet 
been signed into law. Additionally, the rule waives the prohibition on 
transfers of unobligated funds, which was included at the request of 
the Appropriations Committee.
  The rule allows for priority in recognition to Members who have 
preprinted their amendments in the Congressional Record prior to their 
consideration, and it provides the usual motion to recommit, with or 
without instructions.
  Mr. Speaker, there are two provisions in this rule which deviate from 
the typical rule on a general appropriations bill. First, the rule 
provides the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole the authority to 
postpone and cluster votes on amendments.

[[Page H5656]]

  While this has been done before in rules, it has usually been done by 
unanimous consent on appropriations bills. This provision was included 
at the request of Chairman Livingston.
  The second new feature of this rule is really a clarification of an 
existing House rule regarding the privileged motion to rise and report 
the bill to the House at the end of the regular amendment process.
  Clause 2(d) of House Rule 21 provides that after a general 
appropriations bill has been read for amendment and all regular 
amendments have been considered, a privileged motion may be offered by 
the majority leader or a designee that the Committee rise and report 
the bill back to the House with such amendments as have been adopted.
  According to that rule, this motion shall have precedence over 
motions to further amend the bill. If the motion is rejected, then it 
is in order to consider limitation amendments, but the motion can be 
renewed after the disposition of any limitation amendment.
  The intent of the rule when it was first adopted in 1983 was to allow 
for the disposal of all regular amendments at the end of the reading of 
the bill for amendment before entertaining any limitation amendments. 
Once the limitation amendment process was underway, the motion to rise 
and report would be privileged at any time.
  However, the Parliamentarian's office informs us that from a 
practical viewpoint, even if no regular amendments are pending or 
offered at the time the reading of the bill for such amendments is 
completed, and even if a limitation amendment has been offered and 
disposed of, a regular amendment could still be offered at that point, 
and it would have precedence over the majority leader's motion to rise 
and report.
  This sets up the possibility of jumping back and forth between 
limitation amendments and regular amendments--thereby preempting the 
privileged motion to rise and report.
  The language included in this rule before us today makes clear that 
line of distinction by making the motion to rise and report in order 
only after the final lines of the bill are read by the Clerk.
  Prior to that, the Chair would inquire of the Committee of the Whole 
whether there are any further amendments not precluded by clauses 2(a) 
or 2(c). If none are offered at that point, the Chair would direct the 
Clerk to read the final lines of the bill. At any point thereafter, the 
majority leader or his designee may offer the privileged motion to rise 
and report.
  In summary, the purpose of this language is to draw a clear line 
between the regular amendment process and the limitation amendment 
process at the end of the reading of the bill for amendment.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3517 is the first of the 13 appropriations bills to 
be considered for fiscal year 1997. The Quality of Life Task Force, 
chaired by former Secretary of the Army, Jack Marsh, has produced a 
report concluding that 62 percent of troop housing spaces and 64 
percent of family housing units are currently unsuitable. I am 
especially pleased to see that this bill provides sufficient funds to 
construct and improve housing units for our troops and their families.
  We have an obligation to provide adequate housing and other 
facilities for those who have volunteered to risk their lives to defend 
our country. Given the limited funds available, the appropriators have 
done an outstanding job in addressing this critical issue.
  I would particularly like to commend the chair of the Military 
Construction Subcommittee, Mrs. Vucanovich, and ranking minority 
member, Mr. Hefner, for their bipartisan spirit and hard work on this 
bill.
  This is an excellent piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues 
to support this rule and the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the following information:

 THE AMENDMENT PROCESS UNDER SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE,\1\ 103RD CONGRESS V. 104TH CONGRESS 
                                              [As of May 29, 1996]                                              
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  103d Congress                        104th Congress           
              Rule type              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Number of rules    Percent of total   Number of rules    Percent of total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open/Modified-open \2\..............                 46                 44                 70                 59
Modified Closed \3\.................                 49                 47                 31                 26
Closed \4\..........................                  9                  9                 17                 15
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................                104                100                118                100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This table applies only to rules which provide for the original consideration of bills, joint resolutions or
  budget resolutions and which provide for an amendment process. It does not apply to special rules which only  
  waive points of order against appropriations bills which are already privileged and are considered under an   
  open amendment process under House rules.                                                                     
\2\ An open rule is one under which any Member may offer a germane amendment under the five-minute rule. A      
  modified open rule is one under which any Member may offer a germane amendment under the five-minute rule     
  subject only to an overall time limit on the amendment process and/or a requirement that the amendment be     
  preprinted in the Congressional Record.                                                                       
\3\ A modified closed rule is one under which the Rules Committee limits the amendments that may be offered only
  to those amendments designated in the special rule or the Rules Committee report to accompany it, or which    
  preclude amendments to a particular portion of a bill, even though the rest of the bill may be completely open
  to amendment.                                                                                                 
\4\ A closed rule is one under which no amendments may be offered (other than amendments recommended by the     
  committee in reporting the bill).                                                                             


                          SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE, 104TH CONGRESS                         
                                              [As of May 29, 1996]                                              
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Disposition of 
    H. Res. No. (Date rept.)         Rule type           Bill No.              Subject                rule      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Res. 38 (1/18/95)...........  O................  H.R. 5...........  Unfunded Mandate        A: 350-71 (1/19/ 
                                                                        Reform.                 95).            
H. Res. 44 (1/24/95)...........  MC...............  H. Con. Res. 17..  Social Security.......  A: 255-172 (1/25/
                                                    H.J. Res. 1......  Balanced Budget Amdt..   95).            
H. Res. 51 (1/31/95)...........  O................  H.R. 101.........  Land Transfer, Taos     A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Pueblo Indians.         1/95).          
H. Res. 52 (1/31/95)...........  O................  H.R. 400.........  Land Exchange, Arctic   A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Nat'l. Park and         1/95).          
                                                                        Preserve.                               
H. Res. 53 (1/31/95)...........  O................  H.R. 440.........  Land Conveyance, Butte  A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        County, Calif.          1/95).          
H. Res. 55 (2/1/95)............  O................  H.R. 2...........  Line Item Veto........  A: voice vote (2/
                                                                                                2/95).          
H. Res. 60 (2/6/95)............  O................  H.R. 665.........  Victim Restitution....  A: voice vote (2/
                                                                                                7/95).          
H. Res. 61 (2/6/95)............  O................  H.R. 666.........  Exclusionary Rule       A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Reform.                 7/95).          
H. Res. 63 (2/8/95)............  MO...............  H.R. 667.........  Violent Criminal        A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Incarceration.          9/95).          
H. Res. 69 (2/9/95)............  O................  H.R. 668.........  Criminal Alien          A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Deportation.            10/95).         
H. Res. 79 (2/10/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 728.........  Law Enforcement Block   A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Grants.                 13/95).         
H. Res. 83 (2/13/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 7...........  National Security       PQ: 229-100; A:  
                                                                        Revitalization.         227-127 (2/15/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 88 (2/16/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 831.........  Health Insurance        PQ: 230-191; A:  
                                                                        Deductibility.          229-188 (2/21/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 91 (2/21/95)...........  O................  H.R. 830.........  Paperwork Reduction     A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Act.                    22/95).         
H. Res. 92 (2/21/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 889.........  Defense Supplemental..  A: 282-144 (2/22/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 93 (2/22/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 450.........  Regulatory Transition   A: 252-175 (2/23/
                                                                        Act.                    95).            
H. Res. 96 (2/24/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 1022........  Risk Assessment.......  A: 253-165 (2/27/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 100 (2/27/95)..........  O................  H.R. 926.........  Regulatory Reform and   A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Relief Act.             28/95).         
H. Res. 101 (2/28/95)..........  MO...............  H.R. 925.........  Private Property        A: 271-151 (3/2/ 
                                                                        Protection Act.         95).            
H. Res. 103 (3/3/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 1058........  Securities Litigation   .................
                                                                        Reform.                                 
H. Res. 104 (3/3/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 988.........  Attorney                A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Accountability Act.     6/95).          
H. Res. 105 (3/6/95)...........  MO...............  .................  ......................  A: 257-155 (3/7/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 108 (3/7/95)...........  Debate...........  H.R. 956.........  Product Liability       A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Reform.                 8/95).          
H. Res. 109 (3/8/95)...........  MC...............  .................  ......................  PQ: 234-191 A:   
                                                                                                247-181 (3/9/   
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 115 (3/14/95)..........  MO...............  H.R. 1159........  Making Emergency Supp.  A: 242-190 (3/15/
                                                                        Approps.                95).            
H. Res. 116 (3/15/95)..........  MC...............  H.J. Res. 73.....  Term Limits Const.      A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Amdt.                   28/95).         
H. Res. 117 (3/16/95)..........  Debate...........  H.R. 4...........  Personal                A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Responsibility Act of   21/95).         
                                                                        1995.                                   
H. Res. 119 (3/21/95)..........  MC...............  .................  ......................  A: 217-211 (3/22/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 125 (4/3/95)...........  O................  H.R. 1271........  Family Privacy          A: 423-1 (4/4/   
                                                                        Protection Act.         95).            
H. Res. 126 (4/3/95)...........  O................  H.R. 660.........  Older Persons Housing   A: voice vote (4/
                                                                        Act.                    6/95).          
H. Res. 128 (4/4/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 1215........  Contract With America   A: 228-204 (4/5/ 
                                                                        Tax Relief Act of       95).            
                                                                        1995.                                   
H. Res. 130 (4/5/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 483.........  Medicare Select          A: 253-172 (4/6/
                                                                        Expansion.              95).            

[[Page H5657]]

                                                                                                                
H. Res. 136 (5/1/95)...........  O................  H.R. 655.........  Hydrogen Future Act of  A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        1995.                   2/95).          
H. Res. 139 (5/3/95)...........  O................  H.R. 1361........  Coast Guard Auth. FY    A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        1996.                   9/95).          
H. Res. 140 (5/9/95)...........  O................  H.R. 961.........  Clean Water Amendments  A: 414-4 (5/10/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 144 (5/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 535.........  Fish Hatchery--         A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Arkansas.               15/95).         
H. Res. 145 (5/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 584.........  Fish Hatchery--Iowa...  A: voice vote (5/
                                                                                                15/95).         
H. Res. 146 (5/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 614.........  Fish Hatchery--         A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Minnesota.              15/95).         
H. Res. 149 (5/16/95)..........  MC...............  H. Con. Res. 67..  Budget Resolution FY    PQ: 252-170 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   255-168 (5/17/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 155 (5/22/95)..........  MO...............  H.R. 1561........  American Overseas       A: 233-176 (5/23/
                                                                        Interests Act.          95).            
H. Res. 164 (6/8/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 1530........  Nat. Defense Auth. FY   PQ: 225-191 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   233-183 (6/13/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 167 (6/15/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1817........  MilCon Appropriations   PQ: 223-180 A:   
                                                                        FY 1996.                245-155 (6/16/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 169 (6/19/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 1854........  Leg. Branch Approps.    PQ: 232-196 A:   
                                                                        FY 1996.                236-191 (6/20/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 170 (6/20/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1868........  For. Ops. Approps. FY   PQ: 221-178 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   217-175 (6/22/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 171 (6/22/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1905........  Energy & Water          A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       12/95).         
H. Res. 173 (6/27/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 79.....  Flag Constitutional     PQ: 258-170 A:   
                                                                        Amendment.              271-152 (6/28/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 176 (6/28/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 1944........  Emer. Supp. Approps...  PQ: 236-194 A:   
                                                                                                234-192 (6/29/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 185 (7/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1977........  Interior Approps. FY    PQ: 235-193 D:   
                                                                        1996.                   192-238 (7/12/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 187 (7/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1977........  Interior Approps. FY    PQ: 230-194 A:   
                                                                        1996 #2.                229-195 (7/13/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 188 (7/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1976........  Agriculture Approps.    PQ: 242-185 A:   
                                                                        FY 1996.                voice vote (7/18/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 190 (7/17/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2020........  Treasury/Postal         PQ: 232-192 A:   
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       voice vote (7/18/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 193 (7/19/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 96.....  Disapproval of MFN to   A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        China.                  20/95).         
H. Res. 194 (7/19/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2002........  Transportation          PQ: 217-202 (7/21/
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       95).            
H. Res. 197 (7/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 70..........  Exports of Alaskan      A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Crude Oil.              24/95).         
H. Res. 198 (7/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2076........  Commerce, State         A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       25/95).         
H. Res. 201 (7/25/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2099........  VA/HUD Approps. FY      A: 230-189 (7/25/
                                                                        1996.                   95).            
H. Res. 204 (7/28/95)..........  MC...............  S. 21............  Terminating U.S. Arms   A: voice vote (8/
                                                                        Embargo on Bosnia.      1/95).          
H. Res. 205 (7/28/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2126........  Defense Approps. FY     A: 409-1 (7/31/  
                                                                        1996.                   95).            
H. Res. 207 (8/1/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 1555........  Communications Act of   A: 255-156 (8/2/ 
                                                                        1995.                   95).            
H. Res. 208 (8/1/95)...........  O................  H.R. 2127........  Labor, HHS Approps. FY  A: 323-104 (8/2/ 
                                                                        1996.                   95).            
H. Res. 215 (9/7/95)...........  O................  H.R. 1594........  Economically Targeted   A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Investments.            12/95).         
H. Res. 216 (9/7/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 1655........  Intelligence            A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Authorization FY 1996.  12/95).         
H. Res. 218 (9/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1162........  Deficit Reduction       A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Lockbox.                13/95).         
H. Res. 219 (9/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1670........  Federal Acquisition     A: 414-0 (9/13/  
                                                                        Reform Act.             95).            
H. Res. 222 (9/18/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1617........  CAREERS Act...........  A: 388-2 (9/19/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 224 (9/19/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2274........  Natl. Highway System..  PQ: 241-173 A:   
                                                                                                375-39-1 (9/20/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 225 (9/19/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 927.........  Cuban Liberty & Dem.    A: 304-118 (9/20/
                                                                        Solidarity.             95).            
H. Res. 226 (9/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 743.........  Team Act..............  A: 344-66-1 (9/27/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 227 (9/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1170........  3-Judge Court.........  A: voice vote (9/
                                                                                                28/95).         
H. Res. 228 (9/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1601........  Internatl. Space        A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Station.                27/95).         
H. Res. 230 (9/27/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 108....  Continuing Resolution   A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        FY 1996.                28/95).         
H. Res. 234 (9/29/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2405........  Omnibus Science Auth..  A: voice vote (10/
                                                                                                11/95).         
H. Res. 237 (10/17/95).........  MC...............  H.R. 2259........  Disapprove Sentencing   A: voice vote (10/
                                                                        Guidelines.             18/95).         
H. Res. 238 (10/18/95).........  MC...............  H.R. 2425........  Medicare Preservation   PQ: 231-194 A:   
                                                                        Act.                    227-192 (10/19/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 239 (10/19/95).........  C................  H.R. 2492........  Leg. Branch Approps...  PQ: 235-184 A:   
                                                                                                voice vote (10/ 
                                                                                                31/95).         
H. Res. 245 (10/25/95).........  MC...............  H. Con. Res. 109.  Social Security         PQ: 228-191 A:   
                                                    H.R. 2491........   Earnings Reform.        235-185 (10/26/ 
                                                                       Seven-Year Balanced      95).            
                                                                        Budget.                                 
H. Res. 251 (10/31/95).........  C................  H.R. 1833........  Partial Birth Abortion  A: 237-190 (11/1/
                                                                        Ban.                    95).            
H. Res. 252 (10/31/95).........  MO...............  H.R. 2546........  D.C. Approps..........  A: 241-181 (11/1/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 257 (11/7/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 115....  Cont. Res. FY 1996....  A: 216-210 (11/8/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 258 (11/8/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2586........  Debt Limit............  A: 220-200 (11/10/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 259 (11/9/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2539........  ICC Termination Act...  A: voice vote (11/
                                                                                                14/95).         
H. Res. 261 (11/9/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 115....  Cont. Resolution......  A: 223-182 (11/10/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 262 (11/9/95)..........  C................  H.R. 2586........  Increase Debt Limit...  A: 220-185 (11/10/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 269 (11/15/95).........  O................  H.R. 2564........  Lobbying Reform.......  A: voice vote (11/
                                                                                                16/95).         
H. Res. 270 (11/15/95).........  C................  H.J. Res. 122....  Further Cont.           A: 229-176 (11/15/
                                                                        Resolution.             95).            
H. Res. 273 (11/16/95).........  MC...............  H.R. 2606........  Prohibition on Funds    A: 239-181 (11/17/
                                                                        for Bosnia.             95).            
H. Res. 284 (11/29/95).........  O................  H.R. 1788........  Amtrak Reform.........  A: voice vote (11/
                                                                                                30/95).         
H. Res. 287 (11/30/95).........  O................  H.R. 1350........  Maritime Security Act.  A: voice vote (12/
                                                                                                6/95).          
H. Res. 293 (12/7/95)..........  C................  H.R. 2621........  Protect Federal Trust   PQ: 223-183 A:   
                                                                        Funds.                  228-184 (12/14/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 303 (12/13/95).........  O................  H.R. 1745........  Utah Public Lands.....                   
H. Res. 309 (12/18/95).........  C................  H.Con. Res. 122..  Budget Res. W/          PQ: 230-188 A:   
                                                                        President.              229-189 (12/19/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 313 (12/19/95).........  O................  H.R. 558.........  Texas Low-Level         A: voice vote (12/
                                                                        Radioactive.            20/95).         
H. Res. 323 (12/21/95).........  C................  H.R. 2677........  Natl. Parks & Wildlife  Tabled (2/28/96).
                                                                        Refuge.                                 
H. Res. 366 (2/27/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2854........  Farm Bill.............  PQ: 228-182 A:   
                                                                                                244-168 (2/28/  
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 368 (2/28/96)..........  O................  H.R. 994.........  Small Business Growth.  .................
H. Res. 371 (3/6/96)...........  C................  H.R. 3021........  Debt Limit Increase...  A: voice vote (3/
                                                                                                7/96).          
H. Res. 372 (3/6/96)...........  MC...............  H.R. 3019........  Cont. Approps. FY 1996  PQ: voice vote A:
                                                                                                235-175 (3/7/   
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 380 (3/12/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2703........  Effective Death         A: 251-157 (3/13/
                                                                        Penalty.                96).            
H. Res. 384 (3/14/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2202........  Immigration...........  PQ: 233-152 A:   
                                                                                                voice vote (3/21/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 386 (3/20/96)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 165....  Further Cont. Approps.  PQ: 234-187 A:   
                                                                                                237-183 (3/21/  
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 388 (3/20/96)..........  C................  H.R. 125.........  Gun Crime Enforcement.  A: 244-166 (3/22/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 391 (3/27/96)..........  C................  H.R. 3136........  Contract w/America      PQ: 232-180 A:   
                                                                        Advancement.            232-177, (3/28/ 
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 392 (3/27/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 3103........  Health Coverage         PQ: 229-186 A:   
                                                                        Affordability.          Voice Vote (3/29/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 395 (3/29/96)..........  MC...............  H.J. Res. 159....  Tax Limitation Const.   PQ: 232-168 A:   
                                                                        Amdmt..                 234-162 (4/15/  
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 396 (3/29/96)..........  O................  H.R. 842.........  Truth in Budgeting Act  A: voice vote (4/
                                                                                                17/96).         
H. Res. 409 (4/23/96)..........  O................  H.R. 2715........  Paperwork Elimination   A: voice vote (4/
                                                                        Act.                    24/96).         
H. Res. 410 (4/23/96)..........  O................  H.R. 1675........  Natl. Wildlife Refuge.  A: voice vote (4/
                                                                                                24/96).         
H. Res. 411 (4/23/96)..........  O................  H.J. Res. 175....  Further Cont. Approps.  A: voice vote (4/
                                                                        FY 1996.                24/96).         
H. Res. 418 (4/30/96)..........  O................  H.R. 2641........  U.S. Marshals Service.  PQ: 219-203 A:   
                                                                                                voice vote (5/1/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 419 (4/30/96)..........  O................  H.R. 2149........  Ocean Shipping Reform.  A: 422-0 (5/1/   
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 421 (5/2/96)...........  O................  H.R. 2974........  Crimes Against          A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Children & Elderly.     7/96).          
H. Res. 422 (5/2/96)...........  O................  H.R. 3120........  Witness & Jury          A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Tampering.              7/96).          
H. Res. 426 (5/7/96)...........  O................  H.R. 2406........  U.S. Housing Act of     PQ: 218-208 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   voice vote (5/8/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 427 (5/7/96)...........  O................  H.R. 3322........  Omnibus Civilian        A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Science Auth.           9/96).          
H. Res. 428 (5/7/96)...........  MC...............  H.R. 3286........  Adoption Promotion &    A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Stability.              9/96).          
H. Res. 430 (5/9/96)...........  S H.R. 3230......  DoD Auth. FY 1997  A: 235-149 (5/10/96)..                   
H. Res. 435 (5/15/96)..........  MC...............  H. Con. Res. 178.  Con. Res. on the        PQ: 227-196 A:   
                                                                        Budget, 1997.           voice vote (5/16/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 436 (5/16/96)..........  C................  H.R. 3415........  Repeal $43 cent fuel    PQ: 221-181 A:   
                                                                        tax.                    voice vote (5/21/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 437 (5/16/96)..........  MO...............  H.R. 3259........  Intell. Auth. FY 1997.  A: voice vote (5/
                                                                                                21/96).         
H. Res. 438 (5/16/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 3144........  Defend America Act....  .................
H. Res. 440 (5/21/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 3448........  Small Bus. Job          A: 219-211 (5/22/
                                                                        Protection.             96).            
H. Res. 442 (5/29/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3517........  Mil. Const. Approps.    .................
                                                                        FY 1997.                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Codes: O-open rule; MO-modified open rule; MC-modified closed rule; C-closed rule; A-adoption vote; D-defeated; 
  PQ-previous question vote. Source: Notices of Action Taken, Committee on Rules, 104th Congress.               


  Mr. QUILLEN. 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 would like to commend my colleague 
from Tennessee, Mr. Quillen, as well as my colleagues on the other side 
of the aisle for bringing this resolution to the floor.
  House Resolution 442 is an open rule which will allow full and fair 
debate on H.R. 3517, the military construction appropriations bill for 
fiscal 1997.
  As my colleague from Tennessee described, this rule provides 1 hour 
of general debate, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations.
  Under this rule, germane amendments will be allowed under the 5-
minute rule, the normal amending process in the House. All Members, on 
both sides of the aisle, will have the opportunity to offer amendments. 
I am

[[Page H5658]]

pleased that the Rules Committee was able to report this rule without 
opposition in a voice vote, and I plan to support it.
  This bill appropriates $10 billion for military construction, family 
housing, and base closure construction projects. Though the bill is 
$900 million greater than the administration request, it still 
represents a reduction of $1.1 billion, or 10 percent, below last 
year's level of funding.
  The bill funds necessary capital improvements to our Nation's 
military facilities. Continuing the trend of recent years, the 
Appropriations Committee paid special attention to facilities that 
improve the quality of life for our service men and women. This is a 
wise decision because people are our most important resource.
  The bill contains four projects in the Dayton, OH, area, which I am 
proud to represent. One project will improve 52 units of housing at 
Page Manor, a neighborhood of homes for junior officers and enlisted 
personnel at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
  Another project will upgrade an administrative building on Gentile 
Air Force Station, in Kettering, OH. This will be used by the Defense 
Finance and Accounting Service, which is consolidating some of its 
activities at Gentile.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is important to our national defense. I urge 
adoption of this open rule which will permit full debate on this bill 
and allow Members to make additional attempts to amend it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Mississippi [Mr. Wicker].
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to rise at this point and voice my support 
for the rule and, as a member of the Subcommittee on Military 
Construction, also for the bill as it has been reported by the 
committee on a bipartisan basis. This has certainly been an area in 
which Republicans and Democrats have worked together in a bipartisan 
fashion.

                              {time}  1115

  We are talking today about quality of life for our service members, 
an area which arguably some years ago was neglected while the military 
budget was increased. Those quality-of-life issues were perhaps not 
addressed as fully as they should have been. As a result, last year the 
Congress increased the military construction budget by some 28 percent 
over the 1995 appropriation. This year, from that higher appropriation 
level of 1996, we have cut it back some 10 percent, but still that is 
much more, almost a billion dollars more, than the administration has 
requested. We are dealing in this bill with such quality-of-life issues 
as family housing, as barracks for our single enlisted troops, military 
medical facilities and child care. Seventy four percent of this bill 
comes in that area of quality of life. Because of that fact, I would 
hope that we would adopt the rule and also that we would leave the bill 
as it is, as it has been reported by the subcommittee.
  Now I also want to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to alert my 
colleagues that there may be an amendment offered by the gentlewoman 
from Oregon [Ms. Furse] which I will oppose and which I hope the 
Members of this body will oppose because, in an attempt to get into the 
burden sharing issue which is not really a part of this bill, it would 
attempt to cut some $17 million from two barracks in Manneheim, 
Germany.

  These are barracks that are run down, they are overcrowded, they are 
very, very old; frankly, they smell bad, Mr. Speaker, and these 
barracks represent a quality-of-life issue for our troops in Germany. 
They do not need to wait until some time in 1997 for us to start 
talking about replacing those barracks. We need to do it now.
  Mr. Speaker, I would simply suggest to my colleagues, vote for the 
rule, vote for the bill, and resist the Furse amendment if the 
gentlewoman offers it. Let us not take this $17 million out of the 
quality-of-life funding for our troops in Europe.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade].
  (Mr. McDADE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. McDADE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman of the 
committee for yielding to me just a few brief moments. I have to be out 
of the Chamber at 11:30, and about that time we will be considering the 
military construction appropriations bill.
  I want to pay tribute to the distinguished chairwoman of that 
subcommittee, the honorable gentlewoman from the State of Nevada, 
Barbara Vucanovich. She has done an extraordinary job running this 
committee, and this is her last trip, so to speak, in this House.
  I remember when I approached her about taking this assignment as a 
member of the Committee on Appropriations. She was very reluctant to 
undertake it, not because she did not like the subject matter, but 
because she had so much she wanted to do in the field of health, in 
education, in the environment, care of younger people, the problems of 
crime in the country, but she agreed to do the job, and I wanted her to 
do it because I knew that her personality was such that she would be 
the kind of person who would have an unyielding concern for the welfare 
of our young men and women who serve this great Nation of ours. That 
concern showed through in every bill she brought to the floor.
  I congratulate her for yeoman service in the House, and I wish her 
well in retirement.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon], the distinguished chairman of 
the Committee on Rules.
  (Mr. SOLOMON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I am not going to take much time. I also 
want to praise the gentlewoman from Nevada, Barbara Vucanovich, for the 
outstanding job that she has done during her entire career in this body 
and to commend the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Hefner, her 
ranking member, for the job they have done on this particular bill.
  Vote for the rule; vote for the bill when it comes up.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Tennessee, the chairman 
emeritus of the committee, Mr. Quillen, for yielding to me. I simply 
want to take a brief moment to follow up on his excellent explanation 
of this open rule. As he pointed out, there are two new features in 
this rule that were not in the appropriations rules we granted last 
year.
  First, the rule gives the chairman of the Committee of the Whole the 
authority to postpone and cluster votes on amendments. While we have 
done this before in special rules, it has usually been done by 
unanimous consent on appropriations bills. At Chairman Livingston's 
request, we are including this provision in the rule. However, as I 
mentioned in the Rules Committee last night, we will watch its use 
closely to ensure that it is used judiciously and sparingly.
  We would not expect votes to be postponed on amendments beyond the 
reading of a title for amendment--only within a title. In this rule, 
that is not a problem since there is only one title. And we would 
expect the bill manager to consult with the minority manager on any 
postponement and clustering of votes to the maximum extent possible.
  The second feature of this rule is really a clarification of an 
existing House rule regarding the privileged motion to rise and report 
at the end of the regular amendment process.
  Clause 2(d) of House Rule 21 provides that after a general 
appropriations bill has been read for amendment and all regular 
amendments have been considered, a privileged motion may be offered by 
the majority leader, or a designee, that the Committee rise and report 
the bill back to the House with such amendments as have been adopted.
  According to the House rule, this motion shall have precedence over 
motions to further amend the bill. If the motion is rejected, then it 
is in order to consider limitation amendments, but the motion can be 
renewed after the disposition of any limitation amendment. The problem 
is that in practice, the rule is unworkable if someone wants to offer a 
regular cutting amendment after we thought we had completed that 
process.
  According to the Parliamentarian's Office, such a regular amendment 
could still be offered at that point, and would have precedence over 
the majority leader's motion to rise and report. This sets up the 
possibility of jumping back and forth between limitation

[[Page H5659]]

amendments and regular amendments, thereby preempting the privileged 
motion to rise and report.
  That was never the intent of the rule when it was first adopted at 
the beginning of the 98th Congress in 1983. The idea was to dispose of 
all regular amendments at the end of the reading of the bill for 
amendment before entertaining any limitation amendments. Once the 
limitation amendment process was underway, the motion to rise and 
report would be privileged at any time.
  The language in the rule we have before us draws a clear line of 
demarcation by making the motion to rise and report in order after the 
last few lines of the bill are read by the Clerk.
  Prior to the reading of the last few lines, the Chair would inquire 
of the Committee of the Whole whether there were any further amendments 
not precluded by clauses 2(a) or 2(c). If none are offered at that 
point, the Chair would direct the Clerk to read the last few lines of 
the bill.
  At any point thereafter, the majority leader or a designee may offer 
the privileged motion to rise and report. That motion would take 
precedence over any pending limitation amendment or any regular 
amendment as well.
  In summary, the purpose of this language is to draw a bright line 
between the regular amendment process and the limitation amendment 
process at the end of the reading of the bill for amendment. The only 
change made in clause 2(d) at the beginning of this Congress was to 
ensure that the motion to rise and report would be controlled by the 
majority leadership and not just the Appropriations Committee chairman 
acting alone.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the rule and the bill. I 
yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on 
the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________