[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 87 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H6326-H6333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3610, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997
Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I
call up House Resolution 453 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 453
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. 3610) making appropriations 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 2(l)(6) of rule XI,
clause 7 of rule XXI, or section 302(c) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 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. Before consideration of any other amendment it shall
be in order without intervention of any point of order to
consider the amendment printed in the report of the Committee
on Rules accompanying this resolution, if offered by
Representative Young of Florida or his designee. That
amendment shall be considered as read, may amend portions of
the bill not yet read for amendment, shall be debatable for
twenty minutes equally divided and controlled by the
proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment,
and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the
question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. If
that amendment is adopted, the bill, as amended, shall be
considered as the original bill for the purpose of
further amendment. After disposition of that amendment,
during further consideration of the bill pursuant to this
resolution, the appropriate allocation of new
discretionary budget authority within the meaning of
section 302(f)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
shall be $245,065,000,000. The corresponding level of
budget outlays shall be $243,372,000,000. During further
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 not be 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.
{time} 1345
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). 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 Texas [Mr. Frost], pending
which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration
of the resolution, all time yielded is for debate purposes only.
(Mr. SOLOMON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks and include extraneous material.)
Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 453 is an open rule
providing for the consideration H.R. 3610, the Defense Department
appropriations bill for fiscal year 1997.
The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided
between the chairman and ranking minority member of the Appropriations
Committee. The rule waives the 3-day availability requirements for the
committee report and the published hearings.
The report was filed Tuesday morning and was available to Members
yesterday. So today is the second day of its availability.
The rule contains a technical waiver of section 302(c) of the Budget
Act which prohibits consideration of an appropriations bill until the
committee has made allocations pursuant to the most recent budget
resolution. Since the House just last night adopted the conference
report on the budget resolution for fiscal 1997, and the Appropriations
Committee has not yet filed its new subcommittee allocations based on
that resolution, this technical waiver is necessary.
However, the rule does provide a mechanism for bringing the bill
within its new suballocations which were voted on in committee this
morning.
Under the rule, a manager's amendment by Subcommittee Chairman Young,
which is printed in the report on the rule, will be considered at the
outset.
That amendment reduces the funding level in the bill by another $500
million, thereby bringing the bill back under its new 602(b)
allocations.
The manager's amendment will be debated for 20 minutes divided
between the proponent and opponent.
While it is nonamendable at the outset, if it is adopted its
provisions will be folded into the base text for purposes of further
amendment under the open amendment process.
In addition, if the amendment is adopted, the rule provides that the
new discretionary ceilings for budget authority and outlays will be in
effect for the consideration of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, the rule further waives clauses 2 and 6 of House Rule
XXI against provisions in the bill. Those rules prohibit the
consideration of unauthorized and legislative provisions in
appropriations bills, and the transfers of unobligated balances.
While the House has passed its defense authorization bill, it has not
yet become law. However, we are informed that this bill closely tracks
the decisions we made on that authorization bill, and that the chairman
of the National Security Committee has no objection to these waivers.
The rule further provides priority in recognition to Members whose
amendments have been pre-printed in the Congressional Record. It allows
the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone and cluster
recorded votes to save the time of the House.
In addition, the rule permits the majority leader to offer the
privileged motion to rise and report the bill back to the House at any
time after the final lines of the bill have been read. Finally, the
rule provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
In summary on the rule, Mr. Speaker, this is a complicated rule,
admittedly, given the transition we are making from the previous budget
allocations to the new ones. But in so doing, the rule brings the bill
into conformity with the budget conference report adopted yesterday and
the new allocations proposed by the Appropriations Committee today.
It is important that we comply with our budgetary decisions, and this
rule makes that possible.
In the final analysis, this is a fair and open rule. That was
reflected in the rule's unanimous adoption by voice vote in the Rules
Committee yesterday, and its support by Chairman Bill Young and Ranking
Member John Murtha who have worked very hard together to conform this
bill to the budget conference agreement. In that same, bipartisan
spirit, I urge the adoption of the rule by the House today.
On the bill itself, I would like to commend Chairman Young and Mr.
Murtha for once again putting together an excellent bill that takes
care of this Nation's defense needs within
[[Page H6327]]
the very tight budget constraints we all face.
Mr. Speaker, for the fourth year in a row, the Clinton administration
has sent to Congress a defense budget request that is simply inadequate
to this country's needs.
Of particular note was this year's weapons procurement requests of
only $39 billion, which is $21 billion short of where the joint Chiefs
of Staff tell us that we need to be in just a few years.
And that is important, Mr. Speaker. The joint Chiefs of Staff and
this Nation's military commanders are telling us that the modernization
of our weaponry is grossly underfunded. So let's remember that when we
here the catcalls that we are going beyond the Pentagon request in this
bill.
It is the President's political request that we are going beyond, and
well we should, because the needs of our men and women in uniform
outweigh any political need. So I commend the committee for adding $5.7
billion dollars to the President's weapons procurement request.
Mr. Speaker, weapons purchases have declined by 70 percent since
1985, and that is precisely what has led to today's severe
modernization problems.
This increase, along with a large increase in the President's
ammunition request, will help fulfill one of the most sacred
obligations the U.S. Government has: Ensuring that American soldiers
and sailors have a plentiful supply of the best weapons and equipment
available so that they can adequately defend themselves in battle.
Anything less than that is unforgivable.
Our military personnel are also helped in this bill by a full 3
percent pay increase as well as a 4.6 percent increase in the basic
housing allowance.
This bill makes positive strides in other categories as well. The
Appropriations Committee added $2.9 billion to the President's request
for Research and Development, including $704 million for missile
defense.
On that note, let me just say that it's high time for this President
to commit himself to defending the American people against ballistic
missiles. The time for talk is over. There are no more excuses for not
protecting ourselves from this threat.
Mr. Speaker, the long slide in defense spending must come to an end.
The end of the cold war did not mean that American forces don't need
the best equipment and weaponry they can possibly get. They do. And the
end of the Cold War certainly didn't mean that there are no threats to
peace in the world. There are.
Anybody reading the papers lately knows that Communist China, for
instance, is both massively increasing its own military and helping to
transfer the technology to build weapons of mass destruction to rogue
nations like Iran.
Slashing our defense budget, refusing to build missile defenses and
appeasing countries like Communist China is no way to deal with these
threats. Unfortunately, that is precisely what President Clinton is
doing. Fortunately, however, we are beginning to take steps in this
Congress to reverse this situation. And we can continue that reversal
by adopting this bill before us today.
Once again, Chairman Young, Mr. Murtha, and their staffs deserve high
praise for their work and I urge support for this rule and this
critical legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I include the following material for the Record:
THE AMENDMENT PROCESS UNDER SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE,\1\ 103D CONGRESS V. 104TH CONGRESS
[As of June 13, 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 73 59
Structured/Modified Closed \3\...... 49 47 33 27
Closed \4\.......................... 9 9 17 14
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 104 100 123 100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 structured or 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 June 12, 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: 229-199; A:
Revitalization. 227-197 (2/15/
95).
H. Res. 88 (2/16/95)........... MC............... H.R. 831......... Health Insurance PQ: 230-191; A:
Deductibility. 229-188 (2/21/
95).
H. Res. 91 (2/21/95)........... O................ H.R. 830......... Paperwork Reduction A: voice vote (2/
Act. 22/95).
H. Res. 92 (2/21/95)........... MC............... H.R. 889......... Defense Supplemental.. A: 282-144 (2/22/
95).
H. Res. 93 (2/22/95)........... MO............... H.R. 450......... Regulatory Transition A: 252-175 (2/23/
Act. 95).
H. Res. 96 (2/24/95)........... MO............... H.R. 1022........ Risk Assessment....... A: 253-165 (2/27/
95).
H. Res. 100 (2/27/95).......... O................ H.R. 926......... Regulatory Reform and A: voice vote (2/
Relief Act. 28/95).
H. Res. 101 (2/28/95).......... MO............... H.R. 925......... Private Property A: 271-151 (3/2/
Protection Act. 95).
H. Res. 103 (3/3/95)........... MO............... H.R. 1058........ Securities Litigation .................
Reform.
H. Res. 104 (3/3/95)........... MO............... H.R. 988......... Attorney A: voice vote (3/
Accountability Act. 6/95).
H. Res. 105 (3/6/95)........... MO............... ................. ...................... A: 257-155 (3/7/
95).
H. Res. 108 (3/7/95)........... Debate........... H.R. 956......... Product Liability A: voice vote (3/
Reform. 8/95).
H. Res. 109 (3/8/95)........... MC............... ................. ...................... PQ: 234-191 A:
247-181 (3/9/
95).
H. Res. 115 (3/14/95).......... MO............... H.R. 1159........ Making Emergency Supp. A: 242-190 (3/15/
Approps. 95).
H. Res. 116 (3/15/95).......... MC............... H.J. Res. 73..... Term Limits Const. A: voice vote (3/
Amdt. 28/95).
H. Res. 117 (3/16/95).......... Debate........... H.R. 4........... Personal A: voice vote (3/
Responsibility Act of 21/95).
1995.
H. Res. 119 (3/21/95).......... MC............... ................. ...................... A: 217-211 (3/22/
95).
H. Res. 125 (4/3/95)........... O................ H.R. 1271........ Family Privacy A: 423-1 (4/4/
Protection Act. 95).
H. Res. 126 (4/3/95)........... O................ H.R. 660......... Older Persons Housing A: voice vote (4/
Act. 6/95).
H. Res. 128 (4/4/95)........... MC............... H.R. 1215........ Contract With America A: 228-204 (4/5/
Tax Relief Act of 95).
1995.
H. Res. 130 (4/5/95)........... MC............... H.R. 483......... Medicare Select A: 253-172 (4/6/
Expansion. 95).
H. Res. 136 (5/1/95)........... O................ H.R. 655......... Hydrogen Future Act of A: voice vote (5/
1995. 2/95).
H. Res. 139 (5/3/95)........... O................ H.R. 1361........ Coast Guard Auth. FY A: voice vote (5/
1996. 9/95).
H. Res. 140 (5/9/95)........... O................ H.R. 961......... Clean Water Amendments A: 414-4 (5/10/
95).
H. Res. 144 (5/11/95).......... O................ H.R. 535......... Fish Hatchery-- A: voice vote (5/
Arkansas. 15/95).
H. Res. 145 (5/11/95).......... O................ H.R. 584......... Fish Hatchery--Iowa... A: voice vote (5/
15/95).
H. Res. 146 (5/11/95).......... O................ H.R. 614......... Fish Hatchery-- A: voice vote (5/
Minnesota. 15/95).
H. Res. 149 (5/16/95).......... MC............... H. Con. Res. 67.. Budget Resolution FY PQ: 252-170 A:
1996. 255-168 (5/17/
95).
[[Page H6328]]
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. 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: 249-176 (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..... PQ: 221-197 A:
voice vote (5/15/
96).
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. Tabled (4/17/96).
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).......... C................ 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 (3/19/
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 (3/21/96).......... 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).......... C................ 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 4.3 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).
MC............... H.R. 1227........ Employee Commuting .................
Flexibility.
H. Res. 442 (5/29/96).......... O................ H.R. 3517........ Mil. Const. Approps. A: voice vote (5/
FY 1997. 30/96).
H. Res. 445 (5/30/96).......... O................ H.R. 3540........ For. Ops. Approps. FY A: voice vote (6/
1997. 5/96).
H. Res. 446 (6/5/96)........... MC............... H.R. 3562........ WI Works Waiver A: 363-59 (6/6/
Approval. 96).
H. Res. 448 (6/6/96)........... MC............... H.R. 2754........ Shipbuilding Trade A: voice vote (6/
Agreement. 12/96).
H. Res. 450 (6/10/96).......... O................ H.R. 3603........ Agriculture A: voice vote (6/
Appropriations, FY 11/96).
1997.
H. Res. ------ (6/12/96)....... O................ H.R. 3610........ Defense .................
Appropriations, FY
1997.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Codes: O-open rule; MO-modified open rule; MC-modified closed rule; S/C-structured/closed rule; A-adoption vote;
D-defeated; PQ-previous question vote. Source: Notices of Action Taken, Committee on Rules, 104th Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida [Mr.
Young], the chairman of the subcommittee, who has done such a great job
here to explain the necessity and the brevity of this bill.
Mr YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding
time.
Mr. Speaker, I want to point out this is an open rule, and we ought
to be able to expedite the consideration of the rule and even adopt it
by a voice vote, I would hope. We are already an hour past the time we
expected to be starting this bill. I know that Members have plans for
tomorrow that do not involve being here in the Chamber, so our plan is
to finish this bill tonight. The sooner we can expedite it, the sooner
Members can get about their other plans, and I know at the White House,
the President is having a significant function there tonight that some
Members who have been invited would like to get to. Hopefully, we can
expedite the rule, move on to the bill and get into the substance of
the bill without any delay.
Mr. SALMON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and of this bill.
Maintaining a strong defense of our Nation is one of
[[Page H6329]]
the paramount responsibilities of Congress, and I am pleased that this
bill meets that responsibility head on.
As reported, H.R. 3610 provides appropriations of $245.8 billion for
the functions of the Department of Defense in fiscal year 1997 which is
$11.1 billion above the administration's request. While some may
disagree with the funding levels and priorities established by this
bill, the simple fact is that in end, these priorities will protect the
best interests of the United States. These priorities will keep us
strong and deserve our support.
Mr. Speaker, the rule will allow any Member to offer amendments to
cut funding levels in the bill and thus ensures that we will have a
full and fair debate on the defense programs funded here. In addition,
the manager's amendment made in order in the rule will cut an
additional $800 million from the reported bill to bring it in line with
the conference agreement on the budget for fiscal year 1997. I commend
Chairman Young and his ranking member, Mr. Murtha, for their
willingness to adjust this bill to meet the requirements of the budget
resolution.
I would also like to commend the Appropriations Committee for not
including in the bill the social issues that generated such controversy
in the fiscal year 1996 appropriation. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this
appropriation is to fund programs of the Department of Defense that
relate to our military preparedness. Passage of this appropriation for
those important programs should not be slowed by adding to them social
issues that are of importance to a certain extreme element of the
Republican Party. I am gratified that this year my Republican
colleagues have seen the wisdom of adhering to the rules of the House
and have kept those controversial issues out of the appropriations
bill.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3610 is a forward looking appropriation. This bill
accelerates the acquisition of several important weapons systems,
accelerates the research and development programs relating to the next
generation of several others, and funds quality-of-life programs that
insure that we will be able to recruit and keep the young men and women
who serve as our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines. I am
particularly gratified that the committee has provided advance funding
for the acquisition of additional C-17's and V-22's. The accelerated
acquisition of these two aircraft systems will save the U.S. Treasury
nearly $9 billion. Saving $9 billion while ensuring for our Nation's
defense is no mean feat and I congratulate the Defense Subcommittee for
making these recommendations to the full House.
Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill and I urge my colleagues to support
H.R. 3610 and the rule providing for its consideration.
{time} 1400
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this open rule as well as the
underlying bill, the Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal 1997. It
would be shortsighted and reckless to underestimate the national
security dangers that face the United States.
Yes, the Soviet Union collapsed, but Russia remains engaged in
serious internal debates that will decide its future course of behavior
in the world community. China, as the gentleman from New York [Mr.
Solomon] recently stated, is acquiring wealth at an extraordinary rate.
Some project that it may even surpass the United States in gross
domestic product in the next century, and with wealth inevitably comes
vast military power.
If we take specific examples, for example, Mr. Speaker, North Korea,
though the Clinton administration is providing massive amounts of oil
and technical assistance to North Korea, that regime remains an enemy
of the United States. The regime in Iran is a deadly enemy of the
United States as well, with enormous oil reserves. And there remain
many other enemies of this great Nation throughout the world.
Many would love to see the United States on its knees, our youth
destroyed by drugs, our economy shattered by debt. Here in this
hemisphere the regime in Havana is one such enemy of the American
people. In 1982, four senior aides to the Cuban dictator were indicted,
Mr. Speaker, for drug smuggling in the United States.
The U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Florida has ready
another indictment, this time of 15 high-ranking officials in the
Castro government, including Castro's brother, Raul, for trafficking
cocaine into the United States. For unexplained and unsatisfactory
reasons the administration has refused to authorize the issuance of
that indictment.
We, in Congress, passed a tough sanctions law 3 months ago against
the Cuban regime. Some of our trading partners, irresponsibly, have
criticized us for doing so. Last week the Organization of American
States came out against our sanction against Castro. It is very
interesting that at that time the brother of the Secretary General of
the OAS, Mr. Gaviria, was being held captive by Communist terrorists in
Colombia.
Mr. Gaviria was very happy last week after the OAS criticized our
sanction of Castro, known as the Helms-Burton law. Mr. Gaviria also
asked Castro at that time to get his brother freed. Again, his brother,
at that time, was being held by Communist terrorists in Colombia.
Yesterday, the Communist terrorists freed Gaviria's brother and all the
terrorists flew to Havana, where they arrived, weapons and all, and
were given sanctuary by Castro.
Mr. Speaker, Congress has the obligation to find out what the terms
of the deal between Gaviria and the Castro government that got Castro
to first request and then obtain the release of Gaviria's brother and
to accept the kidnappers into Cuba. So I call upon this Congress,
through our Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere and its
distinguished chairman, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton], to
summons the OAS Secretary General in order to ask him the following
questions.
And if there is a jurisdictional problem with a summons, then demand,
request, or ask, because we have a right to know, being the country
that most pays for the OAS, to know the answers to the following
questions.
In addition to looking into the terms of the deal between the OAS
Secretary General and Castro to get Gaviria's brother freed, we need to
know, first, what relation was there between the action of the OAS in
Panama last week against the Helms-Burton law and the release of the
Secretary General's brother at Castro's request this week?
Second, does Gaviria support the impunity and protection given to his
brother's kidnappers by the Castro government; in other words, of the
terrorists who were received and given sanctuary yesterday in Cuba?
Third, can Gaviria act impartially as the OAS Secretary General after
having made a deal with his brother's kidnappers and with Castro for
his brother's freedom?
We must investigate the relationship between Latin American
governments who attack our Helms-Burton law and guerrillas and
kidnapers controlled by Castro who blackmail those governments. They
key question is, in fact, who is the leader in this hemisphere? Who is
the boss, Castro and his guerrillas? Can Castro also kidnap in the
United States? Is that next, Mr. Speaker? If so, will the United States
also acknowledge his authority over all the hemisphere's terrorists?
America has plenty of enemies, Mr. Speaker, and this hemisphere is
obviously suffering a crisis of leadership. In Congress, we can, at
least, provide the means for the protection of the American people from
all possible threats to their security.
Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, military strength and the ability to
project military power are closely connected to economic influence and,
consequently, to the opportunity for solid economic development and its
accompanying jobs and protection of a strong middle class.
For many reasons and, for the most important reason of all, because
security is Government's main responsibility, we need a strong national
defense and this bill is a necessary ingredient in a strong posture for
the United States of America.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Wisconin [Mr. Obey].
[[Page H6330]]
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I do not think I will take the full 5 minutes,
but I did want to take some time to suggest that this bill today has
two fundamental problems:
First of all, it is, in my view, reflective of a view that somehow
the United States is under serious duress and, in fact, is falling
behind potential military competitors.
The fact is, it is not. The fact is that right now we spend two-and-
a-half times as much as all of our military adversaries combined and
this bill will add to that lead, not subtract from it.
Second, I would like to point out that a little known fact about the
defense budget is that while both parties are talking about proceeding
to balance the budget in 7 years, the fact is that by the seventh year
the defense budget, reflected by the budget resolution that passed
yesterday, the majority party's defense budget, is in fact lower than
the budget provided by the President. Yet, at the same time that these
outyear numbers are substantially lower than the President's, for the
first 2 or 3 years this committee is insisting on adding billions of
dollars above the President's request.
That makes absolutely no sense. It means that we will be continuing
to avoid the tough choices that are needed on the kind of weapons that
are going to be bought, and as long as we avoid those tough decisions,
it means that we will be buying more than we can afford just a few
years down the line.
That will mean that if the Congress, in fact, sticks to its outyear
budget ceilings it will be forced to either cancel programs or make
substantial reductions in operation and maintenance and other key items
at a later point in the cycle, precisely at the time when we ought to
be not doing that.
That is why Secretary of Defense Perry has described what is
happening as a catastrophe, and that is why it is important to
understand that this is not just an argument between the traditional
doves and hawks, it is not just an argument about whether this budget
ought to spend more money or less money. It is an argument about
whether or not it makes sense to grossly inflate the military budget
today when we know that we will have to produce substantial reductions
in the outyears to meet the targets under the budget resolution.
I submit to my colleagues that we are fooling ourselves and the
American people when we pass legislation such as this, and I do not
think we should do it. I will, during the course of the debate, be
offering a number of amendments to try to bring it in line, but I think
it is important, before we begin the debate on the amendment process,
to understand the context in which those amendments are offered.
As I have said, the context is that, very clearly, this bill is
jamming far too much money into the bill the first 2 or 3 years of this
so-called 7-year budget cycle. It will require all kinds of reductions
3 and 4 years down the line. We could make our job a whole lot easier
in the future if we would make the choices today that, unfortunately,
this committee has refused to make.
Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my distinguished
friend, the gentleman from California [Mr. Dornan].
Mr. DORNAN. Mr. Speaker, this is not a controversial rule, it is a
good open rule, but I may not be available to talk during the
appropriations bill discussion itself, so I wanted to make a few
points.
I am extended for 2 years on the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence. It is my eighth year. And there will not be a single
Republican member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence who
will argue with the figures provided for our defense and national
security structure in this bill or, for that matter, in the
authorization bill, which is a bit higher.
I do not believe any Democrat who serves on the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence, who has a reputation of working consistently
and hard on defense, will either find any question that the funding
levels here are exaggerated.
We may be the sole standing surviving superpower, but when there is
as much nuclear weaponry around the world as still exists, that do not
have the checks and balances that we have in our governmental system,
then we do still live in a severely dangerous world. And I would ask
everybody to reject all the amendments coming up that cut our defense
budget.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Colorado [Mrs. Schroeder].
Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me
this time, and I must say I am pleased that this is an open rule.
As one who has sat on the defense authorization committee for now 24
years, when that bill came to the floor we had a closed rule and we
were not allowed to offer one substantive cutting amendment. Not one. I
find that outrageous. So at least so far today, unless we do something
else, it appears we are going to get to have some debate about what is
the right level.
The gentleman from Wisconsin just pointed out that this bill equals
two-and-a-half times what all of our adversaries together are spending,
so one would think that we ought to be able to make a few cuts in here.
I have an amendment that several other distinguished Members are
cosponsoring with me that would bring the level of this bill down to
the bipartisan Coalition budget number. That number is what the
administration asked for plus 3 percent for the pay raise.
I think that makes a tremendous amount of sense. I would save $7
billion and, if it were adopted, it would almost make the budget that
we adopted last night, without my vote because the deficit is higher
than it is this year, but it would almost bring that deficit down to
the level of this year.
So I would hope Members who voted for the Coalition budget, as I did,
on both sides of the aisle, would listen to this. I think it makes a
lot of sense and it is really where we should go.
I must say the reason I am speaking on the rule is I hear some
rumblings that there may be some steamrollers starting up outside to
try and limit the time overall. So those of us who have limiting
amendments at the end of the bill may never be able to present them or
have to present them just boom, boom, boom, without being able to
explain them.
{time} 1415
I hope that does not happen.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
Mrs. SCHROEDER. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the
gentlewoman we have no intention of denying anyone the opportunity to
speak to the extent that they must. So, the gentlewoman might be
assured of that.
Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I am happy to hear
that. I assume that the gentleman means that we will not be having an
overall limit so that those of us at the end will not be steamrolled
out as people run for their airplanes.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, if the gentlewoman will continue
to yield, I am not assuring her how we are accomplishing this, but I
will assure her that we are not going to deny legitimate debate on this
bill or the amendments.
Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida
because I think these are very critical issues. This is the largest
spending bill, as the gentleman knows, that we are probably going to be
dealing with that is discretionary spending. And because we did not get
to deal with it at all on the authorization side, I think it makes it
all the more important that we be allowed to carry it on here.
If we do not get it finished now, let us carry it over to next week
or let us do something. But I think this stampede out of here would be
unfair.
So, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida very much for his
agreement.
Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers on this
side of the aisle. There is great consensus on our side of the aisle in
favor of the rule and the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Oregon [Mr. DeFazio].
Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate some of the
points made by the gentlewoman from Colorado. There is a concern that a
number
[[Page H6331]]
of amendments that might come toward the ends of consideration as we
adopt a 3- or 4-hour limit will get short shift if we spend a
predominant amount of time on amendments that do not have much
significance to some Members.
The point is, we adopted a bill authorizing over $240 billion of
expenditures for the Pentagon with not one single cutting amendment
allowed. In fact, the gentlewoman from Oregon, I recall, wanted to
offer an amendment, I think, to cut $1, and that was not allowed, which
is to say that we are assured that this agency, this one agency of the
Government is so unique. The largest agency of the Government with the
largest budget that there is, not a single dollar of waste; that they
could not benefit from any oversight from the Congress or any scrutiny
of their programs or any active debate on some of the commitments that
we are making that we will carry out for decades to come and cost tens
and thousands of billions of dollars.
Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that and I do not think Members on that
side of the aisle believe that. There is $15 billion that has gone
missing, the accountants cannot find, over the last 10 years. If we had
any other agency that could not account for an average of $1.5 billion
a year of expenditures without any sort of receipt, I believe we would
have special investigators and special prosecutors and special hearings
and special committees. But that is a fact. That has happened at the
Pentagon.
Mr. Speaker, we must have a full, active, and open debate here about
the largest single budget, the largest single employer in the Federal
Government. And I would hope that we do not find constraints being
adopted.
This House was scheduled to be in session today, it was scheduled to
be in session tomorrow, it was scheduled to be in session on Monday.
And now we are hearing we have to skate out here tonight so that the
east coast Members can catch their planes. There is only one an hour.
Those of us from the west coast, it is just about too late to get home
tonight. Let us stay here as late as is necessary to have a full and
open debate.
Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would simply point out that this is an open rule that
we are bringing to the floor, and no limitations on debate nor on
amendments.
Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks and to include extraneous material.)
Mr. FROST. 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 63 percent of the
legislation this session has been considered under a restrictive
process.
Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the following material:
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................ None.
Package.
H.R. 5*........................ Unfunded Mandates. H. Res. 38 Restrictive........... N/A.
H.J. Res. 2*................... Balanced Budget... H. Res. 44 Restrictive........... 2R; 4D.
H. Res. 43..................... Committee Hearings H. Res. 43 (OJ) Restrictive........... N/A.
Scheduling.
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.................. N/A.
H.R. 665*...................... Victim Restitution H. Res. 61 Open.................. N/A.
Act of 1995.
H.R. 666*...................... Exclusionary Rule H. Res. 63 Open.................. N/A.
Reform Act of
1995.
H.R. 667*...................... Violent Criminal H. Res. 63 Restrictive........... N/A.
Incarceration Act
of 1995.
H.R. 668*...................... The Criminal Alien H. Res. 69 Open.................. N/A.
Deportation
Improvement Act.
H.R. 728*...................... Local Government H. Res. 79 Restrictive........... N/A.
Law Enforcement
Block Grants.
H.R. 7*........................ National Security H. Res. 83 Restrictive........... N/A.
Revitalization
Act.
H.R. 729*...................... Death Penalty/ N/A Restrictive........... N/A.
Habeas.
S. 2........................... Senate Compliance. N/A Closed................ None.
H.R. 831....................... To Permanently H. Res. 88 Restrictive........... 1D.
Extend the Health
Insurance
Deduction for the
Self-Employed.
H.R. 830*...................... The Paperwork H. Res. 91 Open.................. N/A.
Reduction Act.
H.R. 889....................... Emergency H. Res. 92 Restrictive........... 1D.
Supplemental/
Rescinding
Certain Budget
Authority.
H.R. 450*...................... Regulatory H. Res. 93 Restrictive........... N/A.
Moratorium.
H.R. 1022*..................... Risk Assessment... H. Res. 96 Restrictive........... N/A.
H.R. 926*...................... Regulatory H. Res. 100 Open.................. N/A.
Flexibility.
H.R. 925*...................... Private Property H. Res. 101 Restrictive........... 1D.
Protection Act.
H.R. 1058*..................... Securities H. Res. 105 Restrictive........... 1D.
Litigation Reform
Act.
H.R. 988*...................... The Attorney H. Res. 104 Restrictive........... N/A.
Accountability
Act of 1995.
H.R. 956*...................... Product Liability H. Res. 109 Restrictive........... 8D; 7R.
and Legal Reform
Act.
H.R. 1158...................... Making Emergency H. Res. 115 Restrictive........... N/A.
Supplemental
Appropriations
and Rescissions.
H.J. Res. 73*.................. Term Limits....... H. Res. 116 Restrictive........... 1D; 3R
H.R. 4*........................ Welfare Reform.... H. Res. 119 Restrictive........... 5D; 26R.
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........... 1D.
America Tax
Relief Act of
1995.
H.R. 483....................... Medicare Select H. Res. 130 Restrictive........... 1D.
Extension.
H.R. 655....................... Hydrogen Future H. Res. 136 Open.................. N/A.
Act.
H.R. 1361...................... Coast Guard H. Res. 139 Open.................. N/A.
Authorization.
H.R. 961....................... Clean Water Act... H. Res. 140 Open.................. N/A.
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........... 3D; 1R.
H.R. 1561...................... American Overseas H. Res. 155 Restrictive........... N/A.
Interests Act of
1995.
H.R. 1530...................... National Defense H. Res. 164 Restrictive........... 36R; 18D; 2
Authorization Bipartisan.
Act; FY 1996.
H.R. 1817...................... Military H. Res. 167 Open.................. N/A.
Construction
Appropriations;
FY 1996.
H.R. 1854...................... Legislative Branch H. Res. 169 Restrictive........... 5R; 4D; 2
Appropriations. Bipartisan.
H.R. 1868...................... Foreign Operations H. Res. 170 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations.
H.R. 1905...................... Energy & Water H. Res. 171 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations.
H.J. Res. 79................... Constitutional H. Res. 173 Closed................ N/A.
Amendment to
Permit Congress
and States to
Prohibit the
Physical
Desecration of
the American Flag.
H.R. 1944...................... Recissions Bill... H. Res. 175 Restrictive........... N/A.
H.R. 1868 (2nd rule)........... Foreign Operations H. Res. 177 Restrictive........... N/A.
Appropriations.
H.R. 1977 *Rule Defeated*...... Interior H. Res. 185 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations.
H.R. 1977...................... Interior H. Res. 187 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations.
H.R. 1976...................... Agriculture H. Res. 188 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations.
H.R. 1977 (3rd rule)........... Interior H. Res. 189 Restrictive........... N/A.
Appropriations.
H.R. 2020...................... Treasury Postal H. Res. 190 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations.
H.J. Res. 96................... Disapproving MFN H. Res. 193 Restrictive........... N/A.
for China.
H.R. 2002...................... Transportation H. Res. 194 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations.
H.R. 70........................ Exports of Alaskan H. Res. 197 Open.................. N/A.
North Slope Oil.
H.R. 2076...................... Commerce, Justice H. Res. 198 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations.
[[Page H6332]]
H.R. 2099...................... VA/HUD H. Res. 201 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations.
S. 21.......................... Termination of H. Res. 204 Restrictive........... 1D.
U.S. Arms Embargo
on Bosnia.
H.R. 2126...................... Defense H. Res. 205 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations.
H.R. 1555...................... Communications Act H. Res. 207 Restrictive........... 2R/3D/3 Bi-
of 1995. partisan.
H.R. 2127...................... Labor/HHS H. Res. 208 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations
Act.
H.R. 1594...................... Economically H. Res. 215 Open.................. N/A.
Targeted
Investments.
H.R. 1655...................... Intelligence H. Res. 216 Restrictive........... N/A.
Authorization.
H.R. 1162...................... Deficit Reduction H. Res. 218 Open.................. N/A.
Lock Box.
H.R. 1670...................... Federal H. Res. 219 Open.................. N/A.
Acquisition
Reform Act of
1995.
H.R. 1617...................... To Consolidate and H. Res. 222 Open.................. N/A.
Reform Workforce
Development and
Literacy Programs
Act (CAREERS).
H.R. 2274...................... National Highway H. Res. 224 Open.................. N/A.
System
Designation Act
of 1995.
H.R. 927....................... Cuban Liberty and H. Res. 225 Restrictive........... 2R/2D.
Democratic
Solidarity Act of
1995.
H.R. 743....................... The Teamwork for H. Res. 226 Open.................. N/A.
Employees and
Managers Act of
1995.
H.R. 1170...................... 3-Judge Court for H. Res. 227 Open.................. N/A.
Certain
Injunctions.
H.R. 1601...................... International H. Res. 228 Open.................. N/A.
Space Station
Authorization Act
of 1995.
H.J. Res. 108.................. Making Continuing H. Res. 230 Closed................ ..............
Appropriations
for FY 1996.
H.R. 2405...................... Omnibus Civilian H. Res. 234 Open.................. N/A.
Science
Authorization Act
of 1995.
H.R. 2259...................... To Disapprove H. Res. 237 Restrictive........... 1D.
Certain
Sentencing
Guideline
Amendments.
H.R. 2425...................... Medicare H. Res. 238 Restrictive........... 1D.
Preservation Act.
H.R. 2492...................... Legislative Branch H. Res. 239 Restrictive........... N/A.
Appropriations
Bill.
H.R. 2491...................... 7 Year Balanced H. Res. 245 Restrictive........... 1D.
H. Con. Res. 109............... Budget
Reconciliation
Social Security
Earnings Test
Reform.
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........... N/A.
Appropriations FY
1996.
H.J. Res. 115.................. Further Continuing H. Res. 257 Closed................ N/A.
Appropriations
for FY 1996.
H.R. 2586...................... Temporary Increase H. Res. 258 Restrictive........... 5R.
in the Statutory
Debt Limit.
H.R. 2539...................... ICC Termination... H. Res. 259 Open.................. ..............
H.J. Res. 115.................. Further Continuing H. Res. 261 Closed................ N/A.
Appropriations
for FY 1996.
H.R. 2586...................... Temporary Increase H. Res. 262 Closed................ N/A.
in the Statutory
Limit on the
Public Debt.
H. Res. 250.................... House Gift Rule H. Res. 268 Closed................ 2R.
Reform.
H.R. 2564...................... Lobbying H. Res. 269 Open.................. N/A.
Disclosure Act of
1995.
H.R. 2606...................... Prohibition on H. Res. 273 Restrictive........... N/A.
Funds for Bosnia
Deployment.
H.R. 1788...................... Amtrak Reform and H. Res. 289 Open.................. N/A.
Privatization Act
of 1995.
H.R. 1350...................... Maritime Security H. Res. 287 Open.................. N/A.
Act of 1995.
H.R. 2621...................... To Protect Federal H. Res. 293 Closed................ N/A.
Trust Funds.
H.R. 1745...................... Utah Public Lands H. Res. 303 Open.................. N/A.
Management Act of
1995.
H. Res. 304.................... Providing for N/A Closed................ 1D; 2R.
Debate and
Consideration of
Three Measures
Relating to U.S.
Troop Deployments
in Bosnia.
H. Res. 309.................... Revised Budget H. Res. 309 Closed................ N/A.
Resolution.
H.R. 558....................... Texas Low-Level H. Res. 313 Open.................. N/A.
Radioactive Waste
Disposal Compact
Consent Act.
H.R. 2677...................... The National Parks H. Res. 323 Closed................ N/A.
and National
Wildlife Refuge
Systems Freedom
Act of 1995.
PROCEDURE IN THE 104TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION
H.R. 1643...................... To authorize the H. Res. 334 Closed................ N/A.
extension of
nondiscriminatory
treatment (MFN)
to the products
of Bulgaria.
H.J. Res. 134.................. Making continuing H. Res. 336 Closed................ N/A.
H. Con. Res. 131............... appropriations/
establishing
procedures making
the transmission
of the continuing
resolution H.J.
Res. 134.
H.R. 1358...................... Conveyance of H. Res. 338 Closed................ N/A.
National Marine
Fisheries Service
Laboratory at
Gloucester,
Massachusetts.
H.R. 2924...................... Social Security H. Res. 355 Closed................ N/A.
Guarantee Act.
H.R. 2854...................... The Agricultural H. Res. 366 Restrictive........... 5D; 9R; 2
Market Transition Bipartisan.
Program.
H.R. 994....................... Regulatory Sunset H. Res. 368 Open rule; Rule tabled N/A.
& Review Act of
1995.
H.R. 3021...................... To Guarantee the H. Res. 371 Closed rule........... N/A.
Continuing Full
Investment of
Social Security
and Other Federal
Funds in
Obligations of
the United States.
H.R. 3019...................... A Further H. Res. 372 Restrictive........... 2D/2R.
Downpayment
Toward a Balanced
Budget.
H.R. 2703...................... The Effective H. Res. 380 Restrictive........... 6D; 7R; 4
Death Penalty and Bipartisan.
Public Safety Act
of 1996.
H.R. 2202...................... The Immigration H. Res. 384 Restrictive........... 12D; 19R; 1
and National Bipartisan.
Interest Act of
1995.
H.J. Res. 165.................. Making further H. Res. 386 Closed................ N/A.
continuing
appropriations
for FY 1996.
H.R. 125....................... The Gun Crime H. Res. 388 Closed................ N/A.
Enforcement and
Second Amendment
Restoration Act
of 1996.
H.R. 3136...................... The Contract With H. Res. 391 Closed................ N/A.
America
Advancement Act
of 1996.
H.R. 3103...................... The Health H. Res. 392 Restrictive........... N/A.
Coverage
Availability and
Affordability Act
of 1996.
H.J. Res. 159.................. Tax Limitation H. Res. 395 Restrictive........... 1D
Constitutional
Amendment.
H.R. 842....................... Truth in Budgeting H. Res. 396 Open.................. N/A.
Act.
H.R. 2715...................... Paperwork H. Res. 409 Open.................. N/A.
Elimination Act
of 1996.
H.R. 1675...................... National Wildlife H. Res. 410 Open.................. N/A.
Refuge
Improvement Act
of 1995.
H.J. Res. 175.................. Further Continuing H. Res. 411 Closed................ N/A.
Appropriations
for FY 1996.
H.R. 2641...................... United States H. Res. 418 Open.................. N/A.
Marshals Service
Improvement Act
of 1996.
H.R. 2149...................... The Ocean Shipping H. Res. 419 Open.................. N/A.
Reform Act.
H.R. 2974...................... To amend the H. Res. 421 Open.................. N/A.
Violent Crime
Control and Law
Enforcement Act
of 1994 to
provide enhanced
penalties for
crimes against
elderly and child
victims.
H.R. 3120...................... To amend Title 18, H. Res. 422 Open.................. N/A.
United States
Code, with
respect to
witness
retaliation,
witness tampering
and jury
tampering.
H.R. 2406...................... The United States H. Res. 426 Open.................. N/A.
Housing Act of
1996.
H.R. 3322...................... Omnibus Civilian H. Res. 427 Open.................. N/A.
Science
Authorization Act
of 1996.
H.R. 3286...................... The Adoption H. Res. 428 Restrictive........... 1D; 1R.
Promotion and
Stability Act of
1996.
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.
H.R. 3517...................... Military H. Res. 442 Open.................. N/A.
Construction
Appropriations FY
1997.
H.R. 3540...................... Foreign Operations H. Res. 445 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations FY
1997.
H.R. 3562...................... The Wisconsin H. Res. 446 Restrictive........... N/A.
Works Waiver
Approval Act.
H.R. 2754...................... Shipbuilding Trade H. Res. 448 Restrictive........... 1R.
Agreement Act.
H.R. 3603...................... Agriculture H. Res. 451 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations FY
1997.
H.R. 3610...................... Defense H. Res. 453 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations FY
1997.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Contract Bills, 67% restrictive; 33% open. ** All legislation 1st Session, 53% restrictive; 47% open. *** All
legislation 2d Session, 63% restrictive; 37% open. **** All legislation 104th Congress, 57% restrictive; 43%
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.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the rule, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I reiterate our strong commitment on this side of the
aisle to a strong defense, and reiterate the fact that this is an open
rule not closing debate in any way nor prohibiting amendments in any
way.
[[Page H6333]]
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. Hastings of Washington). The question is
on the resolution.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________