[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D678-D681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 11 public bills, H.R. 3719-3729; and 2 resolutions, 
H. Res. 466-467 were introduced.
  Pages H6914-15
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H.R. 2001 and S. 966; both private bills (H. Repts. 104-637 and 104-
638, respectively);
  H.R. 2779, to provide for soft-metric conversion, amended (H. Rept. 
104-639); and
  H. Res. 465, providing for consideration of a concurrent resolution 
providing for adjournment of the House and Senate for the Independence 
Day district work period (H. Rept. 104-640).
Page H6914
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
appointed Representative Greene of Utah to act as Speaker pro tempore 
for today.
  Page H6849
Motion to Adjourn: By a yea-and-nay vote of 55 yeas to 345 nays with 2 
voting ``present'', Roll No. 271, the House failed to agree to the 
Volkmer motion to adjourn.
  Pages H6855-56
Committee to Sit: The following committees and their subcommittees 
received permission to sit today during proceedings of the House under 
the 5-minute rule: Banking and Financial Services, Economic and 
Educational Opportunities, Government Reform and Oversight, 
International Relations, Judiciary, National Security, Resources, 
Science, Small Business, Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans' 
Affairs, and Select Intelligence.
  Page H6856
VA, HUD, and Sundry Independent Agencies Appropriations:  By a yea-and-
nay vote of 269 yeas to 147 nays, Roll No. 282, the House passed H.R. 
3666, making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and 
Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, 
boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1997.
  Pages H6856-H6913, H6917-50
  Rejected the Stokes motion that sought to recommit the bill to the 
Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report it back 
forthwith with amendments as follows: On page 61, line 14, after the 
first dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $350,000,000)'' and, on 
page 61, line 15, strike ``September 1, 1997'' and insert ``September 
30, 1997'' (rejected by a recorded vote of 205 ayes to 212 noes, Roll 
No. 281).
Pages H6948-49

[[Page D679]]

Agreed To:
  The Lazio amendment that increases funding for Supportive Housing for 
the Elderly by $100 million and Supportive Housing for the Disabled by 
$40 million and decreases funding for HUD Annual Contributions for 
Assisted Housing, section 8 contracts, by $140 million (agreed to by a 
recorded vote of 353 ayes to 61 noes, Roll No. 272);
Pages H6856-57
  The Sanders amendment that increases funding for the Court of 
Veterans Appeals by $1.4 million and reduces funding for HUD salaries 
and expenses by $1.4 million (agreed to by a recorded vote of 358 ayes 
to 55 noes, Roll No. 274);
Page H6858
  The Hefley amendment that increases EPA Leaking Underground Storage 
Tank Trust Fund by $20 million and reduces HUD salaries and expense 
funding by $42 million (agreed to by a recorded vote of 260 ayes to 157 
noes, Roll No. 275);
Pages H6858-59
  The Durbin amendment that increases EPA programs and management 
funding by $1.5 million and decreases EPA science and technology 
funding accordingly.
Pages H6868-70
  The Lewis of California amendment that identifies $1.2 million of EPA 
Hazardous Substance Superfund funding for use by the Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry to conduct a health effects study of 
the Toms River Cancer Cluster in the Toms River area in the State of 
New Jersey;
Pages H6873-75
  The Lewis of California amendment that provides flexibility to FEMA 
in setting National Flood Insurance Fund rates;
Page H6875
  The Brown of California amendment that prohibits NASA Science, 
Aeronautics, and Technology funding for the National Center for Science 
Literacy, Education, and Technology at the American Museum of Natural 
History;
Pages H6878-81
  The Solomon amendment that prohibits any contract or grant to 
institutions of higher learning (other than those with a long standing 
tradition of pacifism based on historical religious affiliation) that 
prevents ROTC access to its campus or students, prevents military 
recruiting on its campus, and further prohibits expenditures to any 
contractor subject to the requirement in section 4212(d) of title 38, 
United States Code, that has not submitted an annual report to the 
Secretary of Labor concerning the employment of veterans; 
                                                         Pages H6887-88
  The Stump amendment that increases funding for Veterans 
Administration medical care by $40 million and benefit administration 
by $17 million and applies a 4 percent general reduction to each 
department and agency except for the Veterans Administration, American 
Battle Monuments Commission, the Court of Veterans Appeals, or 
Cemeterial Expenses;
Pages H6897-H6900
  The Tiahrt amendment that increases funding for Veterans Health 
medical care by $20 million and prosthetic research by $20 million, 
deletes funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service 
and applies $327 million to deficit reduction;
Pages H6901-02
  The Bentsen amendment that prohibits EPA funding to issue or renew 
permits for the storage or disposal of PCBs if the EPA implements rules 
authorizing the import into the United States of wastes containing 
PCBs;
Pages H6902-04
  The Markey amendment, as amended by the Boehlert substitute 
amendment, that prohibits the use of hazardous substance superfund 
funding to implement any retroactive liability discount reimbursement; 
                                                         Pages H6920-30
  The Walker amendment that increases National Science Foundation 
research and related activities funding by $9.1 million and decreases 
salaries and expenses accordingly (agreed to by a recorded vote of 245 
ayes to 170 noes, Roll No. 278);
Pages H6893-96, H6931
  The Weller amendment that limits FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums for 
the first-time homebuyers who complete an approved program with respect 
to the responsibilities of home ownership;
Pages H6932-33
  The Orton en bloc amendment that permits the use of loans from 
family-members and simplifies downpayment methods on FHA-insured loans; 
and
Pages H6933-34
  The Roemer amendment that prohibits NASA funding for the Bion 11 and 
Bion 12 projects to launch monkeys into space (agreed to by a recorded 
vote of 244 ayes to 171 noes, Roll No. 280).
Pages H6934-37, H6941-42
  Rejected:
  The Shays amendment that sought to increase funding for the Housing 
Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program by $15 million and reduce 
NASA mission support funding by $15 million (rejected by a recorded 
vote of 177 ayes to 236 noes, Roll No. 273);
Pages H6857-58
  The Roemer amendment that sought to reduce NASA Human Space Flight 
funding by $75 million;
Pages H6970-72
  The Hostettler amendment that sought to eliminate funding for the 
``Corporation for National and Community Service'' (rejected by a 
recorded vote of 183 ayes to 240 noes, Roll No. 276); 
                                               Pages H6863-68, H6883-84
  The Hoekstra amendment that sought to reallocate Corporation for 
National and Community Service funding by increasing general grants 
funding by

[[Page D680]]

$30 million and deleting funding for innovation activities accordingly. 
It was made in order to withdraw the request for a recorded vote; 
                                                  Pages H6888-91, H6920
  The Gutknecht amendment that sought to apply a 1.9 percent reduction 
to all discretionary appropriations (rejected by a recorded vote of 372 
ayes to 45 noes, Roll No. 277); and
Pages H6917-20, H6930-31
  The Markey amendment that sought to prohibit the use of hazardous 
substance superfund funding to provide any reimbursement of response 
costs, except pursuant to section 122(b) of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, if 
such costs were required under a judicially approved consent decree 
entered before enactment (rejected by a recorded vote of 142 ayes to 
274 noes, Roll No. 279).
Pages H6940-41
  A point of order was sustained against the Pallone amendment that 
sought to strike language providing $861 million for the Hazardous 
Substance Superfund contingent upon enactment of future appropriations 
legislation.
Pages H6876-78
Amendments withdrawn:
  The Kennedy of Massachusetts amendment was offered, but subsequently 
withdrawn, that sought to increase funding for EPA Environmental 
Programs and Management by $2 million;
Pages H6875-76
  The Gejdenson amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that 
sought funding of $1.8 million for the Department of Health and Human 
Services Office of Consumer Affairs and reductions of $1.8 million from 
the NASA Human Space Flight program;
Page H6881
  The Fields of Louisiana amendment was offered, but subsequently 
withdrawn, that sought to increase funding for the Corporation for 
National and Community Service by $178.5 million and reduce FEMA 
Disaster Relief funding accordingly;
Pages H6884-87
  The Thurman amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that 
sought to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a plan 
that allocates health care resources to ensure that veterans have 
similar access regardless of the region in which they live; 
                                                         Pages H6900-01
  The Kolbe amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that 
sought to delete language that restricts procurement of supercomputing 
equipment if the Commerce Department determines that the equipment was 
offered at other than fair value;
Pages H6905-13
  The Kingston amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that 
sought to prohibit funding of activities by EPA employees not directly 
related to governmental functions; and
Pages H6937-38
  The Jackson-Lee amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, 
that sought to require housing authorities to spend funds on 
replacement of units that have been demolished prior to spending 
housing certificate funds when there is a waiting list of 6,000 or more 
families and a shortage of habitable affordable housing. 
                                                         Pages H6938-40
People's Republic of China: The House agreed to H. Res. 463, the rule 
providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 182, disapproving the 
extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation 
treatment) to the products of the People's Republic of China and H. 
Res. 461, regarding U.S. concerns with human rights abuse, nuclear and 
chemical weapons proliferation, illegal weapons trading, military 
intimidation of Taiwan, and trade violations by the People's Republic 
of China and the People's Liberation Army, and directing the committees 
of jurisdiction of commence hearings and report appropriate 
legislation.
  Pages H6950-63
Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations: The House completed 
all general debate on H.R. 3675, making appropriations for the 
Department of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1997. Consideration of amendments will begin on 
Thursday, June 27.
  Pages H6964-73
  H. Res. 469, the rule which provided for consideration of the bill 
was agreed to earlier by a voice vote.
Pages H6963-64
Committee Election: Agreed to H. Res. 467, electing Members to certain 
standing committees of the House of Representatives.
  Page H6973
Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to 
meet at 12 noon on Thursday, June 27.
  Page H6973
Presidential Message--Aeronautics and Space: Read a message from the 
President wherein he transmits his report concerning the Nation's 
achievements in aeronautics and space during fiscal year 1995--referred 
to the Committee on Science.
  Page H6973
Funeral Committee: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 459, the Chair 
announced the Speaker's appointment of the Funeral Committee of the 
late Representative Bill Emerson, the following Members on the part of 
the House: Representatives Clay, Gingrich, Gephardt, Boehner, Skelton, 
Volkmer, Hancock, Danner, Talent, McCarthy, Montgomery, Hall of Ohio, 
Lewis of California, Hunter, Roberts, Wolf, Kanjorski, McNulty, 
Poshard, Moran, Lincoln, Chambliss, Cubin, and Latham.
  Pages H6973-74
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and ten recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H6855-56, H6856-57, H6857-58, H6858, H6858-59, H6884,

[[Page D681]]

H6930-31, H6931, H6941, H6941-42, H6949, and H6949-50. There were no 
quorum calls.
Adjournment: Met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 1:18 a.m. on Thursday, 
June 27.