[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H7206-H7220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call 
up House Resolution 472 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 472

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution, the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule 
     XXIII, declared the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 3755) making appropriations for the 
     Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
     Education, and related agencies, 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 or 
     308 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 are waived. 
     General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not 
     exceed two hours 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

[[Page H7207]]

     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 15 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 (Mr. Hutchinson). The gentleman from Florida 
[Mr. Goss] is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas [Mr. 
Frost], 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. GOSS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks and include extraneous material.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, the appropriations bill for the Department of 
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies 
always involves some controversy and usually involves much heated 
debate. Issues such as abortion, labor policy, the Federal role in 
education, stir passions and invite dialogue.
  I am therefore, very pleased that the rule before us is completely 
open. Any Member who wishes to offer a germane amendment may do so.
  Also, in the interest of comity and in recognition of the legitimate 
differences of opinion over some of the fundamental aspects of this 
bill, I offered an amendment in the Rules Committee to double usual 
time for general debate to 2 full hours, as requested by the ranking 
member the gentlemen from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey], and we acceded to that 
request.
  In addition, the rule allows the chairman of the Committee of the 
Whole to postpone or roll votes, a step we have taken on many bills 
recently which has helped, I think, provide for a smoother and more 
predictable schedule for Members in committee with important business 
taking place off the House floor.
  Finally, the rule includes a preprinting option, I repeat, option, 
for the benefit of Members who file their amendments in advance. It is 
not mandatory.
  Mr. Speaker, there will certainly be very comprehensive debate about 
the specifics of this bill. In fact, I think some of it has already 
started on the other side. I will not spend a lot of time previewing 
those discussions because this is about the rule.
  I would, however, like to thank Chairman Porter and his committee for 
the good work they have done to bring this bill to the floor. This 
legislation, as we will all recall, was indeed a lighting rod last 
year, and I think most of us will also remember it spent much time 
being stalled in the other body.
  I think most Members will recognize the effort that has been made 
this year to produce a solid bill, one that is free from many of the 
controversial policy riders that hindered the progress in the fiscal 
year 1996 bill, a real effort that deserves our attention. While H.R. 
3755 fully complies with the strict limits needed to reach a balanced 
budget by 2002, that is, it is on the budget glide path, discretionary 
funding is nevertheless up $2.4 billion, almost $2.5 billion in 
additional, increased spending in this bill.

                              {time}  1700

  Although we undoubtedly will hear the charge from the defenders of 
big government that we are not spending enough, we will never be 
spending enough for some people. Instead of the old approach of funding 
all government programs, those big and small, good and bad, at equally 
high levels, which was the way we did business around here for a long 
time, which got us into such fiscal problems as we are having now, this 
new Congress, under the new majority management, has set priorities for 
this bill this time, providing adequate funding for those programs that 
were effective and do the most good, programs such as Head Start, and 
reduced or eliminated the tax dollars going to wasteful or ineffective 
or out-of-date or off-the-mark programs; Goals 2000 is one that comes 
to mind.
  This is simple, common sense, the same common sense exercised by 
families at the kitchen table every day as they plan their own family 
finances, or by shoppers at the supermarket as they go about the 
business of buying their necessities.
  I am pleased that we have been able to instill some of that restraint 
here in this bill. Americans are asking for that restraint. Americans 
are used to that type of restraint in their own affairs, and they are 
demanding that type of restraint for the people who represent them in 
this, the House of the people, where all funding bills start.
  I urge my colleagues to support this rule. It is a good rule. We do 
not ever get a better rule than this rule unless we are opposed to open 
rules.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Republican majority has given us a good rule for a 
bad bill. But Mr. Speaker, giving the House an open rule for this 
appropriation is essentially a meaningless gesture because, for the 
second year in a row, there is simply no way to fix this bill by 
amendment. Piecemeal amendments will not turn this sow's ear into 
anything but a sow's ear.
  Mr. Speaker, the Republican majority has, in this appropriation, made 
a very bold statement about their priorities. For the second year in a 
row, the Republican majority want to cut, slash and eliminate programs 
that aid families, provide educational opportunity, ensure workplace 
safety, and protect our children's health.
  For the second year in a row, the Republican majority has recommended 
appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services 
and Education which ignore the priorities of the American people: jobs, 
education and training, and health and safety. The Republican majority 
wants to cut these critical programs to balance the budget. The 
Republicans want to reduce the number of Head Start slots available for 
disadvantaged children, to cut summer youth employment, to reduce the 
availability of student loans and grants, and to cut the funds that 
make computers and links to the information superhighway available to 
schools throughout the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to balance the budget, but I do not want to do it 
on the backs of working families and school kids. But the Republican 
majority is asking us to do just that. The majority wants to make cuts 
that in the short term look good on paper, but in the long term will do 
great harm.

  These cuts are not just shortsighted, Mr. Speaker, they are foolish. 
We cannot expect our economy to grow if our work force is 
undereducated. We cannot expect our businesses and industry to compete 
in the worldwide marketplace if our workers do not have adequate 
training. But, the cuts in job training in the bill will take away 
opportunities for displaced workers to retrain and for new workers to 
train for the jobs of the 21st century.
  Mr. Speaker, there is simply no way to fix this bill. The 
Appropriations Committee ranking member, Mr. Obey, stated this 
yesterday when the Rules Committee met to consider a rule for this 
appropriation. At his request, the Rules Committee has provided 2 hours 
of general debate so that the House can fully air the differences in 
priorities between the majority and the minority. This debate promises 
to be only a beginning of yet another long-term debate between the 
Republican majority in the House of Representatives and those of us who 
want to ensure that American priorities in jobs, education and 
training, and health and safety are protected.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. 
Taylor].
  Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise and ask my colleagues to defeat the previous 
question.

[[Page H7208]]

I do so knowing that there are honorable people who serve on the 
Committee on Rules, and that by and large they try to do the right 
thing every time. But I can tell my colleagues in this instance the 
Committee on Rules acted somewhat out of character when a bill that has 
been sponsored by 8 of the 13 members of the Committee on Rules that I 
tried to offer as an amendment to this bill was defeated in the very 
same Committee on Rules, by and large, by the eight people who 
sponsored the bill.
  The bill is all about keeping promises. The bill is all about 
changing the way Congress does business. First to the promises. When we 
think about it, the only people in America who were really promised 
free health care were those people who enlisted in the military when 
their recruiter told them, if you serve our country honorably for 20 
years or more, at the end of that period of time, you will be given 
free care in a military health facility for you and your spouse for the 
rest of your life.
  That promise was made in the 1930's. It was made in the 1940's. It 
was made in the 1950's. And I can assure my colleagues that on June 25, 
1971, in the Customs House on Canal Street in New Orleans, LA, it was 
made to me. I did not serve for 20 years, and, therefore, I do not 
deserve free health care. But there are a heck of a lot of people who 
served for 20 years, 30 years, who fought in World War II, Korea, 
Vietnam, most recently Desert Storm, Panama and Grenada who had their 
enlistment officer tell them just that and who, effective on July 1 of 
this year, upon reaching the age of 65 when they showed up at the 
military hospital for the treatment they had been receiving for years 
were told we cannot take you anymore. You have to go to a private 
doctor. Medicare will reimburse some of those costs, but not all of 
those costs.
  So, now at the point in their life where they cannot go back to work 
because they are over 65 and not very many people hire people over 65, 
where they thought they had been promised free health care for the rest 
of their lives, they were being told they are not. They are being told 
that now they have to dig into their pocket.
  Now, sometimes it is not a whole lot of money if it is just a common 
cold. But what if it is something like leukemia? What if it is 
something like cancer? What if it is a serious heart condition that 
involves not dozens of dollars but tens if not thousands of dollars? 
Now they have to pay, and they have to pay dearly for something that 
our Nation promised them.
  The amendment that I would like to offer is really not my idea. It is 
the brainchild of the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Hefley] and it is 
cosponsored by almost 270 Members of this body. It is cosponsored by 
both the chairman and the ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee. It is cosponsored by the chairman and ranking member of the 
National Security Committee. It is cosponsored by the chairman of the 
Committee on Appropriations. It is cosponsored by myself, and it was a 
part of the Blue Dog coalition budget because we think it is important 
that this Nation keep our promises.
  When brought before the Committee on Rules with all of the things 
that I have just told my colleagues, the importance of keeping 
promises, the importance of this Congress, of any Congress ever before 
keeping its word to the American people, in particular keeping our word 
to those people who have given the most to our country, the Committee 
on Rules voted in a party line vote, I am sorry to say, not to bring it 
before this body. That is wrong and it is time we changed things.

  If Members recall, 1\1/2\ years ago a group of people were swept into 
office with the promise that no more business as usual, no more letting 
parliamentary rules keeping the right thing from happening, no more 
losing the forest for the sake of a couple of trees. Today is an 
opportunity for those people to keep their word.
  Today is an opportunity for the 270 people who cosponsored this bill 
to put their vote where they put their signature, and that is to defend 
the rights of our military retirees who served this country so well, 
who kept their part of the bargain. And all they ask in return is for 
our Nation to keep its word. As I said before, they are the only people 
in this country who were promised health care. Prior to Medicare and 
Medicaid coming along, they were the only people who got health care. 
And now is it not ironic that the people who dodged the draft, that the 
people who may even be here illegally get free health care? But the 
people who paid with 6 months at a time at sea on aircraft carriers and 
submarines, the people who lost limbs, the people who lost their 
vision, the people who were away from their families, whose families 
split up because they were away defending our country, they are not 
getting the health care they were promised.
   Mr. Speaker, this rule is wrong. It needs to be defeated, and we 
need to give those veterans of our country, our military retirees, what 
they were promised.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
   Mr. Speaker, I would just say to the gentleman from Mississippi, who 
is my friend and the substance of whose bill I very much support, even 
though I am sorry to say I am not a cosponsor primarily because I 
wasn't aware of the substance of all the bill until yesterday, has been 
guided on how to go about accomplishing his mission, observing the 
rules and the protocols of the House. The first we have heard about 
this and the first I had heard about this was last night as we were in 
the Rules meeting.
  It just so happens that through an agreement in the protocol between 
both parties, the minority and the majority on this, we were not able 
to stick to our protocols in the Committee on Rules and make him in 
order. However, there were other options for him to pursue without 
disrupting what I think is a good, open rule for us to get on with the 
debate with one of the major appropriations bills that has the funding 
for major agencies of the Federal Government and a great many people 
who are depending on the activities of those agencies.
  It seems to me the right way to deal with that is through the 
established rules and protocols of the House, and we have been happy to 
provide that information to the gentleman from Mississippi and I hope 
he will follow that course and he will have my support if he does.
   Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the following material:

  THE AMENDMENT PROCESS UNDER SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE,\1\ 103D CONGRESS V. 104TH CONGRESS 
                                              [As of July 10, 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                 77                 60
Structured/Modified Closed \3\......                 49                 47                 34                 27
Closed \4\..........................                  9                  9                 17                 13
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................                104                100                128                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).                                                                             


[[Page H7209]]



                          SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE, 104TH CONGRESS                         
                                              [As of July 10, 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).            
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).            

[[Page H7210]]

                                                                                                                
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. 451 (6/10/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3603........  Agriculture             A: voice vote (6/
                                                                        Appropriations, FY      11/96).         
                                                                        1997.                                   
H. Res. 453 (6/12/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3610........  Defense                 A: voice vote (6/
                                                                        Appropriations, FY      13/96).         
                                                                        1997.                                   
H. Res. 455 (6/18/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3662........  Interior Approps, FY    A: voice vote (6/
                                                                        1997.                   19/96).         
H. Res. 456 (6/19/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3666........  VA/HUD Approps........  A: 246-166 (6/25/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 460 (6/25/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3675........  Transportation Approps  A: voice vote (6/
                                                                                                26/96).         
H. Res. 472 (7/9/96)...........  MC...............  H.R. 3755........  Labor/HHS Approps.....  .................
H. Res. 473 (7/9/96)...........  O................  H.R. 3754........  Leg. Branch Approps...  A: voice vote (7/
                                                                                                10/96).         
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Knollenberg], a member of both the 
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities and the Committee 
on Appropriations.
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, every hard working American family stands to benefit 
from the policies the Republican Congress is moving forward.
  Despite the outrageous scare tactics and the ``sky is falling'' 
strategy of the Democrats, the future will be better for our children 
and our grandchildren.
  We have successfully aimed to cut wasteful spending, reduce 
duplication, and lower taxes to get the Government out of our workers 
checkbooks. And with a balanced budget, lower interest rates will mean 
lower mortgages, lower car payments, and more affordable student loans.
  We have pushed for welfare reform that rewards hard work and 
perseverance and returns the expectation of personal responsibility. 
The Democrats and President Clinton have only blown hot air at welfare 
reform while still pushing the same old spend-spend-spend welfare 
state.
  Republicans have promoted workplace safety protections and pushed for 
better designed programs to help students go to college.
  And if you really want to help working families, we'll cut their 
taxes and let them keep more of their hard-earned money rather than 
give them 90 cents an hour.
  We've made solid progress to cut spending, balance the budget, and 
make this Government work better. This bill is an important part of the 
fight. So reject the deception and the distortions. Support the rule. 
It is a good rule. It is an open rule and support this bill.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Tennessee [Mr. Tanner].
  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, this is about fairness, as the gentleman from 
Mississippi [Mr. Taylor] said earlier, and this is the only way we know 
to bring this matter to the floor at this time.
  Military retirees and their dependents who are Medicare eligible over 
the age of 65 are now being forced out of the military health care 
system and on to Medicare. Under current law, the Department of Defense 
cannot be reimbursed by HCFA for treating Medicare-eligible retirees. 
Without Medicare reimbursement, the Retired Officers Association said 
these words: The DOD has no funding or financial incentive to treat 
military Medicare eligibles; thus, they are being shoved out of the 
military health care system and on to Medicare.

                              {time}  1715

  If that were not bad enough, CHAMPUS eligible beneficiaries who 
enroll are abruptly disenfranchised from Tricare when they become 
Medicare eligible.
  After we looked at the Persian Gulf war 3 years ago and realized that 
we could have had a problem if as many people had gotten hurt as 
possibly could have, in treating them, we decided we ought to not 
persist in a drawdown of medical personnel and medical infrastructure 
in our active guard and reserve forces. And so at that time we passed 
MediGuard, allowing the Governors of the various States to select 
medically underserved areas in those States, and then we would use 
reserve and guard personnel to go and conduct what we would call, I 
suppose, defensive medicine, screening for high blood pressure and so 
forth, to keep that ready military medical infrastructure in place in 
case we have another situation like the Persian Gulf.
  I am convinced that military medical readiness will suffer if these 
people are continued to be denied access to care. Our medical military 
system must attract, train, and retain physicians and other health care 
personnel if it is going to be a capable and viable national resource 
for our defense.
  Medicare subvention provides this institutional foundation which is 
needed to meet any contingency operation and will ensure that our 
military retirees have the freedom of choice in health care that they 
have earned, have been promised and deserve.
  Now they say, well, this is out of order because we are in an open 
rule on Labor-HHS. This is telling HHS in this bill that they can 
reimburse the Department of Defense for these people. It is the same 
money, the same illnesses, the same medical people, but we do not force 
military retirees over the age of 65 out of military hospitals. That is 
just plain wrong.
  There is a remedy under this bill to do it. If we could defeat this 
rule or the previous question, then we can have our amendment, which 
was denied us in the Committee on Rules, brought on the floor for a 
vote. That is all we ask.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee].
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we come again to a time when 
this Congress is offering to the American public the multistrike bill 
and everyone is out. I would have hoped that after last year we could 
have come to the table of compromise on the Labor, Health and Human 
Services and Education appropriations bill, but we find that this 
department is underfunded some $6.15 billion below the President's 
request.
  What strikes me the most is that we have given up on children by 
underfunding Head Start by $38.1 million, which serves only 740,000 out 
of the two million children who are currently eligible for this 
important and effective early childhood program.
  Just a couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to be in California 
discussing the crisis of juvenile crime all over the Nation, and one 
thing that we were assured of or convinced of, as the

[[Page H7211]]

RAND study has indicated, that it is the upfront cost that will allow 
us to invest in Americans and prevent the incarceration of citizens in 
their later life.
  I cannot understand my Republican colleagues for striking out Head 
Start once more and disallowing the numbers of children that need this 
service to not be served. Additionally, I cannot understand if this is 
a Nation of working people, supporting working Americans, that we would 
cut the dollars that promotes workplace safety and health and also 
pensions security.
  Just yesterday, in a very grateful manner, the Senate voted 
overwhelmingly to support the increase in the minimum wage. We now in 
the House of Representatives will be dealing with a bill that says to 
the American workers that they are out. We strike them out on workplace 
safety, we strike them out in health care and we strike them out in 
pension security.
  We have worked over the last 2 years to ensure that our young people 
have an appreciation for work. The Youth Summer Jobs Program has been 
one that I have personally taken charge to see that we respect the fact 
that young people care about work. We cut it in 1995, they cut it in 
fiscal year 1996, but yet we were able to see that it survived. Here we 
go again, we are now at 442,000 youth who cannot be served because of 
the cuts in the Youth Summer Jobs Program. I think it is important that 
we recognize that America is a country of inclusiveness.
  I would say that, in addition to including our youth, we should 
recognize those who suffer from mental illness and drug abuse. The bill 
provides less funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration. The amount, $1.85 billion, is an aggregated 
cut of $33.9 million below the current funding level and is $248 
million below the administration's request.
  Just for a moment, one of the things I have heard often when I have 
spoken to my health care providers in Texas is that mental health is an 
important issue. I think if we defeat this rule we will be able to 
support youth, children, and those who suffer from mental illness and 
substance abuse. I ask my colleagues to defeat the rule.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Connecticut [Ms. DeLauro].
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition today of the 
Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill. 
While we should be investing more in education to give our children the 
tools of opportunity in order to succeed, the Gingrich Congress 
continues its assault on education.
  The central theme of the leadership revolution has been to deny 
working families and children in this country educational opportunities 
at every level of their academic development. And this bill is more of 
the same.
  The enrollment in public schools today is rising. Tuition costs for 
college are going through the roof and working families are being 
squeezed just to make ends meet. This Congress should be doing 
everything in its power to expand access to a college education, to 
maintain support for local schools, ensure that every child who walks 
into a classroom is healthy, fed, and ready to learn.
  This bill does the exact opposite. It slashes education. That is dumb 
and it is wrong. Let me cite the blows inflicted by this bill.
  Our national investment in elementary and secondary education is cut 
by $400 million from last year's level. The bill kicks 15,000 children 
out of Head Start. It denies 150,000 children needed help in reading 
and mathematics for next year. The bill stops Federal funding of school 
reform. Goals 2000, which enables teachers to reform our schools, to 
discover innovative methods to improve the academic performance of all 
students, is eliminated under this bill. It slashes safe and drug-free 
schools, putting children in my district in New Haven, CT at risk of 
violence in their schools.
  In higher education the bill would deny 191,000 students Pell Grants 
next year. The bill denies 96,000 deserving postsecondary students the 
opportunity to receive low-interest Perkins loans. It reduces funds to 
administer the direct lending program, limiting the number of loans 
available to students and working families for 14 colleges and 
universities in Connecticut.
  The Gingrich revolutionaries just do not get it. We have been down 
this road before. The American people have spoken out loudly and 
clearly in opposition to an extreme Republican agenda, yet it has 
reared its ugly head once again in this bill. The American people 
understand that the only way that we move competitively into the 21st 
century is through an educated work force.
  Educating our kids is primary to families today. Dismantling public 
education in this country is the wrong way to balance a budget. We 
should reject this all-out attack on education for middle-class 
Americans.
  Some of my opponents say the Republicans have changed their tune from 
4 months ago, found faith in America's public education. This is simply 
not true. I call on my colleagues to reject this extreme antieducation 
bill.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Ohio, Judge Pryce, a distinguished member of the 
Committee on Rules.
  Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida, Mr. Goss, for 
yielding me the time, and I rise in support of both the rule and the 
Labor-HHS appropriations bill.
  First, this is another open rule. With the exception of the 
legislative branch appropriations bill, which we considered earlier 
today, all of the regular spending bills that have come to the floor of 
the House this year have been considered under an open amendment 
process, and we continue that same spirit of unrestricted debate today.
  Second, I'd like to commend Chairman Porter for crafting a very 
responsible bill--one that keeps our commitment to preserving and 
protecting the health, welfare, and Social Security of the American 
people.
  Although this year's bill freezes spending for many programs at last 
year's level, the bill does provide increased funding for education and 
Head Start, for block grants that support child care and community 
services, for the Violence Against Women Act, for the National 
Institutes of Health, and for valuable outreach and support programs 
like TRIO--which encourages young people in my district of Columbus, 
OH, to pursue a college education.
  Even with the increased funding levels, Mr. Speaker, the bill is 
within the 602(b) allocation, and as our colleagues know, that is 
crucial to keeping us on the glidepath to a balanced Federal budget.
  As we work to get our fiscal house in order, we must ensure that all 
funding is spent efficiently and where it is most effective in our 
society. This bill achieves this important goal by emphasizing, among 
other things, local control, parental involvement, and basic academics.
  Notwithstanding the challenge of balancing the Federal budget in 6 
years, I believe H.R. 3755 makes the right kind of investment in 
education, job training, and health, while also shrinking the size of 
government and funding only those programs that have demonstrated their 
effectiveness.
  Mr. Speaker, the Labor-HHS bill is one of the largest of the 13 
annual spending bills, and under this open rule, we will have the 
opportunity to discuss spending priorities in a fair and open manner, 
and I look forward to that debate. I urge my colleagues to support this 
open rule and the underlying legislation.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a no vote on the previous question. If the 
previous question is defeated, I shall offer an amendment to the rule 
which will make in order the amendment by the gentleman from 
Mississippi, Representative Taylor.
  The Taylor amendment seeks to allow HCFA to reimburse DOD for 
treatment in military medical facilities of military retirees and their 
dependents over the age of 65 who are Medicare eligible.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the text of the proposed amendment to the rule 
at this point in the Record.

       On page 2, line 15, of H. Res. 472, immediately after 
     ``waived.'' insert the following:
       ``Notwithstanding any other provision of this rule, it 
     shall be in order to consider an amendment to be offered by 
     Representative Taylor of Mississippi or his designee, which

[[Page H7212]]

     shall be in order without intervention of any point of order 
     (except those arising under section 425(a) of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974) or a demand for a division 
     of the question, and shall be considered as read.''

  Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of this Congress the Republican 
majority claimed the House was going to consider bills under an open 
process. I want to point out that 60 percent of the legislation in this 
session has been considered under a restrictive process.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following extraneous material for the 
Record:
  


          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. 60           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.                                                               
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.                                                                      

[[Page H7213]]

                                                                                                                
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.                                                                         
H.R. 3662......................  Interior            H. Res. 455          Open..................            N/A.
                                  Appropriations FY                                                             
                                  1997.                                                                         
H.R. 3666......................  VA/HUD              H. Res. 456          Open..................            N/A.
                                  Appropriations.                                                               
H.R. 3675......................  Transportation      H. Res. 460          Open..................            N/A.
                                  Appropriations FY                                                             
                                  1997.                                                                         
H.J. Res. 182/H.Res 461........  Disapproving MFN    H. Res. 463          Closed................            N/A.
                                  Status for the                                                                
                                  Peoples Republic                                                              
                                  of China.                                                                     
H. Con. Res. 192...............  Making in order a   H. Res 465           Closed................            N/A.
                                  Concurrent                                                                    
                                  Resolution                                                                    
                                  Providing for the                                                             
                                  Adjournment of                                                                
                                  the House over                                                                
                                  the 4th of July                                                               
                                  district work                                                                 
                                  period.                                                                       
H.R. 3755......................  Labor/HHS           H. Res. 472          Open..................            N/A.
                                  Appropriations FY                                                             
                                  1997.                                                                         
H.R. 3754......................  Legislative Branch  H. Res. 473          Restrictive...........         3D; 5R.
                                  Appropriations FY                                                             
                                  1997.                                                                         
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Contract Bills, 67% restrictive; 33% open. All legislation 1st Session, 53% restrictive; 47% open. *** All    
  legislation 2d Session, 60% restrictive; 40% open. All legislation 104th Congress, 56% restrictive; 44% 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 yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Mississippi [Mr. Taylor].
  Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I again thank the gentleman 
for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of this body are going to have two chances to 
vote on Medicare subvention. Again, 270 Members, including the chairman 
of the Committee on Rules, who is not here on the floor unfortunately, 
are sponsors of this measure. The chairman of the Committee on 
Appropriations, the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston]; the 
chairman of the Committee on National Security, the gentleman from 
South Carolina [Mr. Spence]; the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump]; and the ranking 
Democrats who serve on those committees are cosponsors of this measure.

                              {time}  1730

  It is the right thing. They are the only people in America who were 
promised health care and the only people in America who are being 
denied the health care they deserve.
  We have a chance to fix that. Two hundred fifty-seven Members of this 
body, including most recently 258, because the gentleman from Minnesota 
[Mr. Peterson] has signed on, have said this is something that this 
Nation ought to do. It is a promise that ought to be kept.
  Mr. Speaker, we should defeat the rule and make this in order. If it 
is not, then I am going to take the words of the gentlewoman from Ohio 
[Mr. Pryce], who is a cosponsor of this measure, to task and see if it 
is truly an open rule, and we will offer it as an amendment so that the 
Members of this body will have the chance to do the right thing for our 
Nation's military retirees; to prove that we are putting right over 
procedure and we are going to keep our promises to the military 
retirees of this country.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. 
Frost], we had one member of the Committee on Rules come in 
unexpectedly. I would ask if I may deviate to recognize the gentlewoman 
from Utah, Ms. Enid Greene. It will be a short statement.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from Utah [Ms. Greene].
  Ms. GREENE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule. It is 
an open rule that will provide thorough consideration of the issues by 
allowing amendments to be offered on the floor.

[[Page H7214]]

  Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we note that for too many 
years Washington has spent tax dollars and created bloated 
bureaucracies to show that we care. Nowhere is this more apparent than 
when we look at what Washington has done to our education system.
  Today, we have 760 federally run education programs administered by a 
jumble of 39 separate Federal departments, agencies, boards, and 
commissions at a cost of $120 billion to the American taxpayers.
  But, Mr. Chairman, for all those programs and all that money, student 
academic performance in this country has not improved in the last 20 
years. In fact, we have seen a steady decline in student performance as 
parents and local communities have less control over their children's 
educations.
  SAT scores have dropped from a total average of 937 in 1972 to 902 in 
1994; 66 percent of our 17-year-olds do not read at a proficient level; 
reading scores are down, science scores are down, and United States 
students score worse in math than all major countries except Spain.
  Now, there is no doubt that many of these programs are well 
intentioned, but good intentions are not good enough when dealing with 
our children's education. Clearly, the Washington education bureaucracy 
simply has not accomplished what needs to be accomplished for our 
children and there may be no better example of how using spending as 
the chief or only measurement of creating educational excellence has 
failed this Nation and our children than my own State of Utah.
  Mr. Speaker, my State of Utah ranks last in the 50 States in per-
pupil spending in the Nation, yet it ranks second in the Nation in the 
number of high school graduates, first in the Nation for the number of 
residents who have attended college, and the scores of Utah students 
taking the ACT test in 1995 rose in every subject and were higher than 
the national ACT group in every area.
  As the President said in his State of the Union Address, ``The era of 
big government is over,'' and it is time to empower our State and local 
communities to pick up where Washington needs to jump off.
  Let me stress, Mr. Speaker, this bill does not gut education 
programs. This bill freezes spending at last year's level for the title 
I program for disadvantaged students as well as for the Safe and Drug-
Free Schools Program. Spending for the Head Start Program is increased 
by $31 million above the 1996 level, and Pell grants are increased to a 
maximum of $2,500, up from $2,470 just last year.
  Mr. Speaker, with all the helping the Federal Government has been 
doing over the last 30 or 40 years, is it not time to explore other 
ways of giving our children the first-rate education they need and 
deserve?
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the bill.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, we have no remaining speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to first of all point out that already we seem to 
somehow get away from preciseness in the use of words. I heard ``cuts 
in the Head Start Program.'' There are no cuts in the Head Start 
Program. As the charts will show and as the debate will show as we go 
into the 2 hours of general debate and the individual open rule 
amendments, I am sure we are going to see the charts are going to be 
displayed that in fact there are increases in programs like Head Start; 
good programs that deserve increases.
  We have before us a situation where we have many programs that are 
nice to have, that are funded by the Federal Government. And we have 
many programs that are, I guess we should say that we need to have, 
that are funded by the Federal Government for people who have true 
serious needs and no other place to turn.
  And I think it is important to try and make the distinctions between 
``nice to have,'' and ``need to have'' programs because sometimes we 
forget here that all of the moneys from these programs do not come from 
Washington, they come from us, the people, the taxpayers, from back 
home. And if we do a pretty good job of what we do back home and we do 
not have to send the money to Washington, it seems to me we are better 
off.
  So I think when we talk about ``need to have'' programs, the 
taxpayers understand a little bit; and when we talk about ``nice to 
have'' programs, they are a little less willing to send their hard-
earned dollars to Washington.
  I would also point out that some of the people who are working the 
hardest for the ``need to have'' programs are the people who can least 
afford those tax dollars, and I would point out that this majority is 
trying to relieve them of some of their tax burdens as well.
  What this boils down a little bit to is restraint. And I think that 
it is very important that we continue to exercise the restraint that we 
have started on in this Congress toward a balanced budget in the next 7 
years. I am going to read just briefly from the administration's 
statement on this bill that they, apparently the senior advisors to the 
President, have threatened to veto. And I am going to take just one of 
the statements, this one has to do with the Department of Education and 
student loan programs and here is the statement I am quoting.
  And it says, ``As with the fiscal year 1996 appropriation bill, the 
administration continues to oppose any cap on direct lending.''
  Now, that is a debatable point, but it seems to me there is not much 
restraint if you are not going to oppose any cap on direct spending. 
That means the sky is the limit. How does this match up against other 
priorities and other needs? Those are the kinds of concerns that I am 
very concerned about.
  I go on through the administration's statement and there are five 
pages of the sky-is-going-to-fall type statements in here. Then we come 
to some of the issues that I think Americans need to know. This is the 
type of thing that the administration is saying. And again, I wonder 
how many parents in America are going to think this is money well 
spent.
  I am quoting from the administration's statement that is saying that 
``by providing no funding for the $30 million teen pregnancy prevention 
initiative, the committee would stall the development of critical 
knowledge about how to prevent teen pregnancy.''
  Now, I can tell you there is probably a bunch of teenagers running 
around out there that could tell me a thing or two about how to stop 
teen pregnancy right now. And I daresay that most of us understand how 
you get pregnant, whether you are a teenager or not. And I wonder 
whether or not the sky is really going to fall if we do not spend this 
$30 million that the President's administration says we have got to 
spend.

  I think it is very important that we have good, informed people about 
all the consequences of their actions, whatever their actions and 
behaviors may be. But I think to say that we are going to lose the 
world with teen pregnancy because we do not spend $30 million on 
critical knowledge about how you get pregnant is stretching the point 
just a bit. And I would suggest that many American taxpayers are going 
to say that that is $30 million that might be well spent in other 
programs that will be better used to prevent teen pregnancy.
  I take a look at the total difference. It is about $5.5 billion of 
what the President asked, which is virtually everything that was put on 
the plate, because the President is in the position of being the candy 
store proprietor in this budget process. He can come into the candy 
store and say, Look, help yourself we have all of these things. 
Somebody has to be responsible and say yes, there are all of these 
wonderful opportunities, but we have to pay for these things and 
somebody has to pay for them and that is of course the taxpayer, and 
besides if we consume too much candy, we will get a tummy ache or 
worse.
  We are in a position right now of being the people who are the 
responsible party in the candy store and saying we have to exercise 
some restraint both for price and behavioral reasons about how we go 
about doing things, and that is what this 2 hours of general debate and 
these amendments are going to lead to: legitimate differences of 
opinion about what is nice to have and what is need to have in this 
area.
  And finally, Mr. Speaker, with regard to the proposal to defeat the 
rule, I think that would be a very shortsighted action at this point. 
We should

[[Page H7215]]

support the rule, and we should vote ``yes'' on the previous question 
for a very simple reasons. We have an appropriations bill here that has 
got billions and billions of dollars that are necessary for many 
critical programs, as we have said.
  I think that the gentleman from Mississippi has made a very eloquent 
statement about an amendment that he feels very strongly about, and I 
frankly think it is a good amendment and I wish it could have been made 
in order, but we have rules in the House and his amendment is not 
germane. And we all know it.
  The gentleman's amendment was voted on in the Committee on Rules and 
it was voted down in the Committee on Rules because it is not germane. 
It is legislating on an appropriations bill. We do not legislate on an 
appropriations bill unless we follow a protocol. The protocol is well-
known. The protocol is you have to get a letter of no objection from 
the authorizing committees, and we have suggested that to the gentleman 
from Mississippi. He has a remedy to take. And I would urge him to do 
it because I think he has a good piece of legislation, with a 
significant number of cosponsors, which will do well on its own merits 
properly brought forward to the House vehicle. This is not the proper 
vehicle, and he is asking us to violate our rules and protocol if we 
are going to try to defeat the previous question.
  So I would say we should vote ``yes'' on the previous question, and 
we should vote ``yes'' on the rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the 
previous question on the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Linder). The question is on ordering the 
previous question.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
  The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
  Pursuant to clause 5 of rule XV, the Chair will reduce to a minimum 
of 5 minutes the period of time with in which a vote by electronic 
device, if ordered will be taken on the question of agreeing to the 
resolution.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 218, 
nays 202, not voting 13, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 299]

                               YEAS--218

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

                               NAYS--202

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

                             NOT VOTING--13

     Bartlett
     Dunn
     Ford
     Gibbons
     Hayes
     Lantos
     Lincoln
     Longley
     McDade
     Stark
     Watt (NC)
     Yates
     Young (FL)

                              {time}  1803

  Messrs. OWENS, RANGEL, HILLEARY, Miss COLLINS of Michigan, and Mr. 
TATE changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Messrs. WATTS of Oklahoma, HERGER, SOLOMON, SMITH of Texas, RIGGS, 
Mrs. CHENOWETH, Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas, and Messrs. McINTOSH, SMITH of 
New Jersey, DORNAN, SAXTON, SCARBOROUGH, MOORHEAD, and BEILENSON 
changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So the previous question was ordered.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. (Mr. Hutchinson). The question is on the 
resolution.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 472 and rule 
XXIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 3755.

                             {time}   1805


                     in the committee of the whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 3755) making appropriations for the Department of Labor, Health, 
and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies, for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes, with Mr. Walker 
in the Chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as having 
been read the first time.

[[Page H7216]]

  Under the rule, the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter] and the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey] each will control 1 hour.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter].
  (By unanimous consent, Mr. Porter was allowed to speak out of order.)


                          legislative program

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I take this time simply for the purpose of 
explaining to Members what the schedule will be for the remainder of 
this evening.
  The vote that was just taken is the last recorded vote, as I 
understand it. We will have the 2 hours of debate on the bill according 
to the rule, 1 hour on each side, and we will then proceed to 
amendments under title I, the Department of Labor, and will complete 
that title this evening with votes, if any, to be rolled over to 
tomorrow, and we will designate title II also.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from Illinois 
[Mr. Porter] for 1 hour.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

                              {time}  1815

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, let me begin by first thanking the chairman 
of the full Committee on Appropriations for the extremely helpful role 
he has played in working the bill through the subcommittee mark and the 
full committee. Obviously he has, I think, one of the toughest of all 
jobs in the House. He does it splendidly, and we are all greatly in his 
debt.
  I also want to thank each of the members of my subcommittee who 
worked so hard, especially the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey], the 
ranking member, for his contribution to the bill, and for all of their 
participation in the very difficult process that we have gone through 
in marking up and reporting the bill. It has not been easy for any of 
us.
  Finally I want to thank our staff. The staff of the full Committee on 
Appropriations have been extremely helpful to all of us. We hope to 
have all of the bills, including this bill, out by the time we enter 
the August break. This will be an accomplishment that is a testimony to 
the leadership of the chairman, the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. 
Livingston], and to the very, very fine work on a very experienced and 
expert staff, and all of us thank them very much.
  I also want to thank my staff, Tony McCann, the Clerk, Bob Knisely, 
Sue Quantius, Mike Myers, Joanne Orndorff, and Lauren James. Lauren is 
on detail to the committee from the Department of Education, and she 
has been invaluable to our subcommittee all year long.
  I also want to thank Mark Mioduski and Cheryl Smith of the minority 
staff for their excellent cooperation and the courtesy that they have 
extended to each one of us.
   Mr. Chairman, this bill includes a recommendation of $65.7 billion 
for the discretionary accounts within our jurisdiction. This level is 
within our 602(b) allocation and is about on the same level as the 
level for fiscal year 1996.
   Mr. Chairman, the bill sets priorities. It terminates funding for 39 
programs funded last year at just over $1 billion. These programs are 
characterized, with few exceptions, as being small, expensive to 
operate, and in most cases having little evidence of effectiveness.
   Mr. Chairman, at NIH we have taken the position that funding should 
be allocated according to the judgment of science as to where the best 
opportunities lie, and not according to the political fiat of Congress. 
We also have continued our effort to avoid earmarks in the bill. In NIH 
once again we removed all disease-specific earmarks and provided no 
specific AIDS earmarks. The distribution for AIDS funding as determined 
by NIH is at $1.498 billion across all institutes and divisions of the 
agency. This is a determination, again, made by science and not by 
politics.
   Mr. Chairman, I have sat here listening to the debate on the rule 
and listening to the people on the minority side talk about all of the 
terrible things that are happening to education and job training. Mr. 
Chairman, I want people to understand exactly what they are talking 
about. The subcommittee's allocation is about level with last year, and 
most provisions of the bill are level-funded. There are no huge cuts 
anywhere in education.
  When the minority discusses cuts, they mean cuts from the level of 
funding recommended by the President in his budget. It is clear, Mr. 
Chairman, that the President's budget was a purely political document 
giving huge increases, that could not be afforded, to every interest 
group in America. The President took no responsibility for getting our 
fiscal house in order. We have to take that responsibility and we take 
it seriously. We have carried out our responsibility in this bill.

  Let me talk about what we have done on the increase side. Job Corps 
operations is a program aimed to help the most at-risk youth in our 
society. It removes them from their current environment to one where 
they can get real job training, a chance for a working life and career 
in our society. Job Corps is increased by $92 million.
  The subcommittee added $54 million for the Ryan White AIDS Program. 
Again, the committee has attempted to protect and support programs that 
impact the most vulnerable of our citizens. These are important dollars 
to be spent for people suffering from a very, very horrible disease, 
and we have provided an increase for Ryan White.
  Summer youth is level-funded at $625. I heard the gentlewoman from 
Texas saying what big cuts there were in the program. There are no 
cuts. It is level-funded.
  An additional $8 million is provided for the Violence Against Women 
Act. Mr. Chairman, I am a strong supporter of this program, which 
provides support and protection for battered women, rape victims, and 
victims of other forms of violence. We have provided an increase for 
this series of programs.
  The bill provides $900 million in new funding for the Low-Income 
Heating and Energy Assistance program, and with other emergency funding 
and funding that was available from previous appropriations, a total of 
$1.32 billion is available for the LIHEAP program.
  NIH research is increased by 6.5 percent.
  The preventive health, maternal and child health, social services, 
and child care block grants are all increased, consistent with the 
subcommittee's policy of increasing funding for programs that increase 
local discretion. Again, these programs cannot be seen in isolation 
from the individuals they serve: poor women, young children, and the 
most vulnerable in our society-all which have a high priority in the 
bill.
  The community services block grant, which is an extremely flexible 
program that can support many social services programs, including 
nutrition, energy assistance, employment, and crisis services, is 
increased by $100 million, from approximately $390 to $490 million.
  Innovative education program strategies is more than doubled, to $609 
million, by terminating several categorical programs to increase 
funding for this broad block grant.
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the premier agency in 
the world in the search for the causes and treatment of a broad range 
of diseases, is increased by $75 million, to $2.2 billion; $82 million 
dollars is provided for infectious disease control, $135 million is 
provided for breast and cervical cancer screening, and other health 
promotion and disease prevention programs are also increased.
  Mr. Chairman, health professions training funding is increased by $34 
million. Family planning is maintained at last year's level of $192 
million; $802 million is provided for community and migrant health 
centers, and other health service programs are increased as well. 
Again, Mr. Chairman, these are programs that serve the poor, the 
disadvantaged, and the most vulnerable in our society and they are 
given high priority in our bill.
  Head Start funding is increased to $3.6 billion. Again, this is a 
program aimed directly at the poorest, most vulnerable children, and 
while not without its faults in some of its applications, is a high 
priority in this bill. TRIO is increased by $37 million, an 8 percent 
increase. Pell grants, and I heard the gentlewoman say we were cutting 
Pell grants, the gentlewoman from Connecticut earlier, Pell grants 
maximums are again increased, this year by $30, to $2,500. Federal 
work-study grants are up over 10 percent, to $685 million.

[[Page H7217]]

  Mr. Chairman, it is here that I have the greatest difficulty of 
understanding the criticisms of my friends across the aisle. We have 
increased these student financial aid programs this year, and many of 
them were increased or frozen last year, yet there is still the 
drumbeat that the majority is cutting post-secondary education. We are 
not. Funds for college education, post-secondary education, are 
increasing.
  The bill also continues our efforts at reform. As I mentioned, the 
bill terminates 39 mostly small, ineffective programs. Goals 2000, 
however, is also terminated. The bill consolidates the Eisenhower 
Professional Development Program with the innovative State grant 
program that will allow the States and localities to spend Federal 
education funding as they see fit, to meet locally defined needs and 
programs.
  Finally, Mr. Chairman, the bill continues many of the legislative 
provisions that were included in the Omnibus Consolidated 
Appropriations and Rescissions Act of 1996. Among those included are 
provisions prohibiting the issuance of regulations by the NLRB related 
to single-site bargaining, provisions that have been carried in the 
bill for several years prohibiting the use of funds for abortions--the 
current Hyde language--provisions that limit the use of funds for the 
creation of human embryos for research and the use of embryos in 
research.
  In addition, the subcommittee included several additional legislative 
provisions. Language is included strengthening the current language 
regarding OSHA ergonomic standards. The recommended language would 
prohibit the development or issuance of standards or guidelines and the 
collection of data with respect to repetitive motion injuries. Language 
is also included that would raise the minimum jurisdiction of the 
National Labor Relations Board. The increase would return the minimum 
jurisdiction to the inflation-adjusted level it originally was set at 
in 1950. Finally, Mr. Chairman, language is included that prohibits the 
use of CDC funds for the advocacy of gun control.
  Mr. Chairman, we are about to hear a great deal of discussion from 
our friends on the other side of the aisle on their belief, and the 
President's, that we need to spend more money on these and other 
programs. In the end, however, we are going to have to be responsible. 
In the end, every dollar we spend above current amounts in the bill are 
borrowed and must be repaid by our children, who have, after all, no 
vote and whose futures we are mortgaging if we spend beyond our means.
  This is a responsible bill, Mr. Chairman. It reflects the priorities 
for education and health and job training and the protection of the 
most vulnerable in our society, and I commend it to the Members. I 
believe it is a fair, responsible bill and does the job for the 
American people.
  I would like to clarify the intent of language included in the 
section of House Report 104-659 relating to the buildings and 
facilities account within the National Institutes of Health. The report 
indicates that the committee expects that the detailed construction 
documents for the clinical center be reviewed by an outside party 
acceptable to both NIH and Congress. This outside party could be a 
single entity or a panel of experts drawn from various institutions. 
Such a review would take place at the design development stage of the 
project. The review should focus on a thorough examination of program 
and cost estimates, but need not involve review of detailed 
construction documents.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 10 minutes.
  Mr. Chairman, this bill, I think, defines in a major way the 
differences in priorities between the two political parties in this 
House. For years we have had a decline in the school-age population in 
this country. It has been going down for a number of years. But the 
fact is that we are now experiencing a steady increase in school 
enrollment in this country, and, in fact, next year there will be more 
students enrolled in local school districts than at any time in the 
country's history.
  We would simply ask the question on this side of the aisle: Why 
should we be cutting per pupil expenditures for those students at a 
time when we are experiencing an increase in student enrollment?
  If we take a look at what is happening to per pupil expenditures and 
look at it in real dollar terms, we will see that per pupil 
expenditures at the Federal level are declining from $287 per student 
to $222 by the end of the sixth year of the Republican budget which 
just went through this House several months ago, and this bill is the 
first year's step in that budget process.
  Last year the Republican majority in this House tried to cut $7 
billion out of this bill. The public rebelled. After the public 
rebelled at those reductions last year, we were able, in conference 
with the Senate, to restore about 90 percent of the education cuts 
which had been made by House Republicans in this bill last year.
  This year's bill has a more stealthy plan to make those same 
reductions. On the surface, it appears to be pretty much a stand-pat 
budget but, in reality, there is a $500 million reduction in Department 
of Education programs, and over the next 6 years, we would wind up with 
a reduction of some $35 billion below current services, and we would 
wind up with cuts of about $57 billion below the President's requests.

                              {time}  1830

  That is a 20 percent cut in real deliverable program levels by 2002. 
We simply on this side of the aisle do not think that that is in the 
interest of the country. We do not think that that will help the 
economy grow. We believe that these reductions come at the worst 
possible time for local schools. Schools face sharp competition for 
resources from State and local sources. This budget squeeze at the 
State and local level comes at the same time that Federal education aid 
dollars are declining in real terms while school enrollment, as I just 
indicated, is rising. That creates a double-jeopardy situation which we 
think is unhealthy.
  This bill begins the process under which this year up to 15,000 Head 
Start kids will be squeezed out of the program under this bill. Over 
150,000 title I children will lose title I services that help them to 
read and to master science and math. The President's budget would have 
supported nearly 450,000 additional title I students. By the end of the 
Republican 6-year budget plan, more than 1 million kids will not be 
receiving the reading and math help they need under the title I 
program. Under Goals 2000, which is the program that was begun under 
President Bush, supported by then Governor Clinton, under that Goals 
2000 program which would help 8,500 local schools raise math and 
science standards so that kids can compete globally, that program would 
be terminated in this bill. That results in 2 billion fewer dollars 
provided for school improvement between now and 2002. Nearly 340,000 
math and science teachers will lose the training that they need to 
upgrade their skills because the bill eliminates the Eisenhower Teacher 
Training Program. Over 300,000 students will lose vocational education 
and training opportunities in just this year alone under the bill. 
There will be 14,000 kids who lose bilingual education opportunities. 
Two hundred twenty thousands students who receive Perkins loans and 
grants under the State-assisted student incentive program will no 
longer be able to get the help they need to attend college. There are 
107,000 fewer college kids who will receive Pell grant programs 
compared to the President's budget. Seventy-nine thousand fewer summer 
youth jobs will be provided under this proposal. Dislocated worker 
assistance will be provided to 32,000 fewer workers than last year.
  This is the bill that is supposed to help children and workers get 
ahead in life. Yet this bill puts us on the road to a systematic 
disinvestment in education and puts roadblocks in the way of those 
workers and those children.

  I would point out that there has been a lot of talk through the past 
years about how sound Social Security and Medicare will be in the next 
century. Raising the wages and the earning power of the American 
workforce is crucial to being able to strengthen those funds, because 
you need to strengthen the income people have so that they can increase 
their payments into those funds. This is the bill that most directly 
impacts our obligation to give kids from working families a

[[Page H7218]]

chance to make something of themselves and it is being short-sheeted in 
my view.
  In addition to the education problem, we have added over 2 million 
seniors in the last 5 years to our population. Yet this bill continues 
the downward trend of the 1996 Appropriation Act by again cutting funds 
for the Administration on Aging.
  For worker protection, the House bill cuts worker protection programs 
by 13 percent below the President's request and 9 percent below what is 
needed to simply maintain last year's level of operations. That means 
cuts in our ability to help guarantee workplace health and safety, 
pension protection, and immigration reform.
  The bill also cuts funding for the NLRB by 15 percent below last 
year's level and 20 percent below the President's request. We do not 
think that is wise. In addition, it contains a number of riders which 
we do not believe make much sense.
  Low Income Heating Assistance Program, a program which I started with 
Senator Muskie a long time ago, that Low Income Energy Assistance 
Program is crucial to help seniors and vulnerable individuals pay their 
home heating bills. I come from a part of the country where you get 40 
below zero weather, and I am not talking about chill factor, I am 
talking about real term temperature cold. In 1996 the Low Income 
Heating Assistance Program was slashed by $419 million. This bill 
provides $100 million less than the President requested and it 
appropriates not one dime for fiscal 1998 for that program.
  I would simply point out that from 1981 to 1994, the low-income 
population eligible for LIHEAP has grown by 10 million people. Yet the 
percentage of eligible households served by it has dropped from 36 to 
21 percent and the percentage of assistance on their fuel bills which 
people get from the Federal Government has declined from 23 percent to 
12 percent in 1994 and it will go down even more.

  So for this and a variety of reasons, I would simply say that we on 
the minority side feel that this bill is not adequate to the challenge 
facing the country and I regretfully intend to vote ``no'' when the 
bill reaches its final passage stage.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California [Mrs. Seastrand].
  Mrs. SEASTRAND. Mr. Chairman, as a former fourth grade school teacher 
and the mother of two, I understand the importance of education to the 
health and vitality of our Nation. We who are in positions of authority 
have a solemn responsibility to formulate policies that will provide 
all children with access to quality education.
  Mr. Chairman, 66 percent of 17-year-olds do not read at a proficient 
level, and 30 percent of all children entering college have to take 
remedial education classes. These sorry statistics are the unfortunate 
result of several factors, the most important of which is the 
unrestrained growth of the Federal education bureaucracy.
  Only about 6 percent of all education spending in the United States 
comes from Federal sources, yet one study found that it accounted for 
over 50 percent of all the paperwork for local school districts. We 
need more teachers, we need better teachers in the classrooms with the 
students, not more bureaucrats buried under mountains of paper.
  This Congress has trimmed the fat from the education budget but it 
has not cut vital and effective programs. Both Pell grants and the 
work-study program reach an all-time high under the Republican budget 
this year. These programs are proven successes and should be preserved.

  Yet out of a Federal education monolith consisting of 760 programs 
and costing $120 billion a year, there is much that must be reformed. 
Of these programs, only 3.6 percent are science-related, only 1.8 
percent are reading-related, and only 1.1 percent are math-related. Mr. 
Chairman, our limited Federal resources are being squandered.
  Washington, DC is not the place to look for education policy. We need 
to look at the local school districts, the teachers, the parents, the 
local committees, and families that must be allowed to educate children 
without interference from the Federal bureaucracy.
  What works for New York State may not work for the children of the 
central coast of California, where I come from. I say, give those who 
know education best the ability to make policy that works for the folks 
at home, for their own communities, their own children. We in 
Washington, DC should offer support but get out of the way. Our 
children deserve better.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 11\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland [Mr. Hoyer].
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
  Mr. Chairman, I want to rise to make an observation with respect to 
what is happening in the Congress and in the United States of America 
regarding how we spend our money and how we make decisions on spending 
our money.
  The chart to my right shows that in 1962, 70 percent of the Federal 
budget was so-called discretionary spending. Discretionary spending is 
decisions that we make about where we want to invest our money to make 
our country stronger and more viable as a Nation, to make people more 
secure and more able to compete. That has now dropped down to less than 
36 percent.
  Half of that is for our national defense. I am one of those Democrats 
that supports the national defense, and I have done so since 1981 when 
I first came here. We added $12 billion to defense this year when it 
passed this House. Why did we do so? We did so on the premise that to 
freeze defense was in fact a cut. In fact, I think that rationale was 
correct. But I am not so sure why that rationale does not apply to the 
defense of this Nation as it relates to the education of our children 
and the security of our families.
  In 1983, the Department of Education issued a report. It was a stark 
and compelling report, and it was entitled ``A Nation At Risk.''
  What did it say? I am quoting from that report, issued under the 
imprimatur of Secretary Terrence Bell, who recently passed away. He was 
a fine Secretary of Education, a member of the Reagan Cabinet. The 
report said this:

       If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on 
     America the mediocre educational performance that exists 
     today, we might well have viewed it as an act of war. As it 
     stands, we have allowed this to happen to ourselves. We have 
     dismantled essential support systems which helped make these 
     gains possible. We have in effect been committing an act of 
     unthinking unilateral educational disarmament.

  Mr. Chairman, I will oppose this bill because it sounds retreat, and 
America ought not to retreat. In a time when we need to have families 
first in our focus, at a time when we need to strengthen education and 
strengthen children, sounding the bugle of retreat is not a proper 
policy.
  We will have a very substantial increase in the numbers of children 
going to our schools over the next 6 years. Next year, in fact, we will 
have more children in school than in any year in our history.
  What does that mean? That means there will be a greater burden on 
local and State governments. As the previous speaker said, the Federal 
Government contributes only 6 percent of the educational resources 
available to our families and to educate our children. But that 6 
percent is a critical part. In fact, it is the part which deals with 
some of the most vulnerable children in America, those who have 
economic, cultural, and educational deprivations in their families, and 
who therefore start out behind the others with whom they will go to 
school.
  This chart shows that we are going to have 3.4 million more children 
entering school from 1997 to 2002. It also shows that the Republican 
budget's freeze at $14.4 billion for elementary and secondary education 
is essentially a retreat, because it will effectively be, in 2002, $12 
billion in real dollars, in resources available. In an atmosphere where 
the need is growing, our investment is decreasing.

                              {time}  1845

  That does not make sense for our families or for our children. I said 
that the numbers of children were increasing, and I showed Members on 
the chart where the budget goes from $14.4 billion to approximately $12 
billion in real terms by 2002. Now, that is when we will be 
experiencing an addition of 3.4 million new young people in our school 
system.

[[Page H7219]]

  Those children do not disappear. Those children will not have another 
chance at being 3 or 4 or 5 years old. This is not something that we 
can catch up on tomorrow, when perhaps, as George Bush says, our wallet 
will match our will. I believe that we ought to have the will, and I 
clearly believe we have the wallet. As a matter of fact, as a Democrat 
for a balanced budget, I voted for the coalition budget. The coalition 
budget, in fact, balanced the budget, cut more spending than the 
Republican or the President's alternative, and provided an additional 
$47 billion for education. How did it do that? Because we did not 
pretend that we could cut taxes, balance the budget, and make sure that 
families were secure in the knowledge that their children would receive 
the kinds of education that they need.
  Under the President's budget, there would have been $7.05 billion for 
title I. Title I is for economically deprived children who need some 
additional help to be competitive, so that they can join our workforce 
in competing with an increasingly able workforce around the world. A 
freeze in real terms would serve 6.8 million children in 2002. The 
chairman suggests a freeze in 1997 but in point of fact, that policy 
will result in an actual decrease to 5.8 million children who will be 
served in 2002. This is opposed to the President's budget, which will 
serve 6.8 million children. That is 1 million American children that 
will have no seats for title I assistance in the schools of our Nation 
because of this Republican budget. I believe that policy is 
inconsistent with our desire to compete in the global marketplace, with 
our desire to pledge to families that they can be secure in the 
knowledge that their children will have the kind of education, Head 
Start, and title I assistance that they need.

  Now, I want to tell my friends in the House that my children have had 
great advantages. Their father and their mother earn substantial 
incomes. Their father and their mother had the advantages of higher 
education. But let me tell Members something that all of us, I am sure, 
know, and that every family in America knows: Our children will be 
affected by the ability to participate and contribute of every other 
child in their generation. Therefore, I say to my friends that this 
budget, which calls us to retreat, is a budget we ought to reject.
  I talked about title I. Today in America, in a program that President 
Reagan, President Bush, and President Clinton supported and funded, we 
serve 53 percent of the children who are eligible. That means we do not 
serve 47 percent. I think that is a problem. I think what we ought to 
do is increase the percentage that we serve. Why? Because it makes us 
more competitive and makes us a more viable society.
  But this Republican budget, as I said, sounds retreat and moves from 
53 percent of children served today by title I to 42 percent of the 
children served in 2002. That extrapolates into those 1 million 
children that I told Members about. Those are real children from real 
families in a country that, increasingly in a global marketplace, knows 
that it has got to have better skills for its children.
  This next chart shows in very specific terms what will happen in the 
cities and towns of America. Let me give some examples. In Dallas, TX, 
a freeze in title I as proposed by the chairman will mean 29 teachers 
lose their jobs and 726 students lose help next year. S. 726 students 
next year in Dallas, TX, as a result of this bill will not get the kind 
of help that they need. The Miami-Dade area will lost 40 teachers and 
1,011 students next year. It will lost 255 teachers and 6,386 students 
over the next 5 years.
  Ladies and gentlemen of the House, in order to stay even, just this 
year, we would have to add $2.6 billion to this bill for education.
  Now, recall with me my opening statement that we added $12 billion to 
the defense bill so that we could stay even and remain the strongest 
Nation on the face of the earth. My Republican colleagues pointed out 
that if we did not have that additional $12 billion, if we froze 
funding at last year's level, that we would in fact be putting at risk 
the Nation by underfunding our defense. Ladies and gentlemen of the 
House, let us not underfund the defense of America by underfunding the 
children, the education of America. I urge a ``no'' vote on this 
appropriation bill.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Miller], a very able member of our subcommittee.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, the previous speaker tried to 
scare us about what is happening in education, and I just want to set 
the record straight. First of all, the Federal Government only pays 5 
percent of the total amount of money in elementary and secondary 
education. Ninety-five percent of the money comes from State and local 
governments, and that is where the responsibility belongs, with the 
family and State and local governments.
  He talks about title 1. Where are the cuts? Title I has increased 40 
percent in the last 7 years, and it is flat funded for this year. There 
is no cut. The amount of money going for title I stays at $6.7 billion.
  I rise in strong support of this bill, and I want to talk about 
something other than the area of education right now, and I want to 
talk about something that is very, very important, and that is the area 
of biomedical research.
  Biomedical research is a fundamental priority that can dramatically 
improve and change the lives of individual Americans. Therefore, for 
the second year in a row, we have significantly increased funding at 
the National Institutes for Health and for the Centers for Disease 
Control. Another reason, by the way, I am supporting this bill very 
strongly is we want to eliminate wasteful and duplicative spending 
programs, and this bill eliminates 39 programs in addition to the 109 
programs we eliminated last year. So I support this program because 
what it is, we set Federal priorities. We take a hard look at those 
functions of the Federal Government and decide what they can do and the 
responsibility of the Federal Government should do. We identify those 
crucial programs and increase the funding for those that are the most 
important, and we decrease funding for wasteful or nonessential 
bureaucracy.
  The National Institutes for Health is a perfect example since it 
represents a true Federal responsibility. By providing over a 6-percent 
increase, we are continuing our commitment to ensure the health and 
welfare of our citizens. Under the leadership of Chairman Porter, we 
have committed to building a new clinical research center, and this had 
broad bipartisan support.
  The Human Genome Project, which is literally mapping the entire human 
DNA, is moving forward ahead of schedule. Funding for AIDS research is 
once again increased. We have seen hopeful breakthroughs at NIH for the 
treatment this disease, and the Republican plan continues to provide 
the resources needed to find a treatment and cure.
  We should support the National Institutes for Health because it is 
truly one of the great institutions of the entire world. Dozens and 
dozens of Americans have been awarded the Nobel Prize with help from 
NIH research grants. Some of the most important medical discoveries of 
the 20th century have occurred at the NIH campus or through NIH grants 
to the Universities in this country.
  America has created the finest medical research facility in the 
world, and this bill ensures that it will remain a true force for the 
improvement of our health and well-being as a society.
  Another great institution is the Centers for Disease Control in 
Atlanta. It reaches across the entire country and entire globe. This 
bill increases funding for several CDC prevention programs. We increase 
funding for breast and cervical cancer screening, chronic and 
environmental disease prevention, infectious disease, AIDS education 
and prevention, lead poisoning prevention, and the preventive health 
services block grant. CDC is an example of an activity the Federal 
Government is uniquely qualified to accomplish. We have increased 
funding in 1996 and again in 1997.
  This is a good bill. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I move that the committee do now rise.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Livingston) having assumed the chair, Mr. Walker, Chairman of the 
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the

[[Page H7220]]

Union, reported that that Committee, having had under consideration the 
bill (H.R. 3755) making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies, for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes, had come 
to no resolution thereon.

                          ____________________