[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8293-H8302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3816, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 483 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 483

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule 
     XXIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 3816) making appropriations for energy and 
     water development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1997, and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill 
     shall be dispensed with. General debate shall be confined to 
     the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and 
     controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
     Committee on Appropriations. After general debate the bill 
     shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. 
     Points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to 
     comply with clause 2 or 6 of rule XXI are waived. During 
     consideration of the bill for amendment, the

[[Page H8294]]

     Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may accord priority in 
     recognition on the basis of whether the Member offering an 
     amendment has caused it to be printed in the portion of the 
     Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 6 
     of rule XXIII. Amendments so printed shall be considered as 
     read. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone 
     until a time during further consideration in the Committee of 
     the Whole a request for a recorded vote on any amendment. The 
     Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may reduce to not less 
     than five minutes the time for voting by electronic device on 
     any postponed question that immediately follows another vote 
     by electronic device without intervening business, provided 
     that the time for voting by electronic device on the first in 
     any series of questions shall be not less than fifteen 
     minutes. After the reading of the final lines of the bill, a 
     motion that the Committee of the Whole rise and report the 
     bill to the House with such amendments as may have been 
     adopted shall, if offered by the majority leader or a 
     designee, have precedence over a motion to amend. At the 
     conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the 
     Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with 
     such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous 
     question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and 
     amendments thereto to final passage without intervening 
     motion except one motion to recommit with or without 
     instructions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hutchinson). The gentleman from 
Tennessee [Mr. Quillen] is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, I yield 
the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Beilenson], pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the 
purposes of debate only.
   Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 483 is an open rule providing for the 
consideration of H.R. 3816, making appropriations for energy and water 
development for fiscal year 1997.
  The rule waives clause 2 and clause 6 of rule XXI which prohibits 
unauthorized appropriations, legislation in general appropriations 
bills, and reappropriations against provisions in the bill. These 
waivers are necessary since many programs funded by this bill have not 
been reauthorized. The measure also includes some transfers of funds 
and minor legislative provisions, and the appropriations committee 
worked closely with the authorizing committees on these matters.
  The rule also provides for priority in recognition to Members who 
have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional Record, and it 
allows the Chair to postpone and cluster roll call votes, and to reduce 
voting time to 5 minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a 
15-minute vote.
  This rule allows the majority leader or his designee to offer a 
motion to rise and report the bill after the final lines of the bill 
have been read. Finally, the rule allows one motion to recommit, with 
or without instructions.
   Mr. Speaker, Chairman John Myers and Ranking Minority Member Tom 
Bevill have done a remarkable job in putting together the energy and 
water development appropriations bill for fiscal year 1997. Together 
they fought to get sufficient funds allocated to protect investments in 
water and energy infrastructure and to maintain and operate facilities 
and programs within the subcommittee's jurisdiction while still 
contributing toward deficit reduction.
  Combined they have contributed approximately 50 years to the Energy 
and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, always working in a bipartisan 
manner. Those who take their places on the subcommittee after their 
retirement will find that their's will be a tough act to follow.
  They have repeatedly displayed what can be accomplished through 
bipartisan cooperation, friendship, and respect--an example we should 
all aspire to follow.
   Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3816 provides funds for critical programs such as 
flood control, maintenance of over 25,000 miles of inland waterways, 
Bureau of Reclamation projects, Department of Energy functions and 
various independent agencies including the Appalachian Regional 
Commission [ARC] and the Tennessee Valley Authority [TVA]. Both of 
these agencies have made a tremendous impact on the regions they serve. 
The Tennessee Valley Authority is required by law to perform flood 
control and river navigation services for the entire Tennessee Valley 
area which would otherwise be provided by the Army Corps of Engineers.

  TVA's economic development program has helped many communities in the 
region meet their infrastructure and development needs. These funds 
have been significantly reduced in recent years, and I oppose any 
attempts to further erode the funding base for this important program.
  No funds appropriated for TVA are used for its power program, and I 
strongly urge the Members of the House to reject any amendment which 
may be offered to reduce or eliminate funds for these two agencies. 
They provide crucial services to the deserving communities in the 
Appalachian and Tennessee Valley regions. Funding for TVA and ARC has 
already been reduced, and any further reduction would seriously 
jeopardize the ability of these agencies to carry out their important 
functions.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this open rule and this 
important appropriations bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert extraneous material 
into the Record following my statement.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  The materials referred to follow:

  THE AMENDMENT PROCESS UNDER SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE,\1\ 103D CONGRESS V. 104TH CONGRESS 
                                              [As of July 23, 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                 80                 60
Structured/Modified Closed \3\......                 49                 47                 37                 27
Closed \4\..........................                  9                  9                 17                 13
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................                104                100                134                100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This table applies only to rules which provide for the original consideration of bills, joint resolutions or
  budget resolutions and which provide for an amendment process. It does not apply to special rules which only  
  waive points of order against appropriations bills which are already privileged and are considered under an   
  open amendment process under House rules.                                                                     
\2\ An open rule is one under which any Member may offer a germane amendment under the five-minute rule. A      
  modified open rule is one under which any Member may offer a germane amendment under the five-minute rule     
  subject only to an overall time limit on the amendment process and/or a requirement that the amendment be     
  preprinted in the Congressional Record.                                                                       
\3\ A structured or modified closed rule is one under which the Rules Committee limits the amendments that may  
  be offered only to those amendments designated in the special rule or the Rules Committee report to accompany 
  it, or which preclude amendments to a particular portion of a bill, even though the rest of the bill may be   
  completely open to amendment.                                                                                 
\4\ A closed rule is one under which no amendments may be offered (other than amendments recommended by the     
  committee in reporting the bill).                                                                             


                          SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE, 104TH CONGRESS                         
                                              [As of July 23, 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).         

[[Page H8295]]

                                                                                                                
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).            
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....  .................

[[Page H8296]]

                                                                                                                
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)...........  O................  H.R. 3755........  Labor/HHS Approps.....  PQ: 218-202 A:   
                                                                                                voice vote (7/10/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 473 (7/9/96)...........  MC...............  H.R. 3754........  Leg. Branch Approps...  A: voice vote (7/
                                                                                                10/96).         
H. Res. 474 (7/10/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 3396........  Defense of Marriage     A: 290-133 (7/11/
                                                                        Act.                    96).            
H. Res. 475 (7/11/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3756........  Treasury/Postal         A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Approps.                16/96).         
H. Res. 479 (7/16/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3814........  Commerce, State         A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Approps.                17/96).         
H. Res. 481 (7/17/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 3820........  Campaign Finance        .................
                                                                        Reform.                                 
H. Res. 482 (7/17/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 3734........  Personal                A: 358-54 (7/18/ 
                                                                        Responsibility Act.     96).            
H. Res. 483 (7/18/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3816........  Energy/Water Approps..  .................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, we support this rule, which allows Members to offer any 
amendment that is otherwise in order under the standing rules of the 
House.
  I do want to point out, however, that this rule, like other rules we 
have considered for appropriations bills this year, waives points of 
order against legislating on an appropriations bill. That is not a 
practice we want to encourage, but we accept it in this case because we 
recognize that there are times when waiving that rule is necessary and 
appropriate. I would note that the relevant authorizing committees do 
not have any objections to this waiver of this particular rule.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill that this rule makes in order provides $19.4 
billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of 
Reclamation, and the Department of Energy. This legislation has been 
developed in a strong spirit of bipartisanship, for which we commend 
and thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Myers], and the ranking 
member, the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Bevill]. Both gentlemen are not 
only excellent legislators but very fine gentlemen and human beings, 
both of whom will be greatly missed by Members of this institution in 
the years to come.
  However, many of us do have serious concerns about some of the bill's 
provisions. We note that solar and renewable energy research would be 
cut by $44 million below this year's level and $142 million below the 
level requested by the President. A reduction of that size would 
severely threaten the development of these advanced technologies, and 
would thus be a setback to our efforts to reduce our dependence on 
imported oil, diversify our energy resources, reduce pollution, and 
generate jobs in this growing field.
  We also object to the bill's drastic cut in the Department of 
Energy's administrative funding, which would reduce spending for that 
purpose by almost half the current amount. The deep spending cuts would 
severely impair the department's ability to carry out its basic 
management responsibilities.
  Fortunately, amendments will be offered to at least partially reverse 
some of the more extreme spending cuts that the bill currently 
contains.
  We also anticipate amendments on several highly controversial 
projects that are funded by this bill, including one that would 
eliminate the bill's $17 million for the Advanced Light Water Reactor 
Program, one eliminating the bill's $9.5 million for construction of 
the Animas-LaPlata water project, and one eliminating the bill's $45 
million for the Nuclear Technology Research and Development Program.
  Mr. Speaker, again, although we do, as I have suggested, have some 
concerns about this bill, we strongly support the rule. We urge its 
passage, so we can proceed to consideration of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Myers], the chairman of the subcommittee.
  Mr. MYERS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the committee for the rule 
that the gentleman has given this subcommittee this year, once again. I 
particularly thank both the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Quillen] and 
the gentleman from California [Mr. Beilenson] for the very nice words 
each have said about the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Bevill] and me.
  I take these few moments here to explain what we expect to be able to 
accomplish this evening, the remainder of this evening. We hope and 
expect to finish this bill tonight. With the cooperation of the 
membership we will be able to do that. I do not like to see us have to 
control the time, to limit the time on debate on any amendment, but if 
it is necessary then we will not hesitate to do that. We must do that 
if it becomes necessary to accomplish the mission tonight.
  I hope we will have the cooperation of those Members who will be 
offering amendments, that we limit the time on those amendments 
voluntarily; much better to do it voluntarily than do it where we have 
to compel the action by the House to limit the time, but if necessary, 
we will. I hope those who have very little to say, and each of us has a 
lot of things we could say, and right now I could be a little more 
brief, I expect, but if we can limit the time this evening and not 
speak unless we have absolutely something to say, it will help us 
accomplish our goals tonight.
  I do not think anyone wants to stay until midnight, but apparently, 
because of the remaining schedule this week of floor activity, if it is 
necessary to stay that late or even later to finish the bill, we expect 
to finish the bill tonight. So please, I ask for Members' cooperation. 
Again, I thank Members for the time they have given us today.
  Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Brown].
  (Mr. BROWN of California asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I take this time to make a few comments, recognizing 
that the time will be limited during consideration of the bill. May I 
assure the distinguished chairman that I will cooperate with him fully 
in getting us out of here by midnight by not offering any amendments of 
my own, although I will speak on some of the others.
  Mr. Speaker, as my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from 
California, indicated, there are some situations in this bill which 
cause us a little heartburn, and I am sure the gentleman knows what 
they are. They are the same as were mentioned earlier. We believe that 
the cuts in the solar and renewable category are excessive, and we 
likewise have some problem with the management cuts, but we trust that 
these can be at least partially resolved during the further course of 
the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the committee for including a very 
small item there which is of personal concern to me, and which I will 
discuss later on in the bill. That is an item of $400,000 for continued 
research on the Salton Sea.
  The Salton Sea is not in my district. It is in the district of my 
good friend

[[Page H8297]]

and colleague, the gentleman from California, Duncan Hunter. It is 
shared by the gentleman from California, Sonny Bono, but it happens to 
be the area in which I grew up. I used to swim in the Salton Sea when I 
was a kid, and it is no longer swimmable. It is on the path to complete 
collapse, with the death of the fish and the birds that use the fish, 
the destruction of the recreational industry, and various other things 
of that sort.
  The Bureau of Reclamation, which I feel has the major responsibility 
here, has been researching this for some years, and has not even yet 
discovered what I could point out to them, that there is fish kill. 
There are acres of dead fish along the beach. There are, similarly, 
dead waterfowl, and this is on a major flyway, and it is going to be 
catastrophic.
  The $400,000 was not requested by the Bureau, it was added by the 
committee, in their wisdom, and I commend them for that. The Bureau, 
for some reason or other, the Bureau of Reclamation, which has a $10 
million authorization to do this work passed in the water bill of 
several years ago, of 1992, has asked for only $100,000 a year.
  In my opinion it has been dilatory and delinquent in moving to the 
stage of offering recommendations to solve this problem. At the risk of 
belaboring a personal matter, I am going to take a few minutes during 
the course of the general debate on the bill to discuss this even 
further. We are talking about the destruction of a regional resource, 
which I hate to see happen. I do not want to amend the bill by adding 
$40 million to save it, but we will lay the groundwork for doing that 
later.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan [Mr. Knollenberg], a member of the committee.
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from 
Tennessee yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule.
  I support this rule. It is an open rule which will allow an open 
debate on the issues involved in the energy and water development 
appropriations bill for fiscal year 1997.
  This is the 13th of 13 appropriations bills. And I salute Chairman 
Solomon and the Rules Committee for providing open rules.
  This demonstrates the hard work and commitment by Chairman Solomon 
and the Rules Committee to an open and fair discussion of all Members' 
concerns throughout the appropriations process.
  Being Members of Congress from 435 congressional districts, 50 
States, and from diverse regions throughout America, we bring a 
different story, a different understanding, a different set of 
priorities to this floor of U.S. House of Representatives.
  And with our diverse backgrounds we will not agree on everything. We 
enter this debate, sometimes a rigorous debate, on the what the 
spending priorities will be for the Federal Government for fiscal year 
1997.
  But under this open rule we can air our ideas, discuss our concerns, 
and persuade others through debate.
  One of the issues that I am particularly concerned about within the 
Department of Energy is the issuance of buyouts for DOE and contractor 
employees.
  As the cold war came to a close during the fall of 1991, we left 
behind a legacy of nuclear waste from the weapons manufacturing sites. 
As we made a transition from production to clean up the Department of 
Energy ramped up their employee numbers at the nuclear cleanup sites 
to, in many cases, twice their previous staffing levels.
  Sites like Handford, WA, saw staffing increases from approximately 
11,500 level in the late 1980's to almost 17,000 in 1994.
  The Rocky Flats site in Colorado saw increases from about 5,000 
employees in 1998 to numbers over 7,500 in 1991.
  And at the Savannah River site in South Carolina, employee numbers 
were almost doubled from around 10,600 in 1988 up to almost 21,000 in 
1992.
  These increases occurred even though production of nuclear weapons at 
these sites ceased by September 1991.
  Now I will be the first to point out that these employee numbers have 
since been brought down to full production levels in the past few 
years. But I am still concerned with the Department's staffing plans to 
facilitate further down sizing.
  One of the mechanisms that the Department uses to minimize social and 
economic impacts caused by the layoffs of cold war warriors is section 
3161 of the Defense Authorization Act of 1993.
  Employee severances packages provided for under section 3161 include 
cash buyouts, job training, health care coverage, and relocation costs 
coverage.
  I support these benefits for the cold war warriors who for decades 
were quintessential to maintaining our Nation's security through 
nuclear deterrence.
  However, I am very concerned about how these benefits have been 
distributed freely to noncold war warriors.
  I would like to relay to you an experience I had during my visit to 
Rocky Flats in early June. During a briefing on work force 
restructuring, I asked the contractor's vice president of human 
relations a hypothetical question.
  I asked: ``If I had worked at Rocky Flats for 5 years, what 
separation benefits would I receive if I voluntarily left today?''
  I was told I would receive a benefits package that would include:
  First, a cash buyout based on percentage of salary and years 
employed.
  Second, 3 years of health benefits: year 1--full coverage; year 2--
partial coverage; and year 3--eligible for COBRA.
  Third, relocation expenses.
  Fourth, training expenses.
  The contractor vice president went on to say, that even if I had only 
been employed for 1 year, I would be entitled to this severance 
package.
  The buyouts include severance packages totalling over $25,000 per 
separated employee.
  Buyouts for those recently employed are not exclusive to Rocky Flats 
by any means. In fact, I have strong concerns that such buyouts are 
common at all sites EM wide. When placed under close scrutiny by the 
inspector general's office, buyouts at the Fernald Environmental 
Management project in Ohio were found to be handled with reckless 
disregard for the American taxpayer.
  In 1994, the Fernald nuclear cleanup site was instructed to reduce 
the work force involved in doing remedial investigations and 
feasibility studies and instead to focus the work force on actual 
cleanup.
  This shift in skills mix was to occur simultaneously with a work 
force reduction of 660 employees--a 36-percent reduction--over 3 years.
  An April 1996 inspector general report on work force restructuring at 
the Fernald site, found that in many cases staffing buyouts were 
followed by the rehiring of employees with essentially the same skill 
mix. This resulted in no significant reductions in the bloated work 
force and it did not save any money.
  One example of such careless management at the Fernald site is where 
14 secretaries were voluntarily separated during the 1994 
restructuring, all receiving lucrative severance packages. But then 19 
new secretaries were hired back during the same fiscal year.
  The IG report continues that ``[i]n the [1995] restructuring, 
[Fernald] identified 47 secretaries for separation, 3 of whom were 
hired after the first restructuring.'' Since the announcement of the 
1995 restructuring, Fernald has hired an additional 19 secretaries.
  This ramping up, buying down, ramping up, buying down is absolutely 
ridiculous and can't be allowed to continue.
  In the report that accompanies this bill, the committee has addressed 
these waste and inefficiencies that plague the worker transition 
program. This report notifies the Department of Energy of the 
committee's concerns about generous separation and severance benefits 
being offered to non-cold war warriors.
  Mr. Speaker, everyone should know that while the subcommittee is not 
unilaterally opposed to buyouts, they should be used sparingly, 
judiciously, and as part of an overall work force restructuring plan.
  I would say to my colleagues that the subcommittee is committed to 
getting to the bottom of this and this bill lays the ground work for 
some much-needed reforms in the years to come.
  I support this open rule that will allow for further open debate on 
the

[[Page H8298]]

important issues concerning energy and water appropriations.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois [Mr. Weller].
  (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks and include extraneous material.)
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank my friend, the 
gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Quillen], for yielding me this time. Of 
course, I stand in strong support of this open rule and also stand in 
strong support of this bill.
  I particularly want to congratulate my friend, the gentleman from 
Indiana [Mr. Myers], on his leadership on this bill in bringing it to 
the floor and also thank him, his subcommittee and the ranking member 
for their bipartisan efforts.
  This week the Chicago region suffered a devastating flood throughout 
the entire Chicago metropolitan area, particularly in the south suburbs 
and the southwestern suburbs which I represent; in fact, affecting 
hundreds if not thousands of homes, millions if not multimillions of 
dollars' worth of damage affecting both homes and, of course, small 
businesses.
  Governor Edgar moved very quickly to declare a state of emergency in 
a number of the counties and, of course, has since requested from the 
President a disaster declaration on a Federal scale. As I pointed out 
earlier, hundreds if not thousands of homes are damaged and hundreds if 
not thousands of small businesses are now being surveyed for damage as 
a result of this high water and floods that devastated the Chicago 
metropolitan area. Particularly in Will and Cook Counties which I 
represent, we saw excessive damage.
  I do want to point out that in the south suburbs there is an effort 
that has been under way for the last generation which, had it been 
completed, it is estimated at least 90 percent of the damage that 
occurred would not have occurred, protecting hundreds if not thousands 
of homes from flood damage. That project is known as the tunnel and 
reservoir project, or the deep tunnel as it has been nicknamed for the 
last generation. It is not done yet and we are continuing to work in a 
bipartisan effort to complete this project.
  The deep tunnel or the tunnel and reservoir project is a system of 
tunnels drop shafts, pumping stations and reservoirs. Unfortunately, 
one of the uncompleted reservoirs in this whole project, the Thornton 
Reservoir, actually is located in my district in the south suburbs. 
When completed, this reservoir will provide 5 billion gallons of 
floodwater storage and could have prevented the bulk of the floodwater 
damage that occurred to hundreds if not thousands of homes and small 
businesses in the south suburbs.
  This reservoir, when completed, will have a service area of over 90 
square miles and will provide relief to 131,000 dwellings in 18 
communities. In fact when it is done, the real benefit to many 
homeowners will be lower flood insurance premiums as well as higher 
home values.
  The taxpayers and constituents in the south suburbs of Chicago are 
deeply in support of the Thornton Reservoir and the deep tunnel project 
and greatly appreciated the fact that Chairman Myers came to my 
district the week of the Fourth of July and personally surveyed and 
spoke with local officials. The timing could not have been better, 
considering the floodwaters came just 2 weeks later.
  This is an investment in the future. I do want to thank my colleagues 
of both parties in the House for the bipartisan effort, our efforts to 
bring flood relief to the south suburbs as they progressed.
  I want to point out that the House in the last few weeks has approved 
$101 million in the ag appropriations bill for the Little Calumet and 
Thornton Creek flood control project, $10 million in the VA-HUD 
appropriation to continue work on the tunnels involved, and this 
particular bill sets aside $6.65 million in construction funding for 
the Corps of Engineers to complete and continue work on the Thornton 
Reservoir.
  I urge an ``aye'' vote, Mr. Speaker. This is a good bill. This is an 
effort that I appreciate very much in behalf of my constituents to 
protect the homes in the south suburbs of Chicago from flooding. We do 
need flood control.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following extraneous material for the 
Record:

                     [From the Star, July 21, 1996]

                           The Flood Disaster

       Weather disasters are so commonplace in the news that we 
     tend to discount their importance--until we are confronted, 
     first-hand, with the human realities of such events. Almost 
     all of us were forced to do that through the night Wednesday 
     and into the weekend as we tried to cope with the worst flood 
     emergency in this region in recent history.
       Depending on where you live in the South or Southwest 
     Suburbs, you now are faced with anything from a time-
     consuming backyard and basement clean-up project to a 
     complete disaster it will take you weeks or even months to 
     recover from.
       No local area was spared the torrential downpour of 
     Wednesday night and Thursday morning. But people in some 
     communities--notably villages in Paloa, Orland, Bremen and 
     Thornton townships--watched in awe and fear as anywhere from 
     seven to 15 inches of rain pelted down, totally inundating 
     their communities with flood water.
       That's the most rain ever recorded in 24 hours in the 
     history of those communities.
       The impact was immense. Whole neighborhoods were flooded, 
     some so much so that families had to be evacuated. Most, if 
     not all, major viaducts were under water, forcing the 
     rerouting of traffic and in some cases the total shutdown of 
     travel. Thousands of people could not get out of their 
     garages, much less to their jobs. Thousands more basements 
     and downstairs living quarters were filled with water, 
     ruining furniture, carpets, drapes and furnishings and 
     seriously damaging or destroying utilities.
       Electrical and telephone service was disrupted or totally 
     knocked out in all areas. Sewers backed up, causing a 
     potential health crisis; in unincorporated areas septic 
     fields were swamped causing sewage to float into backyards, 
     basements, garages and homes themselves.
       Thousands of vehicles were disabled by floods and their 
     owners faced the prospect of paying hundreds in repairs to 
     get ruined motors running again. Insurance agencies reported 
     more claims calls on Thursday than on any single day in 
     memory.
       Fortunately, as of Saturday, no flood-related deaths to 
     persons in the area had been reported. But there was the 
     compelling story of a family in Homewood that lost three show 
     dogs who drowned in the lower level of their home when it 
     flooded.
       The total cost of this disaster is far into the millions of 
     dollars, probably beyond accurate calculation.
       On the positive side, there were hundreds of tales of 
     people helping people and of governmental agencies--local and 
     state--coming to the rescue of flood victims. We were able to 
     observe what we have heard about in other places when 
     earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes or other natural disasters 
     strike--that most people are at their human best when their 
     neighbors need them most.
       Last week will be one to remember. Hopefully, there will 
     not be one like it again in many years to come.
                                                                    ____


                  Flood Potential Spreads With Growth

                           (By Kevin Carmody)

       People asking why their normally high and dry homes flooded 
     last week might find some clues in last July's deadly heat 
     wave.
       Chicagoans learned the hard way that no two strings of hot 
     weather are ever identical in all the variables that can 
     prove deadly. There are peak temperature, nighttime lows, 
     humidity and wind speed, to name some of the factors. Last 
     summer, slight variations in a few turned an early July hot 
     spell into an unprecedented killer that claimed 733 lives.
       Likewise, severe rainstorms vary as to whether the rain 
     comes all at once, in several deluges or intermittently over 
     several days. Then there's the matter of whether the ground 
     is already saturated, or perhaps too dry to be absorbent. So 
     total rainfall--like peak temperature--is only part of the 
     puzzle of whether a storm will produce severe flooding.
       But according to experts on flood prevention, man controls 
     the rest of the puzzle--right down to the early settlers' 
     decision to build a community called Chicago in what was a 
     primordial swamp.
       Because the soils of such swamps drain poorly, the area was 
     destined to face severe flooding problems as communities 
     spread outward from Lake Michigan.
       ``There have been floods here for thousands of years, but 
     the area affected was probably smaller than it is today,'' 
     said Dennis Dreher of the Northeastern Illinois Planning 
     Commission. ``More water used to soak into the ground, but 
     then we drained wetlands and channelized streams,'' 
     undermining the land's natural flood control mechanisms.
       The construction of homes and streets and parking lots also 
     exacerbate flooding by reducing the amount of soil surface 
     available to absorb rainfall. One 400-foot stretch of 
     street means nearly 20,000 gallons of water must find 
     somewhere else to go.
       And the rate at which people are paving over the area's 
     remaining open land is unprecedented. From 1970 to 1990, the 
     population of the six-county region grew by only

[[Page H8299]]

     4 percent while the amount of developed land increased by 
     nearly 50 percent.
       In the never-ending search for pristine rural homesteads, 
     urban refugees are fueling wasteful land-use patterns that 
     may come back to haunt them. Eventually, dense subdivisions 
     find their way into rural hideaways, whether the land is 
     hydrologically suited to development or not, and that 
     increases the flooding potential.
       There is no end in sight for this outward expansion, given 
     Americans' preference for open space and the open land 
     outside Chicago, said Pierre DeVise, an urbanologist and 
     professor emeritus at Roosevelt University.
       ``I would say there still is room to grow, unlike New York 
     and Los Angeles,'' DeVise said, ``But in areas such as 
     DuPage, people now face considerable traffic congestion and 
     some of the advantages of low density are already defeated. 
     So people are going ever farther out.''
       Mention flooding in suburban and rural communities, and 
     many people instinctively think of rivers or streams 
     overrunning their banks. But an even more common occurrence 
     is the subdivision that floods because it was built in a low-
     lying depression with inadequate stormwater drainage.
       Even communities that effectively limit building in 
     wetlands and floodplains can find themselves approving 
     dubious development sites because of outdated or incomplete 
     floodplain maps.
       The maps typically would not show depressions unless they 
     are periodically flooded by waterways. And many floodplain 
     maps haven't been updated for 10 to 15 years.
       ``In that time the floodplains have gotten broader, so 
     communities are allowing development in areas that don't show 
     on the map to be in a floodplain, but in reality are,'' said 
     Dreher, who as NIPC's director of natural resources helps 
     advise local governments on stormwater and floodplain 
     management.
       Although rainfall records were set at Midway Airport and 
     several southern and western suburbs--where 6 to 16 inches 
     fell Wednesday and Thursday--some areas that previously 
     flooded during major storms were spared this time.
       ``There were areas hit hard in 1987 in DuPage County that 
     were not affected badly this time,'' Dreher said. ``There are 
     different types of flood events.
       ``The 100-year flood seems to occur every other year, but 
     each time they tend to occur in a different area.''
       In some cases, that's because hard-hit communities have 
     learned their lesson about allowing development with little 
     regard for stormwater management.
       DuPage County approved one of the nation's most progressive 
     stormwater control ordinances in 1990, protecting the 
     integrity of floodplains and requiring new developments to 
     have ponds for storing stormwater, Dreher said.
       In the South Suburbs, Richton Park, Homeword, Flossmoor, 
     Olympia Fields and Matteson are among the communities that 
     have adopted model rules for new developments.
       ``Part of the reason these communities now have progressive 
     rules is that they've had their problems and learned from 
     their mistakes,'' Dreher said. ``It takes self-control for 
     local officials to stand up to developers who will have to 
     spend more money to comply.''
                                                                    ____


      Suburbs Slowly Drying Out--Weary Flood Victims Watch Weather

                  (By Molly Sullivan and Gene O'Shea)

       Residents across the south suburbs hard hit by last week's 
     flash floods continued cleaning their homes Saturday under 
     sunny skies but with wary eyes toward the future.
       In Homewood, police were searching for a 79-year-old white 
     man possibly suffering from Alzheimer's disease, who walked 
     away from the Heartland Health Care Center, 940 Maple Ave., 
     at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday.
       Meanwhile trash bins lined Windsor Drive in Orland Park for 
     residents to discard their soiled belongings destroyed when 
     two nearby detention ponds overflowed, flooding usually dry 
     streets.
       The stress of Mother Nature's wrath was evident on the 
     faces of weary Orland Park residents not accustomed to 
     flooding.
       ``It's just very frustrating. One day we're enjoying our 
     beautiful (basement) rec room, and the next we're throwing 
     everything out,'' Orland resident Kathy Calandriello said. 
     ``I guess we should be grateful for the memories.''
       Several miles to the east some South Holland residents took 
     the flooding in stride, especially those who have been 
     flooded in the past.
       Sitting on his front porch just yards from the Little 
     Calumet River, South Holland resident Steve Lund thumbed 
     through a thick photo album he keeps that depicts his 
     battles with Mother Nature over the years.
       ``This was just a couple of years ago,'' Lund said, 
     pointing to a photo of several ducks and golden retrievers 
     paddling around in his flooded backyard. ``We had some pet 
     ducks, and they loved it. So did the dogs.''
       Lund knows all about flooding. In the last 19 years he's 
     been flooded four times and never once thought about moving. 
     Dealing with Mother Nature he says, is a state of mind.
       ``Sure it's a pain to have to move everything in and out. 
     If you're prepared for it, it's not so bad. If you're not 
     ready--that's a different story,'' Lund said. ``The way I 
     look at it, I get to move everything around every 10 years 
     and give it a good cleaning.''
       In most places, the streets were dry where, just the day 
     before, water hit the doors of homes and covered cars.
       Commonwealth Edison reported that only 20 customers 
     remained without power throughout the south suburbs, down 
     from 800 a day earlier and 18,000 at the height of the storm.
       Ameritech, meanwhile, saw an increase in the number of 
     lines out, from 7,400 on Friday to 8,200 on Saturday.
       Spokesman Frank Mitchell said the company attributed the 
     increase to customers' not being able to get to phones or not 
     discovering they had lost service because they were busy 
     bailing out flooded houses.
       Crews continued to work around the clock, Mitchell said, 
     but will have to wait in some areas where equipment remains 
     submerged.
       An emergency phone bank was set up Saturday in Plainfield 
     at the intersection of River Court and River Road. Residents 
     can make free local calls from Ameritech phones until service 
     is restored to their area, Mitchell said.
       Nursing home resident Charlie Pryzybyla was wearing a 
     Heartland Health Care Center identification wrist band and an 
     alarm wrist band with a device that alerts the center when a 
     patient walks out the door, but he was able to get away 
     anyway, according to the center's administrator, Janice 
     Podwika.
       ``He's pretty fast at times, and was gone in an instant 
     when the alarm went off,'' Podwika. ``But we realized he was 
     gone, we proceeded with our standard policy in cases like 
     this, and then notified police.'' Podwika said Pryzybyla, who 
     used to live in Harvey, has tried to leave the facility 
     before. She said the facility is now working with police who 
     have taken charge of the matter.
       Police said they conducted a 2\1/2\-hour helicopter 
     infrared search around the area Friday night and dispatched 
     dogs to the scene with negative results.
       Pryzybyla is described as fair complexioned with green 
     eyes. He wears glasses and has a scar on his nose and one of 
     his eyes. He is balding and is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 
     weighs 147 pounds. He had on a brown dress shirt, dark brown 
     pants, brown belt, and white gym shoes. Anyone with any 
     information concerning the disappearance of Pryzybyla should 
     contact the police at 798-2131.
       Meanwhile, in virtually every town across the south 
     suburbs, officials were out in the neighborhoods assessing 
     damage and trying to help those who needed it.
       In all, some 11 teams of state and federal disaster relief 
     agents were going to every affected area trying to assess 
     damage in anticipation of a federal disaster declaration.
       Most roads were reopened by Saturday, and the major job 
     facing most people was how to dispose of their water-soaked 
     belongings and clean up their houses and property.
       Generally, the news was positive from the southeast suburbs 
     where the Little Calumet River and Lemont where the Illinois 
     & Michigan Canal washed into the streets.
       ``I think we're pretty good,'' Lockport Fire Lt. Bruce 
     Hopkins said. ``I think even our hardest-hit areas drained 
     off pretty good.''
       Lockport city officials held a town meeting Saturday to 
     inform residents about the latest on disaster relief and to 
     give them an overview of the flooding problems.
       Residents had a chance to air their concerns about the 
     flooding and officials said they were working as quickly as 
     possible to assess the damage and meet residents' needs.
       The scene on the streets in Lockport was the same as the 
     one in every other suburban and city neighborhood hit by 
     floodwaters. ``You drive anywhere, and there are (garbage) 
     bags out in front and wet carpeting,'' Hopkins said.
       As residents cleaned up, city officials were dealing with a 
     lingering problem.
       Hopkins said the police and fire emergency call dispatch 
     system that serves the city was ruined when floodwaters 
     damaged its equipment at the central dispatch center in 
     Plainfield.
       As of Saturday, the city and several other Will County 
     communities were still without their main 911 systems. A 
     backup system was in place and officials said they would have 
     to rely on it for at least the next several days.
       Elsewhere in Will County, Lynn Behringer of the Will County 
     Office of Emergency Management said there were four teams of 
     state and federal disaster relief officials touring the areas 
     hit by flooding.
       She said the tours would continue until every area was 
     assessed, and it will probably run into the early part of 
     this week. ``It's going to go on for a while,'' she said of 
     the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois 
     Emergency Management Agency officials who are touring with 
     local officials.
       Behringer said most people are understanding about the 
     flooding.
       Tinley Park, the Palos area and Lemont all reported dry 
     streets.
       Palos Hills Chamber of Commerce board members unanimously-
     approved Friday night a grant program to assist residents 
     whose homes were damaged. Residents needing financial 
     assistance to cover repair and replacement costs not covered 
     by insurance can call the city's community resource 
     department at (708) 598-3400 on Monday to apply for funds.
                                                                    ____


[[Page H8300]]

               [From the Daily Southtown, July 20, 1996]

            Victims Clean Up--Water Recedes; Memories Awash

       The scene was the same Friday in many of the Southland's 
     flood zones. Furniture was placed on lawns and clothes were 
     hung from trees and swing sets as residents tried to take 
     advantage of the sunshine that didn't come soon enough.
       From Chicago's Southwest Side to Lockport, it was Day 2 of 
     cleanup for residents of areas hardest hit by Wednesday's and 
     Thursday's furious floods. And to many, it was clear that 
     there would be many days to come.
       The story was somewhat different in the southeast suburbs, 
     where residents had spent a nervous Thursday nigh watching 
     and sandbagging the banks of the flood-swollen Little Calumet 
     River. To the relief of many, the river's water began to 
     recede Friday morning, South Holland Mayor Donald DeGraff 
     said.
       But not before floodwaters washed out a park, a subdivision 
     and the access road leading to another cluster of homes. And 
     residents, like others in the region were left to the task of 
     bailing and pumping.
       In South Holland--the hardest hit of all southeast 
     suburbs with 6.6 inches of rain recorded--residents used 
     pumps and garden hoses to bail out flooded basements.
       ``We've had these two pumps going since 5 this morning,'' 
     said Ann Kick, who along with husband, Bill, gazed out at the 
     ducks swimming in their yard. ``We have a 4-foot fence out 
     there and it is under about 3 additional feet of water.''
       Ann Kick said she and her husband learned an important 
     lesson a decade ago when they first moved into the village.
       ``We just sat there in disbelief as the water from the 
     Little Calumet River flooded our yard and home,'' she said. 
     ``We had just purchased new carpeting, and it was ruined. 
     This time, we moved all the furniture upstairs so all that 
     was damaged this time were the carpeting and the paneling.''
       Kick's house was the first stop on a tour led by DeGraff of 
     three local areas devastated by the flooding. The tour was 
     largely for the benefit of John Mitchell, director of the 
     Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the agency that will 
     decide whether to recommend a request for federal disaster 
     relief.
       Gouwens Park, located at 16000 Seton Road, was the second 
     stop on the hour-long tour. Flooding from the banks of the 
     Little Calumet River turned the property into what resembled 
     more of a boat launch than a popular park and baseball 
     facility.
       Homes in the adjacent Pacesetter subdivision along 
     Riverview Drive were inundated with floodwater, although 200 
     volunteers spent hours late Thursday night filling thousands 
     of sandbags.
       The third and final stop was 170th Street near the Calumet 
     Expressway where public works crews spent Thursday and Friday 
     constructing a temporary road that allowed local access to 
     landlocked residents near Everett Avenue.
       The small road was among scores throughout the region still 
     impassable Friday, the most significant of which was a 12-
     mile stretch of southbound Interstate 55 between Illinois 30 
     and Arsenal Road.
       Some of the early statistics of impact of Wednesday's and 
     Thursday's record-breaking storms were staggering. Officials 
     in Cook and Will counties were still working to compile the 
     numbers of homes damaged and dollars lost. But early numbers 
     in Joliet--Will County's hardest hit town--put the number of 
     flooded homes at 8,000.
       In all, Gov. Jim Edgar declared 15 counties, including Cook 
     and Will, state disaster areas and called out three units of 
     the Illinois National Guard to help local authorities cope 
     with the high water.
       National Guard troops were dispatched to Naperville to help 
     officials there deal with the 300 flooded homes and 200 
     submerged vehicles.
       Guard troops were preparing to help with traffic control, 
     cleanup and security in evacuated areas, authorities said.
       In the south suburbs, 18,000 Commonwealth Edison customers 
     lost power for at least a brief period.
       By Friday afternoon, crews had restored power to all but 
     800 of those customers, ComEd spokeswoman Lucille Younger 
     said. But work crews still were working during the day to 
     restore power by Friday night to 22,000 Bartlett-area 
     residents, Younger said.
       Phones also were affected. Ameritech on Friday reported 
     7,400 customers were without phone service in Chicago, the 
     south suburbs, Will County and the Naperville and Aurora 
     areas.
       On Thursday, Ameritech received a record number of calls, 
     56,000, from customers concerned about phone service.
       And as for the rainfall numbers--17\1/2\ inches were 
     measured by the National Weather Service in the Aurora area.
       One forecaster at the weather service calculated an 
     astonishing 91 billion gallons were dumped on the 
     metropolitan area by the storm.
       ``I have no idea how they came up with that figure, but 
     that's the number they're throwing around here,'' Scott 
     Dickson said. ``It sounds incredible, way too high. I'm not a 
     mathematician.''
       In Lockport, another Will County community with severe 
     damage, floodwaters on the city's west side had receded 
     dramatically by Friday, but the cleanup had just begun for 
     the more than 300 residents whose homes were damaged after 
     the Illinois & Michigan Canal overflowed its banks on 
     Thursday.
       ``We're draining the basement, but we still can't get in 
     there yet,'' Gerry Rodeghero said of his 83-year-old mother's 
     house on Ames Street.
       Most residents in the low-lying neighborhood west of the 
     I&M Canal and north of the Ninth Street bridge took the day 
     off from work to clear out the flooded basements, garages and 
     in some cases first floors of their homes.
       Lockport city administrator Larry McCasland said nine city 
     workers were helping residents move the debris out of their 
     yards and into trash binds placed in several locations around 
     the city.
       The workers will be on hand all weekend to help with the 
     cleanup and the bins will remain out in city neighborhoods 
     for as long as they are needed, McCasland said.
       The unincorporated streets of Worth Township between 
     Illinois 83 and 127th Street were bustling with activity 
     Friday as residents and emergency crews removed flood-damaged 
     carpeting, paneling and furniture from homes.
       Two trucks hauled out resident's cars caught in the flood. 
     Gasoline-powered pumps continued to rid basements and 
     crawlspaces of floodwater but were incapable of removing the 
     lingering stench.
       In Oak Forest it was the question of what to do about the 
     former Fire Station No. 2. The building on Cicero Avenue just 
     north of 167th Street was nearly submerged during the 
     flooding. Late Friday, the water was still up to the windows 
     about 2 feet deep.
       The station, abandoned by the fire department in 1989 
     because of flooding problems, is at the center of a 
     controversy with area residents and Mayor James Richmond over 
     whether it should be torn down.
       What will happen to it now remains to be seen and the 
     matter could come up at Tuesday's city council meeting.
       While South Holland took the brunt of the storm in the 
     southeast suburban area, other communities received their 
     share of damage.
       In Burnham, residents in the 13900 block of Manistee Avenue 
     were bailing out basements. One resident, who declined to be 
     identified, said the storm was ``the worst he's seen in the 
     last 40 years.''
       In Dolton, village officials had to close 158th Street on 
     Thursday but reopened it Friday when the Little Calumet River 
     overflowed its banks. Edward Handzel, village administrator, 
     said the river began to recede and added--he hoped the 
     ``worst was over.''
       The floods not only affected suburbia but also Chicago 
     residents.
       More than 5,000 homes, most of them in a belt from the 
     Southeast Side to Midway Airport, suffered flooded basements 
     after the heaviest one-day rainfall in Chicago history, Mayor 
     Richard Daley said Friday.
       City crews already had helped pump out basements at 4,600 
     homes, officials said, and fixed 414 downed light poles and 
     malfunctioning traffic signals.
       ``This was the most severe rainfall to ever hit the region, 
     8.08 inches since Wednesday morning,'' Daley said.
       Trucks were to make rare Sunday pickups in some areas, 
     officials said, and special bulk runs would continue until 
     Wednesday.
       City forestry bureau crews answered 140 calls of downed 
     trees or tree limbs, officials said.
       The two hardest-hit areas were the 8th Ward, south of 79th 
     Street from Cottage Grove to Yates avenues, which led the 
     city with 469 flooded basements; and the 13th Ward, south and 
     east of Midway Airport, where 463 homes were hit.
       Also leading the city's flood call list were: The 6th Ward, 
     from Lafayette to Cottage Grove avenues south of 67th Street, 
     368 calls; the 15th Ward, which includes Marquette Park, 325 
     calls; the 21st Ward, including the Washington Heights and 
     Brainard areas, 300 calls; and the 18th Ward, including the 
     Ashburn area, 232 calls.
       Other ward totals included: 7th Ward 227 flooded basement 
     calls; 10th Ward, 103 calls; 12th ward, 19 calls; 14th Ward, 
     193; 19th Ward, 224; and 23rd Ward, 85.
                                                                    ____


                    The Fight to Hold the River Back

                          (By Crystal Yednak)

       The water on the Little Calumet River crested around 9 a.m. 
     Friday, after residents and village workers spent the night 
     trying to hold the flood back.
       As the river rose in South Holland, residents banded 
     together to sandbag along the river's edge and near homes.
       The public works staff of 21 people had been filling and 
     moving sandbags since early morning, so the village aired a 
     request for volunteers on the local cable station.
       South Holland Public Works Supt. Chris Niehof estimated 
     that about 200 people responded to a request the village made 
     for volunteers.
       ``I'm proud that we have the type of community where people 
     still care,'' said Niehof.
       Around 6 p.m. Thursday, village officials realized the 
     river was not going down, he said.
       ``We couldn't keep up,'' Niehof said. ``It was a losing 
     battle.''
       Many people stayed until the early morning hours to fight 
     the rising waters.
       Some of the residents who came out to help didn't 
     experience any flood damage to their homes, said Asst. Fire 
     Chief Randy Stegenga. They came out to help other residents 
     defend their homes from the flood, he said.
       Stegenga had four typewritten pages listing the names of 
     people who had helped out.

[[Page H8301]]

     The list also included names from other communities such as 
     Crete, Lansing and Highland, Ind.
       Together, the volunteers made about 5,000 sandbags, 
     Stegenga said.
       South Holland resident Virginia Knittle started filling 
     sandbags at village hall around 5 p.m. At that time, the 
     water was still a block away from her house.
       ``I figured I should go earn my sandbags in case the water 
     comes over to my house,'' Knittle said.
       By the time she returned at 9 p.m., the water had reached 
     her house.
       After a previous flood wreaked havoc on her home, Knittle 
     and her husband raised the doorways and took other 
     precautions against flooding.
       Knittle did get to use some of the sandbags she had 
     filled--she used them to protect her windows and doorways 
     from the flooding.
       On Friday morning, Knittle said she was trapped in her 
     house by water that had crept up to her doorstep.
       Throughout Friday, village officials monitored the level of 
     the river, which was slowly declining.
       To be safe, Niehof said the public works department would 
     leave the sandbags in place in case more rain fell.
       By Saturday, the river was on its way down toward more 
     normal levels. And a community was breathing easier--but 
     warily; weathermen were talking about a 50 percent chance of 
     more rain on Sunday.
                                                                    ____


                     [From the Star, July 21, 1996]

        Despite Criticism, It Appears Deep Tunnels Did Their Job

       For the first time since 1990, storm water from a 
     torrential rain overwhelmed the region's Deep Tunnel last 
     week, forcing authorities to allow millions of gallons of 
     untreated sewage to flow into Lake Michigan.
       This release of sewage-tainted storm water may have helped 
     avert additional flooding in the south and central parts of 
     Chicago.
       So some residents of inundated neighborhoods were phoning 
     the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District--the agency that 
     controls the system--to angrily ask why the floodgates 
     weren't opened sooner.
       In response, MWRD vice president Kathleen Therese Meany 
     points out that the agency's goals in a situation such as 
     Thursday's are different from those of residents with rising 
     water in their basements.
       ``The agency's mission is to protect the waters of Lake 
     Michigan,'' Meany said. ``We don't like to do this because it 
     dumps raw sewage into the lake.
       ``If we opened them (the floodgates) earlier, sewage may 
     have gone way out to the intake cribs and could put the 
     drinking supply in danger.''
       The sewage release forced closure of Chicago area beaches 
     to swimmers until tests confirmed bacteria levels were in the 
     safe zone.
       But there are more fundamental reasons why water-soaked 
     Cook County residents shouldn't be upset that the MWRD waited 
     until Thursday morning to open the locks that control the 
     flow of the Chicago and Calumet rivers. MWRD Supt. Hugh 
     McMillan said.
       First, tainted storm water must fill mainline sewers and 
     the MWRD's Deep Tunnel system before it begins flowing into 
     the rivers, McMillan said. Only after the river levels rise 
     to a certain point, can the locks be opened to release the 
     water into the lake.
       ``By that time, the event is ending and the damage has 
     already been done,'' McMillan said.
       Second, most neighborhood flooding is not caused by backups 
     in the main sewer lines, but by the inability of the smaller 
     lines to carry away water fast enough during a storm this 
     severe, McMillan said.
       At Midway Airport, a record 7.7 inches of rain fell between 
     7 a.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday, officials said, with 
     much of it coming Wednesday afternoon.
       The heaviest downpours quickly exceeded sewer capacity, 
     officials said.
       ``The sewer system is not designed to hold water: it's 
     designed to transport water.'' Sagun said.
       Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said city officials found the 
     MWRD's response satisfactory.
       ``They handled it appropriately,'' Daley said. ``You can't 
     just open the locks any time.''
       Ald. John Buchanan [10th], who in the past has been 
     critical of the MWRD for failing to extend its Deep Tunnel 
     system into his Southeast Side ward, said he found no fault 
     with the district's timing on opening the locks.
       Built on a primordial swamp with soils that drain poorly, 
     the Chicago area has had to rely on sewers and more elaborate 
     projects, like the $2.4 billion Deep Tunnel, for flood 
     relief.
       The Deep Tunnel system is a network of giant tunnels that 
     captures the overflow from sewers during heavy rains so that 
     the tainted water normally doesn't flow into area waterways.
       It usually works, but every few years too much rain falls 
     too swiftly and the tainted water flows into waterways like 
     the Chicago and Calumet rivers.
       Early this century, the flows of both rivers were reversed 
     so that raw-sewage would not enter Lake Michigan, where it 
     could contaminate the city's drinking water supply. Before 
     then, thousands died here in cholera and typhoid fever 
     epidemics.
       The flow reversal was accomplished with the locks that, on 
     Thursday morning, were opened to allow the rivers to flow 
     swiftly the opposite direction--into Lake Michigan, where the 
     water level is several feet lower.
       The MWRD opened the O'Brien locks at 133rd Street about 
     7:14 a.m., allowing the Calumet River to flow north into the 
     lake. The decision was made when the river level reached 3.8 
     feet, although the MWRD policy is normally to wait until it 
     reaches about 4 feet.
       On the Chicago River, the locks near Randolph Street were 
     opened at 9:40 a.m. when the river reached 3.27 feet, just 
     short of the 3.3- to 3.5-foot level normally prescribed.
       The MRWD also discharged storm water into the Des Plaines 
     River through locks at Lockport.
       The most concentrated sewage and most contaminated runoff, 
     from the initial rainfall, already had been captured in the 
     Deep Tunnels. So the raw sewage contained in the 750 million 
     gallons of storm water that flowed into the lake by 1:30 p.m. 
     was well-diluted, McMillan said. ``It should not have an 
     impact on drinking water,'' he said.
       By 5 p.m. the MWRD was slowly closing the locks.
       Although the Deep Tunnels' current capacity is about 1.2 
     billion gallons of storm water, their purpose is pollution 
     control, not flood control. It is the second stage of the 
     Deep Tunnel project that promises significant flood relief in 
     the form of three huge reservoirs.
       The O'Hare Reservoir is scheduled for completion in fall 
     1997. Reservoirs in McCook and Thornton were authorized by 
     Congress in 1986 and are in the planning stages, but 
     continued federal funding is not guaranteed.
       The McCook reservoir, as now proposed, would hold 10.5 
     billion gallons of water, while the Thornton facility would 
     hold 8 billion gallons.
       ``It's impossible to completely eliminate flooding, and the 
     federal government would never go along with such a 
     project,'' Meany said. ``Some areas will still have sewers 
     that can't handle a storm like this one.But when we have the 
     reservoirs on line, it will make a big difference.''
                                                                    ____


                 Recent Floods Put Tunnel in Forefront


       weller promises federal funds will flow to quarry project

                          (By Laura Pavlenko)

       South Holland.--As elected officials toured flooded areas 
     throughout the village late last week, they stressed the need 
     for a permanent flooding solution. But even if federal 
     funding continues to flow to the Thornton Quarry reservoir 
     project, a solution still is years away.
       For decades the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has 
     worked on a countywide Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, better 
     known as the Deep Tunnel project, to solve persistent 
     flooding and subsequent pollution problems. A spokesman for 
     the MWRD said Friday that during last week's rains, the 
     tunnels in the south suburbs were completely filled, holding 
     the maximum 1.2 billion gallons of water.
       Still, local sewers backed up into residents' basements and 
     waterways rose high enough to cause devastating flooding to 
     hundreds of homes.
       South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff said had the tunnels been 
     connected to the west lobe of the Thornton Quarry--the final 
     phase of the Deep Tunnel project--flooding problems would 
     have been nonexistent.
       ``We wouldn't have any of this flooding,'' he said as he 
     toured the flood damaged areas with U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller, 
     R-Morris, and other state officials. ``There's no place 
     for this water to go but into property owners' homes.''
       South Holland and other local communities' cries for a 
     permanent solution to the flooding problem have not fallen on 
     deaf ears.
       MWRD officials say they are close to reaching an agreement 
     with Material Services Corp., the company that owns and 
     operates the Thornton Quarry, so the area may be used as a 
     flood basin for an additional 3 billion gallons of water when 
     needed.
       Meanwhile, Weller has convinced the Washington leadership 
     to add requests for funds to three separate bills being 
     considered by Congress. The House Appropriations' Energy and 
     Water Committee recently passed a bill that slates $6.7 
     million to be used to engineer the site. An additional $10 
     million would be used to complete the Deep Tunnel project, 
     and $101 million for controlling the Little Calumet River and 
     Thorn Creek flooding while the quarry reservoir project is 
     under construction.
       A spokeswoman for the MWRD said about 75 percent of the 
     Deep Tunnel and Thornton Reservoir project's funding comes 
     from federal sources.
       The project, begun in the late 1970s, calls for 109 miles 
     of tunnels, 12 feet or wider, carved out of limestone bedrock 
     about 300 feet underground in three separate ``systems.'' The 
     O'Hare system is the smallest; all 6.6 miles of tunnels have 
     been completed.
       The mainstream system, the largest, stretches from 
     Chicago's North Side to the South Branch of the Chicago 
     River, and ends near the proposed McCook reservoir.
       The Calumet system includes 36.3 miles of tunnels 
     stretching along Torrence Avenue from the Southeast Side and 
     branching into Dolton and South Holland and westward along 
     the Cal-Sag Channel. Only about 21 miles of tunnels have been 
     completed to date.

[[Page H8302]]

       Weller said should Congress continue to approve funding for 
     the project, area residents will begin to experience relief 
     around the turn of the century. The entire project is 
     scheduled to be completed in 14 to 15 years, provided federal 
     funding is not interrupted.
       On Friday, DeGraff said he's been pleased with the response 
     from Weller and other officials.
       ``We're very appreciative of the attention from federal and 
     state legislators,'' DeGraff said. ``We haven't seen this 
     kind of response from federal regulators in quite some 
     time.''

  Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I 
yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on 
the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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