[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D443-D444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page D443]]




                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 10 public bills, H.R. 1542-1551; 1 private bill, H.R. 
1552; and 3 resolutions, H.J. Res. 77, and H. Con. Res. 75-76, were 
introduced.
  Pages H2349-50
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H. Con. Res. 49, authorizing the use of the Capitol grounds for the 
Greater Washington Soap Box Derby (H. Rept. 105-90);
  H. Con. Res. 66, authorizing the use of the Capitol grounds for the 
sixteenth annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service (H. Rept. 
105-91); and
  H. Con. Res. 67, authorizing the 1997 Special Olympics Torch Relay to 
be run through the Capitol Grounds (H. Rept. 105-92).
Page H2349
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
designated Representative Shaw to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
                                                             Page H2257
Placement of Jack Swigert of Colorado Statue In National Statuary Hall: 
The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 25, providing for acceptance of a 
statue of Jack Swigert, presented by the State of Colorado, for 
placement in National Statuary Hall. Agreed to the Thomas amendment 
that strikes Section 2, providing for the printing of the transcript of 
proceedings at public expense. Agreed to amend the title. 
                                                         Pages H2263-34
Suspension--Consumer Price Index: By a yea-and-nay vote of 399 yeas to 
16 nays, Roll No. 105, the House voted to suspend the rules and agree 
to H. Res. 93, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
that the Bureau of Labor Statistics alone should make any adjustments, 
if any are needed, to the methodology used to determine the Consumer 
Price Index. The motion to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution was debated on Tuesday, May 6.
  Page H2264
Housing Authority and Responsibility Act: The House resumed 
consideration of amendments to H.R. 2, to repeal the United States 
Housing Act of 1937, deregulate the public housing program and the 
program for rental housing assistance for low-income families, and 
increase community control over such programs. The House completed all 
debate on Wednesday, April 30 and considered amendments to the bill on 
Thursday, May 1 and Tuesday, May 6.
  Pages H2265-81
Rejected:
  The Frank of Massachusetts amendment, debated on Tuesday, May 6, that 
sought to establish a monthly rent, determined by the public housing 
agency, that does not exceed 30 percent of the monthly adjusted income 
of the family or 10 percent of the monthly income of the family 
(rejected by a recorded vote of 172 ayes to 252 noes, Roll No. 106); 
and
Pages H2265-66
  The Velazquez en block amendment that sought to reduce the minimum 
rental amount from not less than $25 nor more than $50 to not more than 
$25 per month; and reduces the minimum monthly rental contribution from 
not less than $25 nor more than $50 to not more than $25. 
                                                         Pages H2267-71
Withdrawn:
  The Jackson-Lee amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that 
sought to establish, for not less than 50 percent of available housing 
units, occupancy preferences for families who live in substandard 
housing, pay more than 50 percent of income for rent, or are 
involuntarily displaced; and
Pages H2266-67
  The Moran of Virginia amendment was offered but subsequently 
withdrawn that sought to allow housing agencies with a waiting list of 
1 year or longer to establish a 5-year limitation on residence in 
public housing and exempts from this limitation families with a working 
member, the elderly, or the disabled.
Pages H2271-75
  On April 30, the House agreed to H. Res. 133, the rule that is 
providing for consideration of the bill.
Pages H2035-38
Flood Control and Family Protection Act: The House completed all debate 
and began considering amendments to H.R. 478, to amend the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 to improve the ability of individuals and local, 
State, and Federal agencies to comply with that Act in building, 
operating, maintaining, or repairing flood control projects, 
facilities, or structures.
  Pages H2283-H2313
  H. Res. 142, the rule that is providing for consideration of the bill 
was approved earlier by a yea-and-nay vote of 415 yeas to 8 nays, Roll 
No. 107.
Pages H2281-83
Agreed To:
  The Pombo amendment, as modified, that exempts from the Endangered 
Species Act consultation and conferencing provisions, the maintenance, 
rehabilitation, repair, or replacement of a flood control project, 
facility, or structure where necessary to protect human life or prevent 
the substantial risk of serious property damage;
Pages H2293-96
  The Dicks amendment, to the agreed to Boehlert amendment in the 
nature of a substitute, that clarifies that exemptions apply to 
projects to repair a

[[Page D444]]

flood control facility in response to a substantial threat to human 
lives and property;
Pages H2301-02
  The Gilchrest amendment, to the agreed to Boehlert amendment in the 
nature of a substitute, that directs that GAO conduct a study of the 
costs and nature of mitigation required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service pursuant to 
consultation under the Endangered Species Act for flood control levee 
maintenance projects; and
Page H2308
  The Boehlert amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, 
that exempts from the Endangered Species Act consultation and 
conferencing provisions, a project to replace a flood control facility 
that is declared a Federal disaster area in 1997 to the extent as would 
be required by California projects subject to the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service Policy on Emergency Flood Response and Short Term 
Repair of Flood Control Facilities issued on February 19, 1997; 
provides that exemptions shall not apply after the date that the 
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works determines that repairs 
have been completed or December 31, 1998, whichever is earlier; and 
clarifies that the exemptions apply to any project to repair a flood 
control facility in response to an imminent threat to human lives and 
property (agreed to by a recorded vote of 227 ayes to 196 noes, Roll 
No. 108).
Pages H2296-H2313
Juvenile Crime Control Act: The House completed debate on H.R. 3, to 
combat violent youth crime and increase accountability for juvenile 
criminal offenses. Consideration of amendments will begin on Thursday, 
May 8.
  Pages H2323-33
  H. Res. 143, the rule that is providing for consideration of the bill 
was agreed to earlier by a yea-and-nay vote of 252 yeas to 159 nays, 
Roll No. 109.
Pages H2313-23
Bipartisan Task Force on Reform of the Ethics Process: Agreed by 
unanimous consent that the order of the House of April 23, 1997 be 
extended through June 12, 1997. The order of the House of February 12 
concerning the Ethics process was modified on April 23. In furtherance 
of the understanding concerning the establishment of the ethics task 
force:
  Made in order during the period beginning immediately and ending on 
June 12, 1997: (1) the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct may 
not receive, renew, initiate, or investigate a complaint against the 
official conduct of a member, officer, or employee of the House; (2) 
the Committee on Standard of Official Conduct may issue advisory 
opinions and perform other non-investigative functions; and (3) a 
resolution addressing the official conduct of a member, officer, or 
employee of the House that is proposed to be offered from the floor by 
a member other than the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader, or a 
Member designated from the floor by the Majority Leader or the Minority 
Leader at the time of notice pursuant to clause 2(A)(1) of Rule IX, as 
a question of the privileges of the House shall once noticed pursuant 
to clause 2(a)(1) of Rule IX, have precedence over all other questions 
except motions to adjourn only at a time or place designated by the 
Chair in the legislative schedule within two legislative days after 
June 12, 1997.
Page H2333
Advisory Committee On The Records Of Congress: Read a letter from the 
Minority Leader wherein he appointed Dr. Joseph Cooper of Baltimore, 
Maryland to the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress. 
                                                             Page H2333
Advisory Commission On Intergovernmental Relations: The Chair announced 
the Speaker's appointment of Representatives Shays and Snowbarger to 
the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
  Page H2333
Congressional Award Board: The Chair announced the Speaker's 
appointment of Representative Cubin to the Congressional Award Board. 
                                                             Page H2333
Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
page H2352.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H2264, H2265-66, H2282-83, H2313, and H2323. There were no quorum 
calls.
Adjournment: Met at 11:00 a.m. and adjourned at 12:00 midnight.