[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 89 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D655-D658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 5 public bills, H.R. 2009-2013; and 2 resolutions, H. 
Con. Res. 103-104, were introduced.                          
  Page H4221
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H.R. 1581, to reauthorize the program established under chapter 44 of 
title 28, United States Code, relating to arbitration (H. Rept. 105-
143);
  H.R. 1866, to continue favorable treatment for need-based educational 
aid under the antitrust laws (H. Rept. 105-144);

[[Page D656]]


  H.R. 1901, to clarify that the protections of the Federal Tort Claims 
Act apply to the members and personnel of the National Gambling Impact 
Study Commission (H. Rept. 105-145);
  H.R. 1902, to immunize donations made in the form of charitable gift 
annuities and charitable remainder trusts from the antitrust laws and 
State laws similar to the antitrust laws; (H. Rept. 105-146);
  H.R. 849, to prohibit an alien who is not lawfully present in the 
United States from receiving assistance under the Uniform Relocation 
Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, amended 
(H. Rept. 105-147);
  H.R. 2014, Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1997 (H. Rept. 105-148); and
  H.R. 2015, Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (H. Rept. 105-149). 
                                                             Page H4221
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
designated Representative Pease to act as Speaker pro tempore for 
today.                                                       
  Page H4137
Recess: The House recessed at 10:50 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon. 
                                                             Page H4139
Suspensions: The House voted to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Federal Tort Claims Act Clarification: H.R. 1901, to clarify that the 
protections of the Federal Tort Claims Act apply to the members and 
personnel of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission; 
                                                         Pages H4140-41
  Charitable Donation Antitrust Immunity: H.R. 1902, to immunize 
donations made in the form of charitable gift annuities and charitable 
remainder trusts from the antitrust laws and State laws similar to the 
antitrust laws;                                          
  Pages H4141-42
  Veterans' Cemetery Protection Act: H.R. 1532, amended, to amend title 
18, United States Code, to create criminal penalties for theft and 
willful vandalism at national cemeteries. Agreed to amend the title; 
                                                  Pages H4142-45, H4212
  Need-Based Educational Aid Antitrust Protection: H.R. 1866, to 
continue favorable treatment for need-based educational aid under the 
antitrust laws;                                          
  Pages H4145-46
  Program Relating to Arbitration: H.R. 1581, to reauthorize the 
program established under chapter 44 of title 28, United States Code, 
relating to arbitration; and                             
  Pages H4146-47
  John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Review Board: H.R. 1553, to 
amend the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection 
Act of 1992 to extend the authorization of the Assassination Records 
Review Board until September 30, 1998.                   
  Pages H4149-50
Cost of Government Day--Vote Postponed: The House completed debate on 
the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 102, 
expressing the sense of the Congress that the cost of government 
spending and regulatory programs should be reduced so that American 
families will be able to keep more of what they earn. The vote was 
postponed until Wednesday, June 25.                      
  Pages H4147-49
Recess: The House recessed at 2:35 p.m. and reconvened at 5:36 p.m. 
                                                             Page H4166
  Order of Business--MFN to China: It was made in order that at any 
time on June 24, 1997, to consider in the House the joint resolution 
(H.J. Res. 79) disapproving the extension of nondiscriminatory 
treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) to the products of the 
People's Republic of China; that the joint resolution be considered as 
read for amendment; that all points of order against the joint 
resolution and against its consideration be waived; that the joint 
resolution be debatable for three and one-half hours equally divided 
and controlled by the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means (in 
opposition to the joint resolution) and a Member in support of the 
joint resolution; that pursuant to sections 152 and 153 of the Trade 
Act of 1974, the previous question be considered as ordered on the 
joint resolution to final passage without intervening motion; and that 
the provisions of sections 152 and 153 of the Trade Act of 1974 shall 
not otherwise apply to any joint resolution disapproving the extension 
of most-favored-nation treatment to the People's Republic of China for 
the remainder of the first session of the One Hundred Fifth Congress. 
                                                         Pages H4166-67
Department of Defense Authorization Act: The House continued 
consideration of amendments to H.R. 1119, to authorize appropriations 
for fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
fiscal years 1998 and 1999. The House completed general debate and 
considered amendments to the bill on June 19 and 20. 
                                                      Pages H4150-H4212
Agreed To:
  The Frank of Massachusetts amendment, as modified, that limits the 
U.S. share of payments for the cost of NATO expansion to 10 percent of 
the total cost or $2 billion whichever is less; and if at any time the 
U.S. share exceeds 10 percent, then no funds may be expended until the 
percentage is reduced to 10 percent;              
Pages H4151-54, H4167
  The Bachus amendment that prohibits the performance of military 
honors at the funeral of a person who has been convicted of a crime 
under State

[[Page D657]]

or Federal law for which death is a possible punishment and for which 
the person was sentenced to death or life imprisonment (agreed to by a 
recorded vote of 416 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 225); 
                                               Pages H4155-56, H4167-68
  The Talent amendment that revises DOD missing persons authorities; 
requires a preliminary assessment within 48 hours unless hostile 
actions prevent timely reporting but in no case later than ten days; 
establishes reporting procedures and frequency of subsequent reviews; 
requires a certification by a forensic science practitioner for bodies 
that are not identifiable; requires that the identity of the missing 
person's counsel be provided to the next of kin; and establishes 
personnel files for Korean Conflict cases (agreed to by a recorded vote 
of 415 ayes to 2 noes, Roll No. 226);          
Pages H4157-60, H4168-69
  The Buyer amendment that requires a joint plan from the Secretary of 
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide appropriate 
health care to Persian Gulf veterans and their dependents who suffer 
from a Gulf War illness, including follow up treatment after initial 
examination as part of registration in the Persian Gulf War Veterans 
Health Registry or the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program; 
requires a Comptroller General Study of revised disability criteria to 
ensure accurate ratings related to a diagnosis of a Persian Gulf 
illness; requires a medical tracking system for members deployed 
overseas; requires reports on plans to track the daily location of 
units serving in a theater of operations and plans to improve the 
detection of chemical and biological hazards; requires the Secretary of 
Defense to provide a notice with specified information to each member 
of the armed forces whenever an investigational new drug is 
administered; requires a report evaluating the effectiveness of medical 
research initiatives regarding Gulf War illnesses; and provides $4.5 
million to establish a Persian Gulf illness clinical trials program 
(agreed to by a recorded vote of 417 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll 
No. 227);                                         
Pages H4160-66, H4169
  The Rohrabacher amendment that prohibits any Cooperative Threat 
Reduction funds to be expended when it becomes known to the Secretary 
of Defense that Russia has transferred to the People's Republic of 
China an SS-N-22 missile system (agreed to by a recorded vote of 215 
ayes to 206 noes, Roll No. 230); and                  
Pages H4198-H4201
  The Spence en bloc amendment, as modified, that requires a study of 
the U.S. capacitor and resistor industries; strikes limitation on funds 
for development of the Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures 
program for the F/A 18 aircraft and AV-8B aircraft; expresses the sense 
of Congress that the U.S. should maintain approximately 100,000 
military personnel in the Asia and Pacific region; expresses the sense 
of Congress that the armed forces should not be deployed to provide 
environmental preservation activities for other nations; expands 
reserve affiliations bonus to include the Coast Guard reserve; 
prohibits any funding for the United States Man and Biosphere Program; 
states the support for the Army in its Comanche program technology 
transfer and acquisition efforts; requires a report on the utility of 
permitting U.S. nationals to participate in the Senior Reserve 
Officers' Training Corps program; clarifies that the gross tonnage for 
purposes of tank vessel double hull requirements shall be the gross 
tonnage of the vessel on the most recent certificate; provides $3.910 
million for the fire range/maintenance shop construction project at 
Camp Roberts, California; includes additionally in the report on future 
military capabilities of the People's Republic of China, Chinese 
capabilities in nuclear weapons development, electronic warfare, 
telecommunications, advanced aerospace technologies, antisubmarine 
warfare, and an assessment of the potential threat to U.S. strategic 
interests by U.S. and other sales to China; specifies that the POW/MIA 
flag shall be displayed at each Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
center on each day on which the U.S. flag is displayed; allows 
veterans' preference to reservist veterans of the Persian Gulf War who 
were deployed but did not serve in the theater of operations; requires 
a report evaluating the feasibility of transferring jurisdiction of the 
Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System from the Department of 
Agriculture to the Department of Defense; provides $6.2 million for a 
barracks construction project at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania; 
provides transfers of real and personal property at certain Department 
of Energy facilities; requires an annual report on the development and 
deployment of narcotics detection technologies; requires the Secretary 
of Defense to delegate certain authorities to the site manager of 
Hanford Reservation, Richland, Washington; requires the Secretary of 
Energy to conduct a study on the effects of workforce restructuring 
plans for defense nuclear facilities; requires a report on the 
feasibility of conversion of members of the Army or Air Force reserve 
components who are on active duty (AGR personnel) to military 
technicians; sense of Congress that all promising technology and 
treatments relating to Gulf War illnesses should be fully explored and 
tested; increases funding for the Navy Land Attack technology program 
by $10 million and reduces the Air Systems and Weapons Advance 
Technology program by $5 million and reduces the Ship Hull Mechanical 
and Electrical Technology by $5 million; prohibits the Secretary of 
Defense from determining the allowability of costs of employee

[[Page D658]]

stock ownership plans described in the rule proposed by the Civilian 
Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations 
Council; requires a report on the Operational Field Assessments 
program; establishes the Sikes Act Improvement Amendments of 1997 and 
authorizes $9 million for the next five years for cooperative wildlife 
management at military installations; conveys land from Fort Dix to the 
Borough of Wrightstown, New Jersey; requires a study to evaluate the 
requirement for military medical facilities in the National Capital 
region; requires a report describing anti-terrorism activities; 
provides limited expansion to the Community College of the Air Force; 
requires the Director of OMB to report on counter-terrorism and anti-
terrorism programs and activities and establish a government-wide 
reporting system on the budget and expenditure of funds; expands the 
number of personnel eligible to participate in a demonstration project 
relating to acquisition workforce; conveys certain real property at 
Ellsworth Air Force Base to the Greater Box Elder Area Economic 
Development Corporation, Box Elder, South Dakota; requires a random 
audit of U.S. military installations to determine the extent to which 
installations procured goods not made in the United States; revises 
from 120 days to 60 days the time for submission of the annual report 
relating to the Buy America Act; requires a report from the Secretary 
of the Army concerning the implementation of the amendments made to the 
Armament Retooling and Manufacturing Support Act of 1992; and expresses 
the sense of Congress concerning the need for Russian openness on the 
Yamantau Mountain project.                               
Pages H4201-12
Rejected:
  The Dellums amendment, as modified, that sought to terminate 
production of the B-2 bomber and reduce funding by $331.2 million, 
allow $21.8 million for curtailment of the production line, and 
increase funding by $332.2 million for procurement of equipment for the 
reserve components (rejected by a recorded vote of 209 ayes to 216 
noes, Roll No. 228); and                                 
Pages H4169-89
  The Everett amendment, as modified, that sought to strike section 
333, restrictions on contracts for performance of depot-level 
maintenance and repair at certain facilities; section 334, core 
logistics functions of Department of Defense; and section 335, centers 
of industrial and technical excellence (rejected by a recorded vote of 
145 ayes to 278 noes, Roll No. 229).                     
Pages H4189-98
Withdrawn:
  The Skelton amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that 
sought to expand criminal offenses resulting in forfeiture of veterans' 
burial benefits to include those convicted of crimes involving weapons 
of mass destruction against federal properties, law enforcement 
officers, or employees;                                      
Page H4156
  Agreed to H. Res. 169, as amended, the rule providing for 
consideration of the bill on June 19.                    
Pages H3934-45
Presidential Message--Advisory Committees: Read a message from the 
President wherein he transmitted his annual report on Federal Advisory 
Committees, covering fiscal year 1995--referred to the Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight.                             
  Page H4212
Senate Messages: Message received today from the Senate appears on page 
H4137.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Six recorded votes developed during the 
proceedings of the House today and appear on pages H4167-68, H4168-69, 
H4169, H4188-89, H4198, and H4200-01. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: Met at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at 11:50 p.m.