[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 114 (Wednesday, September 3, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H6725-H6726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON H.R. 2203, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998

  Mr. McDADE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2203) making appropriations for energy 
and water development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998 and 
for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the 
Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.


    Motion to Instruct Conferees Offered by Mr. Fazio of California

  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Mr. Fazio of California moves that in resolving the 
     differences between House and Senate, the managers on the 
     part of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes 
     of the two Houses on the bill, H.R. 2203, be instructed to 
     recede to the Senate on funding levels provided for 
     nonproliferation and arms control programs under the 
     Department of Energy.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio] 
will be recognized for 30 minutes, and the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
[Mr. McDade] will be recognized for 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio].
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, my reason for offering this motion to instruct conferees 
is simply that I believe the House would be advised to support the 
Senate figures on nuclear nonproliferation so we do no damage to our 
efforts to verify nuclear testing. The research and development 
account, which is very important to the Department, shows that we have 
taken a $20 million reduction in excess of what the Senate provided in 
this area. It seems to me these are very important funds to meet 
established milestones for the demonstration and delivery of state-of-
the-art nuclear detection technologies.
  In addition, the legislation that the House passed could well be 
determined to be inadequate in terms of funding the Department's threat 
assessment program, which is a core program which provides for our 
Government's full capability to assess nuclear-related domestic 
threats.

[[Page H6726]]

  It also provides a central traffic point for DOE's nuclear agency and 
critical message traffic from overseas embassies. It would be, I think, 
something that all Members of this House could join together on. We are 
not anxious to restrict our capabilities to monitor potential 
proliferation of nuclear activities in countries, particularly in 
third-world countries, where we think the threat is most likely to 
occur.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDADE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. McDADE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)


                             General Leave

  Mr. McDADE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.R. 2203.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McDADE. Mr. Speaker, my distinguished friend, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Fazio] and I have discussed this issue. We are, as we 
so often are, in accord. I support the motion and I urge its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered on the motion to instruct.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to instruct 
offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio].
  The motion was agreed to.

                              {time}  1300

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Snowbarger). Without objection, the 
Chair appoints the following conferees: Messrs. McDade, Rogers, 
Knollen- berg, Frelinghuysen, Parker, Callahan, Dickey, Livingston, 
Fazio of California, Visclosky, Edwards, Pastor, and Obey.
  There was no objection.

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