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




APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON H.R. 2169, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2169) making appropriations for the 
Department of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1998, and for other purposes, with Senate 
amendments thereto, disagree to the Senate amendments, and agree to the 
conference asked by the Senate.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.


            Motion to Instruct Conferees Offered by Mr. Sabo

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

       Mr. Sabo moves that in resolving the differences between 
     the 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. 2169, be instructed to insist on the House 
     position with respect to providing $200 million for operating 
     assistance under the transit formula grants program.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Sabo] will 
be recognized for 30 minutes, and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. 
Wolf] will be recognized for 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Sabo].
  Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I will be brief. This motion simply instructs the 
conferees to insist on the $200 million included in the House bill for 
transit operating assistance.
  In my judgment, we have cut operating assistance too much already 
over the years. Unfortunately, the Senate has no funding for operating 
assistance, and this motion simply insists that the conferees stay with 
the decision adopted by the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I share the gentleman's concern with regard to the 
operating assistance, and wish it could be higher, but I think that 
$200 million is certainly the bottom we should go. I think it is a good 
motion, and we certainly accept it. I commend the gentleman for 
offering it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABO. 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 Minnesota [Mr. Sabo].
  The motion was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the Chair appoints the 
following conferees: Messrs. Wolf, Delay, Regula, Rogers, Packard, 
Callahan, Tiahrt, Aderholt, Livingston, Sabo, Foglietta, Torres, Olver, 
Pastor, and Obey.
  There was no objection.

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