[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H8081-H8084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CHILD SUPPORT INCENTIVE ACT OF 1997

  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2487) to improve the effectiveness

[[Page H8082]]

and efficiency of the child support enforcement program and thereby 
increase the financial stability of single parent families, including 
those attempting to leave welfare, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2487

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Child Support Incentive Act 
     of 1997''.

     SEC. 2. INCENTIVE PAYMENTS TO STATES.

       (a) In General.--Part D of title IV of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 651-669) is amended by inserting after section 
     458 the following:

     ``SEC. 458A. INCENTIVE PAYMENTS TO STATES.

       ``(a) In General.--In addition to any other payment under 
     this part, the Secretary shall, subject to subsection (f), 
     make an incentive payment to each State for each fiscal year 
     in an amount determined under subsection (b).
       ``(b) Amount of Incentive Payment.--
       ``(1) In general.--The incentive payment for a State for a 
     fiscal year is equal to the sum of the applicable percentages 
     (determined in accordance with paragraph (3)) of the maximum 
     incentive amount for the State for the fiscal year, with 
     respect to each of the following measures of State 
     performance for the fiscal year:
       ``(A) The paternity establishment performance level.
       ``(B) The support order performance level.
       ``(C) The current payment performance level.
       ``(D) The arrearage payment performance level.
       ``(E) The cost-effectiveness performance level.
       ``(2) Maximum incentive amount.--
       ``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the 
     maximum incentive amount for a State for a fiscal year is--
       ``(i) with respect to the performance measures described in 
     subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1), 0.49 
     percent of the State collections base for the fiscal year; 
     and
       ``(ii) with respect to the performance measures described 
     in subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (1), 0.37 percent 
     of the State collections base for the fiscal year.
       ``(B) Data used to calculate ratios required to be complete 
     and reliable.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the maximum 
     incentive amount for a State for a fiscal year with respect 
     to a performance measure described in paragraph (1) is zero, 
     unless the Secretary determines, on the basis of an audit 
     performed under section 452(a)(4)(C)(i), that the data which 
     the State submitted pursuant to section 454(15)(B) for the 
     fiscal year and which is used to determine the performance 
     level involved is complete and reliable.
       ``(C) State collections base.--For purposes of subparagraph 
     (A), the State collections base for a fiscal year is equal to 
     the sum of--
       ``(i) 2 times the sum of--

       ``(I) the total amount of support collected during the 
     fiscal year under the State plan approved under this part in 
     cases in which the support obligation involved is required to 
     be assigned to the State pursuant to part A or E of this 
     title or title XIX; and
       ``(II) the total amount of support collected during the 
     fiscal year under the State plan approved under this part in 
     cases in which the support obligation involved was so 
     assigned but, at the time of collection, is not required to 
     be so assigned; and

       ``(ii) the total amount of support collected during the 
     fiscal year under the State plan approved under this part in 
     all other cases.
       ``(3) Determination of applicable percentages based on 
     performance levels.--
       ``(A) Paternity establishment.--
       ``(i) Determination of paternity establishment performance 
     level.--The paternity establishment performance level for a 
     State for a fiscal year is, at the option of the State, the 
     IV-D paternity establishment percentage determined under 
     section 452(g)(2)(A) or the statewide paternity establishment 
     percentage determined under section 452(g)(2)(B).
       ``(ii) Determination of applicable percentage.--The 
     applicable percentage with respect to a State's paternity 
     establishment performance level is as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
``If the paternity establishment performance level is:                  
-------------------------------------------------------  The applicable 
            At least:                 But less than:     percentage is: 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
80%..............................  ...................         100      
79%..............................  80%................         98       
78%..............................  79%................         96       
77%..............................  78%................         94       
76%..............................  77%................         92       
75%..............................  76%................         90       
74%..............................  75%................         88       
73%..............................  74%................         86       
72%..............................  73%................         84       
71%..............................  72%................         82       
70%..............................  71%................         80       
69%..............................  70%................         79       
68%..............................  69%................         78       
67%..............................  68%................         77       
66%..............................  67%................         76       
65%..............................  66%................         75       
64%..............................  65%................         74       
63%..............................  64%................         73       
62%..............................  63%................         72       
61%..............................  62%................         71       
60%..............................  61%................         70       
59%..............................  60%................         69       
58%..............................  59%................         68       
57%..............................  58%................         67       
56%..............................  57%................         66       
55%..............................  56%................         65       
54%..............................  55%................         64       
53%..............................  54%................         63       
52%..............................  53%................         62       
51%..............................  52%................         61       
50%..............................  51%................         60       
0%...............................  50%................         0.       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the paternity 
     establishment performance level of a State for a fiscal year 
     is less than 50 percent but exceeds by at least 10 percentage 
     points the paternity establishment performance level of the 
     State for the immediately preceding fiscal year, then the 
     applicable percentage with respect to the State's paternity 
     establishment performance level is 50 percent.
       ``(B) Establishment of child support orders.--
       ``(i) Determination of support order performance level.--
     The support order performance level for a State for a fiscal 
     year is the percentage of the total number of cases under 
     the State plan approved under this part in which there is 
     a support order during the fiscal year.
       ``(ii) Determination of applicable percentage.--The 
     applicable percentage with respect to a State's support order 
     performance level is as follows:
       

------------------------------------------------------------------------
     ``If the support order performance level is:                       
-------------------------------------------------------  The applicable 
            At least:                 But less than:     percentage is: 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
80%..............................  ...................         100      
79%..............................  80%................         98       
78%..............................  79%................         96       
77%..............................  78%................         94       
76%..............................  77%................         92       
75%..............................  76%................         90       
74%..............................  75%................         88       
73%..............................  74%................         86       
72%..............................  73%................         84       
71%..............................  72%................         82       
70%..............................  71%................         80       
69%..............................  70%................         79       
68%..............................  69%................         78       
67%..............................  68%................         77       
66%..............................  67%................         76       
65%..............................  66%................         75       
64%..............................  65%................         74       
63%..............................  64%................         73       
62%..............................  63%................         72       
61%..............................  62%................         71       
60%..............................  61%................         70       
59%..............................  60%................         69       
58%..............................  59%................         68       
57%..............................  58%................         67       
56%..............................  57%................         66       
55%..............................  56%................         65       
54%..............................  55%................         64       
53%..............................  54%................         63       
52%..............................  53%................         62       
51%..............................  52%................         61       
50%..............................  51%................         60       
0%...............................  50%................         0.       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the support order 
     performance level of a State for a fiscal year is less than 
     50 percent but exceeds by at least 5 percentage points the 
     support order performance level of the State for the 
     immediately preceding fiscal year, then the applicable 
     percentage with respect to the State's support order 
     performance level is 50 percent.
       ``(C) Collections on current child support due.--
       ``(i) Determination of current payment performance level.--
     The current payment performance level for a State for a 
     fiscal year is equal to the total amount of current support 
     collected during the fiscal year under the State plan 
     approved under this part divided by the total amount of 
     current support owed during the fiscal year in all cases 
     under the State plan, expressed as a percentage.
       ``(ii) Determination of applicable percentage.--The 
     applicable percentage with respect to a State's current 
     payment performance level is as follows:
       

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    ``If the current payment performance level is:                      
-------------------------------------------------------  The applicable 
            At least:                 But less than:     percentage is: 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
80%..............................  ...................         100      
79%..............................  80%................         98       
78%..............................  79%................         96       
77%..............................  78%................         94       
76%..............................  77%................         92       
75%..............................  76%................         90       
74%..............................  75%................         88       
73%..............................  74%................         86       
72%..............................  73%................         84       
71%..............................  72%................         82       
70%..............................  71%................         80       
69%..............................  70%................         79       
68%..............................  69%................         78       
67%..............................  68%................         77       
66%..............................  67%................         76       
65%..............................  66%................         75       
64%..............................  65%................         74       
63%..............................  64%................         73       
62%..............................  63%................         72       
61%..............................  62%................         71       
60%..............................  61%................         70       
59%..............................  60%................         69       
58%..............................  59%................         68       
57%..............................  58%................         67       
56%..............................  57%................         66       
55%..............................  56%................         65       
54%..............................  55%................         64       
53%..............................  54%................         63       
52%..............................  53%................         62       
51%..............................  52%................         61       
50%..............................  51%................         60       
49%..............................  50%................         59       
48%..............................  49%................         58       
47%..............................  48%................         57       
46%..............................  47%................         56       
45%..............................  46%................         55       
44%..............................  45%................         54       
43%..............................  44%................         53       
42%..............................  43%................         52       
41%..............................  42%................         51       
40%..............................  41%................         50       
0%...............................  40%................         0.       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the current 
     payment performance level of a State for a fiscal year is 
     less than 40 percent but exceeds

[[Page H8083]]

     by at least 5 percentage points the current payment 
     performance level of the State for the immediately preceding 
     fiscal year, then the applicable percentage with respect to 
     the State's current payment performance level is 50 percent.
       ``(D) Collections on child support arrearages.--
       ``(i) Determination of arrearage payment performance 
     level.--The arrearage payment performance level for a State 
     for a fiscal year is equal to the total number of cases under 
     the State plan approved under this part in which payments of 
     past-due child support were received during the fiscal year 
     and part or all of the payments were distributed to the 
     family to whom the past-due child support was owed (or, if 
     all past-due child support owed to the family was, at the 
     time of receipt, subject to an assignment to the State, part 
     or all of the payments were retained by the State) divided by 
     the total number of cases under the State plan in which there 
     is past-due child support, expressed as a percentage.
       ``(ii) Determination of applicable percentage.--The 
     applicable percentage with respect to a State's arrearage 
     payment performance level is as follows:
       

------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ``If the arrearage payment performance level is:                     
-------------------------------------------------------  The applicable 
            At least:                 But less than:     percentage is: 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
80%..............................  ...................         100      
79%..............................  80%................         98       
78%..............................  79%................         96       
77%..............................  78%................         94       
76%..............................  77%................         92       
75%..............................  76%................         90       
74%..............................  75%................         88       
73%..............................  74%................         86       
72%..............................  73%................         84       
71%..............................  72%................         82       
70%..............................  71%................         80       
69%..............................  70%................         79       
68%..............................  69%................         78       
67%..............................  68%................         77       
66%..............................  67%................         76       
65%..............................  66%................         75       
64%..............................  65%................         74       
63%..............................  64%................         73       
62%..............................  63%................         72       
61%..............................  62%................         71       
60%..............................  61%................         70       
59%..............................  60%................         69       
58%..............................  59%................         68       
57%..............................  58%................         67       
56%..............................  57%................         66       
55%..............................  56%................         65       
54%..............................  55%................         64       
53%..............................  54%................         63       
52%..............................  53%................         62       
51%..............................  52%................         61       
50%..............................  51%................         60       
49%..............................  50%................         59       
48%..............................  49%................         58       
47%..............................  48%................         57       
46%..............................  47%................         56       
45%..............................  46%................         55       
44%..............................  45%................         54       
43%..............................  44%................         53       
42%..............................  43%................         52       
41%..............................  42%................         51       
40%..............................  41%................         50       
0%...............................  40%................         0.       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the arrearage 
     payment performance level of a State for a fiscal year is 
     less than 40 percent but exceeds by at least 5 percentage 
     points the arrearage payment performance level of the State 
     for the immediately preceding fiscal year, then the 
     applicable percentage with respect to the State's arrearage 
     payment performance level is 50 percent.
       ``(E) Cost-effectiveness.--
       ``(i) Determination of cost-effectiveness performance 
     level.--The cost-effectiveness performance level for a State 
     for a fiscal year is equal to the total amount collected 
     during the fiscal year under the State plan approved under 
     this part divided by the total amount expended during the 
     fiscal year under the State plan, expressed as a ratio.
       ``(ii) Determination of applicable percentage.--The 
     applicable percentage with respect to a State's cost-
     effectiveness performance level is as follows:
       

------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ``If the cost effectiveness performance level is:                    
-------------------------------------------------------  The applicable 
            At least:                 But less than:     percentage is: 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.00.............................  ...................         100      
4.50.............................  4.99...............         90       
4.00.............................  4.50...............         80       
3.50.............................  4.00...............         70       
3.00.............................  3.50...............         60       
2.50.............................  3.00...............         50       
2.00.............................  2.50...............         40       
0.00.............................  2.00...............         0.       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

       ``(c) Treatment of Interstate Collections.--In computing 
     incentive payments under this section, support which is 
     collected by a State at the request of another State shall be 
     treated as having been collected in full by both States, and 
     any amounts expended by a State in carrying out a special 
     project assisted under section 455(e) shall be excluded.
       ``(d) Administrative Provisions.--The amounts of the 
     incentive payments to be made to the States under this 
     section for a fiscal year shall be estimated by the Secretary 
     at or before the beginning of the fiscal year on the basis of 
     the best information available. The Secretary shall make the 
     payments for the fiscal year, on a quarterly basis (with each 
     quarterly payment being made no later than the beginning of 
     the quarter involved), in the amounts so estimated, reduced 
     or increased to the extent of any overpayments or 
     underpayments which the Secretary determines were made under 
     this section to the States involved for prior periods and 
     with respect to which adjustment has not already been made 
     under this subsection. Upon the making of any estimate by the 
     Secretary under the preceding sentence, any appropriations 
     available for payments under this section are deemed 
     obligated.
       ``(e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such 
     regulations as may be necessary governing the calculation of 
     incentive payments under this section, including directions 
     for excluding from the calculations certain closed cases and 
     cases over which the States do not have jurisdiction.
       ``(f) Reinvestment.--A State to which a payment is made 
     under this section shall expend the full amount of the 
     payment--
       ``(1) to carry out the State plan approved under this part; 
     or
       ``(2) for any activity (including cost-effective contracts 
     with local agencies) approved by the Secretary, whether or 
     not the expenditures for which are eligible for reimbursement 
     under this part, which may contribute to improving the 
     effectiveness or efficiency of the State program operated 
     under this part.''.
       (b) Transition Rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law--
       (1) for fiscal year 2000, the Secretary shall reduce by \1/
     3\ the amount otherwise payable to a State under section 458, 
     and shall reduce by \2/3\ the amount otherwise payable to a 
     State under section 458A; and
       (2) for fiscal year 2001, the Secretary shall reduce by \2/
     3\ the amount otherwise payable to a State under section 458, 
     and shall reduce by \1/3\ the amount otherwise payable to a 
     State under section 458A.
       (c) Regulations.--Within 9 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services shall prescribe regulations governing the 
     implementation of section 458A of the Social Security Act 
     when such section takes effect and the implementation of 
     subsection (b) of this section.
       (d) Studies.--
       (1) General review of new incentive payment system.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall conduct a study of the implementation of the incentive 
     payment system established by section 458A of the Social 
     Security Act, in order to identify the problems and successes 
     of the system.
       (B) Reports to the congress.--
       (i) Report on variations in state performance attributable 
     to demographic variables.--Not later than October 1, 2000, 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report that 
     identifies any demographic or economic variables that account 
     for differences in the performance levels achieved by the 
     States with respect to the performance measures used in the 
     system, and contains the recommendations of the Secretary for 
     such adjustments to the system as may be necessary to ensure 
     that the relative performance of States is measured from a 
     baseline that takes account of any such variables.
       (ii) Interim report.--Not later than March 1, 2001, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Congress an interim report that 
     contains the findings of the study required by subparagraph 
     (A).
       (iii) Final report.--Not later than October 1, 2003, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Congress a final report that 
     contains the final findings of the study required by 
     subparagraph (A). The report shall include any 
     recommendations for changes in the system that the Secretary 
     determines would improve the operation of the child support 
     enforcement program.
       (2) Development of medical support incentive.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, in consultation with State directors of programs 
     operated under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act 
     and representatives of children potentially eligible for 
     medical support, shall develop a performance measure based on 
     the effectiveness of States in establishing and enforcing 
     medical support obligations, and shall make recommendations 
     for the incorporation of the measure, in a revenue neutral 
     manner, into the incentive payment system established by 
     section 458A of the Social Security Act.
       (B) Report.--Not later than October 1, 1999, the Secretary 
     shall submit to the Congress a report that describes the 
     performance measure and contains the recommendations required 
     by subparagraph (A).
       (e) Technical Amendments.--
       (1) In general.--Section 341 of the Personal Responsibility 
     and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 
     658 note) is amended--
       (A) by striking subsection (a) and redesignating 
     subsections (b), (c), and (d) as subsections (a), (b), and 
     (c), respectively; and
       (B) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)--
       (i) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
       ``(1) Conforming amendments to present system.--The 
     amendments made by subsection (a) of this section shall 
     become effective with respect to a State as of the date the 
     amendments made by section 103(a) (without regard to section 
     116(a)(2)) first apply to the State.''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(c)'' and inserting 
     ``(b)''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 
     341 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
     Reconciliation Act of 1996.
       (f) Elimination of Predecessor Incentive Payment System.--
       (1) Repeal.--Section 458 of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 658) is repealed.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--
       (A) Section 458A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     658a) is redesignated as section 458.
       (B) Subsection (d)(1) of this section is amended by 
     striking ``458A'' and inserting ``458''.
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall take effect on October 1, 2001.
       (g) General Effective Date.--Except as otherwise provided 
     in this section, the amendments

[[Page H8084]]

     made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 1999.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Shaw] and the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Levin] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Shaw].


                             General Leave

  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 2487.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government now spends nearly half 
a billion dollars per year providing the States with incentive payments 
for good performance in collecting child support, but the current 
system has serious deficiencies.
  The Federal Government provides more than half the incentive money 
virtually without regard to performance. Even worse, although many 
States have poor child support programs, current laws allow States to 
use the incentive payment as a kind of kitty for the State treasury. 
Thus, money that should be used to improve child support programs is 
used by some States to build roads and bridges.
  The new system we are considering today, based on work by the 
administration, directors of State and child support programs, and a 
bipartisan coalition headed by the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Levin] 
and me, solves both of these problems and more. Under this bill, which 
was approved unanimously by the Committee on Ways and Means, every 
penny of the incentive money will be based on performance and States 
can use the money only on child support activities.
  The new incentive system created by this legislation is simply one 
more tool that Congress has enacted to improve the performance of the 
Federal-State child support program. Many other tools are just now 
being put in place by State governments as required under last year's 
welfare reform law.
  Once all of last year's reforms are in place and once the new 
incentive program begins to reward high-performance States, I believe 
we will see a steady improvement in the child support program as more 
and more single-parent families and children receive sorely needed cash 
and medical support. Perhaps of the greatest importance, many hundreds 
of thousands of those helped will be single parents struggling to leave 
welfare and to stay off of welfare.
  This bill enjoys bipartisan support and was developed in close 
cooperation with the administration. The reforms made by this bill will 
greatly improve the child support program. Let us bring this bill out 
of the House with a resounding voice so that the Nation's children can 
start getting the financial support they need and deserve.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1330

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Shaw], and I wish to 
express my appreciation for the bipartisan spirit with which this 
important piece of legislation has been developed. I would also like to 
congratulate the administration, HHS, Secretary Shalala and all of her 
staff, and I would like to congratulate the staffs of our committee, 
Dr. Haskins, who is here, Deborah Colton, who is on the floor with us, 
my own staff, as well as others, because today we are poised to take an 
important next step in our continuing efforts to assure that every kid 
in this country is supported by both parents. A job that pays a living 
wage is one component of self-sufficiency for families, and for single 
parents, a child support order and a noncustodial parent who supports 
the family every month can be equally important.
  Last year we devoted considerable time and attention to one aspect of 
assuring the financial security of America's children: making work a 
central element of our Nation's welfare laws. After all, a job paying a 
living wage is probably the most important component of self-
sufficiency for families on welfare.
  Another essential part of welfare reform is child support. It sends a 
message of responsibility to both parents and it is a vital part of 
moving families toward work and self-sufficiency.
  We have seen some progress since the 1970's when Congress began to 
insist that States give priority to child support enforcement. 
Collections have risen from $1 billion a year to more than $11 billion 
in 1995; and in that same year, more than 5 million parents were 
located and paternity was established for over 600,000 children.
  But that is not good enough. Of the 9.9 million female-headed 
families in 1991 eligible for child support, only 56 percent had child 
support orders. That means that 4.5 million families did not even have 
an order to enforce. Those with child support orders were not always 
much better off. Only about half of those due money from a noncustodial 
parent actually received 100 percent of their court-ordered child 
support payments.
  Well, in the mid-1980's when we designed the current incentive 
system, we did the best we could with limited information available to 
us. But now, after nearly a decade of experience, we are in a position 
to create a more sophisticated system that truly rewards performance.
  The new system will reward States with incentive funds based on the 
State's performance in 5 essential areas: establishment of paternity; 
establishment of child support orders; collection on current child 
support owed; collection on previously or past due child support owed; 
and cost-effectiveness. These measures will more accurately reflect the 
true performance of the States and their success in helping families 
achieve self-sufficiency.
  To be sure, a wholesale change of this magnitude may be a bit 
daunting to States because of the uncertainty of the size of incentive 
payments coupled with the dramatic changes our entire welfare system is 
undergoing. But before we conclude that some States may lose Federal 
funds under this new system, let us remember that it will be several 
years before the new incentives are fully implemented, and the goal is 
for all States to continue working and to qualify for the new 
incentives.
  In the past decade, we have made progress, but as said, much more 
remains to be done, and as the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Shaw], has 
said so well throughout these proceedings, this bill can help.
  Our legislation redesigns the financing of the child support program 
to reward those States that perform best. We fine-tune the incentive 
payments we make to the States so that those States that operate a 
balanced and efficient program are rewarded, and we phase in the new 
system, and that should be emphasized, to minimize any disruptions at 
the State level.
  This bill is a bipartisan product. It is truly a consensus proposal, 
and I am sure that the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Shaw] and all of the 
Members of our committee, and I think the House today, will join in 
expressing this hope, that we will not only pass this bill in this 
House but the Senate will act on it before it adjourns for the year.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Shaw] that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 2487, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________