[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H8171-H8172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2203, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998

  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, I call up House Resolution 254 and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 254

       Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be 
     in order to consider the conference report to accompany the 
     bill (H.R. 2203) making appropriations for energy and water 
     development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, 
     and for other purposes. All points of order against the 
     conference report and against its consideration are waived. 
     The conference report shall be considered as read.

                              {time}  1115

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ney). The gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. 
Pryce] is recognized for 1 hour.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield 
the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. 
Moakley], the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Rules, 
pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During 
consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose 
of debate only and should be limited to debate on the issue at hand.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 254 provides for the routine 
consideration of the fiscal year 1998 energy and water development 
appropriations bill. The resolution waives all points of order against 
the conference report and against its consideration. The rule provides 
that the conference report should be considered as read.
  Let me begin my congratulating the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. 
McDade] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio] for ably guiding 
the energy and water appropriations bill through conference. The 
product of their hard work is a fiscally responsible conference report 
that spends $1.9 billion less than the President requested, once again 
demonstrating to the taxpayers that this Congress is serious about 
cutting waste and prioritizing our spending.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe this bill does an excellent job of accurately 
assessing our Nation's energy and water needs, adjusting the 
administration's request for water resources infrastructure. For 
example, the conference report provides funding for important flood 
control activities of the Army Corps of Engineers, a need that was 
definitely brought to light by the devastating floods that ravaged the 
South and Midwest last winter and throughout this past spring.
  I would like to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade] 
and the subcommittee for their continued support of the West Columbus 
flood wall project. In 1913, 1937, and 1959, melting snow and heavy 
rains caused the Scioto River to overflow its banks. The resulting 
catastrophic flood caused the loss of many lives, destroyed homes and 
businesses, and damaged millions of dollars' worth of residential and 
commercial property. Ensuring a continued Federal commitment to this 
project is essential to providing the West Columbus community peace of 
mind and a real measure of protection from the looming threat of 
destructive floods. There are examples all across our Nation of exactly 
the same situation found in this conference report.
  I would also note that the conference report continues our commitment 
to downsizing and streamlining the Federal Government by imposing a 
number of management reforms on the Department of Energy, all designed 
to keep the Department focused, efficient, and accountable to the 
taxpayers. There are more than a few of my colleagues who view the 
Department of Energy as the epitome of wasteful bureaucracy that has 
outgrown its original limited purpose. How the Department responds to 
the reforms implemented by this bill will send an important message to 
Congress about what the future of this agency should be.
  In the meantime, the conference report will provide the necessary DOE 
funds for basic scientific research, accelerated cleanup of 
contaminated DOE sites, maintenance of our Nation's nuclear weapons 
stockpile, and a continuation of solar renewable energy programs.

[[Page H8172]]

  In addition, the conference report begins the phaseout of funding for 
another agency that has outlived its necessity by terminating the 
appropriations for the Tennessee Valley Authority after fiscal year 
1998. I should note that through this legislation the TVA will receive 
$70 million for its nonpower program, but this amount represents a 34 
percent cut below the current level and the administration's request.
  Mr. Speaker, as the fiscal year draws to a close, I encourage my 
colleagues to adopt the rule before us without delay so that the House 
may proceed with consideration of the fiscal year 1998 energy and water 
conference report. I urge support for both the rule and the underlying 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
I thank my colleague and friend, the gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. Pryce], 
for yielding me the customary half hour.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of this 
energy and water conference report. I also would like to congratulate 
my colleagues, the ranking member, the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Fazio], and the chairman, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade], 
for a job well done. The gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade], in 
his first year as chairman, has worked very hard with the other body to 
make sure that House Members were treated fairly.
  This conference report will make some very serious improvements in 
our country, especially in our country's infrastructure, and the 
subcommittee members should be congratulated on their diligence and on 
their hard work.
  Mr. Speaker, this rule, like most conference report rules, waives 
points of order against the conference report and provides for 1 hour 
of debate. This conference report also fully funds the budget request 
for the Energy Department's arms control and nonproliferation programs 
as the House has instructed them to do. It restores funding for the 
Energy Department, which means that they can continue to cut spending 
through normal attrition instead of making radical staff cuts which 
could hurt our country's energy program. The Energy Department, in 
addition to atomic defense activities, conducts basic science and 
energy research which I think is tremendously important, especially in 
today's high-tech world.
  I am glad that the committee did not have to make major staff cuts, 
and once again, Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my ranking member, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio], and my chairman, the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade], for the conference committee and all 
the other conference committee members for their hard work. I urge my 
colleagues to support the rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question 
on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
  The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 415, 
nays 3, not voting 15, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 467]

                               YEAS--415

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Allen
     Andrews
     Archer
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baesler
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barrett (NE)
     Barrett (WI)
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bass
     Bateman
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berman
     Berry
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Blagojevich
     Bliley
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonior
     Bono
     Borski
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brady
     Brown (CA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Bryant
     Bunning
     Burr
     Burton
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Canady
     Cannon
     Capps
     Carson
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Chenoweth
     Christensen
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Coburn
     Collins
     Combest
     Condit
     Conyers
     Cook
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crapo
     Cubin
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Danner
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (VA)
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     Deutsch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dickey
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Dixon
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Emerson
     Engel
     English
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Everett
     Ewing
     Fattah
     Fawell
     Fazio
     Filner
     Foglietta
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fowler
     Fox
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Furse
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gejdenson
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Granger
     Green
     Greenwood
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hamilton
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Hefner
     Herger
     Hill
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Hooley
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hutchinson
     Hyde
     Inglis
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (WI)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kasich
     Kennedy (MA)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kim
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klink
     Klug
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Lantos
     Largent
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lazio
     Leach
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     Livingston
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luther
     Maloney (CT)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manton
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Martinez
     Mascara
     Matsui
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDade
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHale
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntosh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek
     Menendez
     Metcalf
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (CA)
     Miller (FL)
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Mollohan
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Murtha
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Neumann
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pappas
     Parker
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Paxon
     Payne
     Pease
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Poshard
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Redmond
     Regula
     Reyes
     Riggs
     Riley
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogan
     Rogers
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Rush
     Ryun
     Sabo
     Salmon
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sanford
     Sawyer
     Scarborough
     Schaefer, Dan
     Schaffer, Bob
     Schumer
     Scott
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Sisisky
     Skaggs
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (OR)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith, Adam
     Smith, Linda
     Snowbarger
     Snyder
     Solomon
     Souder
     Spence
     Spratt
     Stabenow
     Stark
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Stokes
     Strickland
     Stump
     Stupak
     Sununu
     Talent
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thornberry
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tiahrt
     Tierney
     Torres
     Towns
     Traficant
     Turner
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Waters
     Watkins
     Watt (NC)
     Watts (OK)
     Waxman
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Weygand
     White
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wynn
     Yates
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                                NAYS--3

     Ensign
     Gibbons
     Kelly

                             NOT VOTING--15

     Barr
     Bishop
     Cardin
     Dellums
     Farr
     Flake
     Gonzalez
     Hunter
     LaFalce
     Pallone
     Pelosi
     Pickett
     Rothman
     Saxton
     Schiff

                              {time}  1141

  Mr. ISTOOK changed his vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So the resolution was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.




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