[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 137 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H8394-H8395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON H.R. 2267, DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, 
JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 1998

  Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2267) making appropriations for the 
Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and related 
agencies 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. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Kentucky?
  There was no objection.


               Motion to Instruct Offered by Mr. Mollohan

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

       Mr. Mollohan moves that the managers on the part of the 
     House at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the House 
     and the Senate on H.R. 2267, Commerce-Justice-State-Judiciary 
     Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1998, be instructed to 
     insist on the House position regarding funding for programs 
     under the Victims of Child Abuse Act in the Juvenile Justice 
     Programs account.

  The SPEAKER. The gentleman from West Virginia [Mr. Mollohan] and the 
gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Rogers] each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West Virginia [Mr. Mollohan].
  Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me explain this motion to instruct to my colleagues. 
The House-Commerce-Justice-State appropriation bill provides $7 million 
for various programs authorized by the Victims of Child Abuse Act. The 
Senate bill provides $4.5 million for these programs, which is the 
budget request.
  The Victims of Child Abuse Program improves the quality of local and 
Federal child abuse prosecution and case handling. It does this by 
identifying and implementing improved policies and procedures to assist 
State and Federal prosecutors in keeping abreast of modern practices in 
child abuse prosecution.
  The program also funds local and regional child advocacy center 
programs

[[Page H8395]]

to focus attention on the needs of child abuse victims by enhancing 
coordination and support among community agencies and professionals 
involved in the intervention, prevention, prosecution, and 
investigation systems that respond to child abuse cases.
  Children's advocacy centers are child-focused, facility-based 
programs that use multidisciplinary teams to coordinate judicial and 
social service systems' response to victims of child abuse, Mr. 
Speaker.
  My motion instructs conferees to remain firm on the House position of 
$7 million for Victims of Child Abuse programs. These programs are 
working and working well and deserve this level of funding.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no objection to the motion.
  Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the previous question is ordered on 
the motion to instruct.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER. The question is on the motion to instruct offered by the 
gentleman from West Virginia [Mr. Mollohan].
  The motion was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the Chair appoints the following 
conferees:
  Messrs. Rogers,
  Kolbe,
  Taylor of North Carolina,
  Regula,
  Forbes,
  Latham,
  Livingston,
  Mollohan,
  Skaggs,
  Dixon, and
  Obey.
  There was no objection.

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