[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 50 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D426-D428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 18 public bills, H.R. 3743-3760; and 5 resolutions, 
H. Con. Res. 265-267 and H. Res. 412, 415, were introduced. 
                                                             Page H2605
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H.R. 1739, to amend the Act designating the Boundary Waters Canoe 
Area Wilderness to clarify certain provisions of law regarding 
activities authorized within the wilderness area, amended (H. Rept. 
105-500);
  H. Res. 413, providing for consideration of S. 1502, entitled the 
``District of Columbia Student Opportunity Scholarship Act of 1997'' 
(H. Rept. 105-501);
  H. Res. 414, waiving a requirement of clause 4(b) of rule XI with 
respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the 
Committee on Rules (H. Rept. 105-502); and
  H.R. 860, authorize appropriations to the Department of 
Transportation for surface transportation research and development, 
amended (H. Rept. 105-503 Part 1).                       
Pages H2604-05
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
designated Representative Blunt to act as Speaker pro tempore for 
today.                                                       
  Page H2441
Prohibition of Federal Funding for Needle Exchange Programs: The House 
passed H.R. 3717 to prohibit the expenditure of Federal funds for the 
distribution of needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of 
illegal drugs by a recorded vote of 287 ayes to 140 noes, Roll No. 114.
                                                         Pages H2453-78
  Rejected the Pelosi motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Commerce with instructions to report it back to the House with an 
amendment that sought to allow the use of Federal funds for the 
distribution of needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of 
illegal drugs when a Governor, state health officer, or local municipal 
health authority determines that such a program would reduce the rate 
of transmission of HIV, not encourage use of illegal drugs, and is 
acceptable to the affected community by a recorded vote of 149 ayes to 
277 noes, Roll No. 113.                                  
Pages H2475-77
  The House agreed to H. Res. 409, the rule that provided for 
consideration of the bill by a voice vote.               
Pages H2445-53
National Dialogue on Social Security Act: The House passed H.R. 3546 to 
provide for a national dialogue on Social Security and to establish the 
Bipartisan Panel to Design Long-Range Social Security Reform by a yea 
and nay vote of 413 yeas to 8 nays, Roll No. 116.     
  Pages H2487-H2510
  Rejected the Pomeroy motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Ways and Means with instructions to report it back forthwith with an 
amendment that adds a new section that specifies that the unified 
budget surplus should be reserved until Congress has taken action to 
save social security and the Bipartisan Panel to Design Long-Range

[[Page D427]]

Social Security Reform has reported its recommendations by a yea and 
nay vote of 197 yeas to 223 nays, Roll No. 115.          
Pages H2507-09
  H. Res. 410, the rule that provided for consideration of the bill was 
agreed to by a voice vote.                               
Pages H2478-87
Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Torres wherein 
he resigned from the Committee on Banking and Financial Services. 
                                                             Page H2510
Committee Election: The House agreed to H. Res. 412, electing 
Representative Lee to the Committee on Banking and Financial Services 
and the Committee on Science.                                
  Page H2510
Higher Education Amendments of 1998: The House completed general debate 
and began consideration of amendments to H.R. 6 to extend the 
authorization of programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965. 
Consideration of amendments will resume on Thursday, April 30. 
                                                         Pages H2515-94
Agreed to:
  The Goodling amendment that modifies the Teacher Quality Enhancement 
Grants to enhance partnerships and recruit teachers to schools in need 
of quality teachers; provides grants to combat violent crimes against 
women on campuses; modifies the development of the Free Application for 
Federal Student Aid to assist States in awarding financial assistance; 
caps the interest rates for consolidation loans made on or after 
October 1, 1998 at a maximum rate of 8.25 per cent; and establishes 
application requirements for institutions that wish to offer expanded 
distance education programs;                             
Pages H2527-32
  The Sanders amendment that encourages cost savings initiatives 
between institutions through joint purchases and shared use of 
facilities and faculty resources;                            
Page H2541
  The Farr amendment, as modified, that specifies the improvement of 
the academic knowledge of math, science, English, foreign languages, 
history, economics, art, civics, government, and geography teachers; 
                                                             Page H2541
  The Edwards amendment, as modified, that allows for advanced 
managerial skills training for school principals and superintendents; 
                                                         Pages H2545-46
  The Miller of California amendment that establishes accountability 
for institutions that prepare teachers; and evaluates, coordinates, and 
disseminates teacher licensing and credentialing assessments; 
                                                         Pages H2546-48
  The Kelly amendment, as modified, that establishes a memorial 
scholarship program for the families of public safety officers who have 
died in the line of duty;                                
Pages H2571-73
  The Allen amendment, as modified, that establishes the financial 
responsibility for institutions that fail to refund unearned 
institutional charges;                                   
Pages H2573-74
  The Lazio amendment that establishes student loan forgiveness for 
child care providers;                                    
Pages H2574-77
  The Jackson-Lee amendment, as modified, that authorizes the Secretary 
to assist distressed institutions;                       
Pages H2577-78
  The Jackson-Lee amendment that directs a study on student loan 
defaults;                                                
Pages H2578-79
  The Souder amendment that restricts the eligibility for students 
suspended for drug related offenses;                     
Pages H2579-80
  The Clayton amendment that requires institutions to distribute mail 
voter registration application forms to each student during 
registration;                                                
Page H2580
  The Andrews amendment that requires a lender to inform borrowers of 
the availability of the income-sensitive repayment option; 
                                                         Pages H2580-81
  The Andrews amendment that establishes lender of last resort 
authority and procedure for the Secretary;               
Pages H2581-82
  The Gordon amendment that changes the special allowance formula from 
91-day Treasury bills to the average 3-month commercial paper rate in 
effect;                                                  
Pages H2584-85
  The McKeon amendment that delays the repayment for students ordered 
to active duty in a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United 
States;                                                      
Page H2585
  The Klink amendment, as modified, that requires proof that reasonable 
attempts were made to locate the borrower with respect to loan 
defaults;                                                    
Page H2586
  The Clay amendment that defines a Hispanic serving institution as one 
that provides a 4-year baccalaureate program, is regionally accredited, 
and serves at least 1,500 Hispanic students; and             
Page H2590
  The Kildee amendment that includes professional graduate degrees in 
translation and interpretation in the Business and International 
Education programs.                                          
Page H2594
Votes Postponed:
  The Paul amendment was offered that seeks to prohibit the use of 
social security numbers as the electronic personal identifier for 
students receiving assistance;                           
Pages H2538-39
  The Owens amendment that seeks to establish a postsecondary 
information technology recruitment program;              
Pages H2541-45
  The Roemer amendment that seeks to increase the annual loan limit for 
unsubsidized Stafford loans;                             
Pages H2570-71

[[Page D428]]


  The McGovern amendment that seeks to establish a program to increase 
the Pell grant awards;                                   
Pages H2582-84
Withdrawn:
  The Petri amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that 
sought to apply the use of auctions to allocate the authority to make 
loans among eligible lenders for any academic year;      
Pages H2568-70
  The Jackson-Lee amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that 
sought to obtain relief for Texas Southern University from certain 
obligations:                                                 
Page H2579
  The Andrews amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that 
sought to establish the Income Contingent Repayment Option; 
                                                         Pages H2585-86
  The Klink amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that 
sought to change procedures for institutions to regain eligibility; 
                                                         Pages H2586-87
  The Andrews amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that 
sought to reduce allowances to lenders from 2.8 percent to 2.3 percent;
                                                         Pages H2587-88
  The Andrews amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that 
sought to establish consolidation loans based upon the bond equivalent 
rate of 91-day Treasury bills plus 2.3 percent, not to exceed 8.25 
percent;                                                     
Page H2588
  H. Res. 411, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was 
agreed to by a voice vote.                               
Pages H2510-15
Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
pages H2606-10.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H2477, H2477-78, H2508-09, and H2509-10. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: Met at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at midnight.