[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 75 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4531-H4538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONDEMNING THE BRUTAL KILLING OF MR. JAMES BYRD, JR.

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of House 
Resolution 466, condemning the brutal killing of Mr. James Byrd, Jr., 
and ask for its immediate consideration in the House; that debate on 
the resolution continue not to exceed 20 minutes, equally divided and 
controlled by the gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) and myself; 
and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the 
resolution to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for a 
division of the question.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters)?
  There was no objection.
  The text of House Resolution 466 is as follows:

                              H. Res. 466

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       The House of Representatives finds as follows:
       (1) Mr. James Byrd, Jr., a 49-year-old disabled African 
     American male from Jasper County, East Texas, was last seen 
     walking home from a niece's bridal shower on June 6, 1998, 
     and allegedly was offered a ride by 3 young white men, who 
     then proceeded to physically and mercilessly beat Mr. Byrd in 
     Jasper, Texas, then chained him to the back of a pickup truck 
     and dragged him until the torso of his body was torn to 
     pieces.
       (2) Mr. James Byrd, Jr.'s body was found Sunday, June 7, 
     1998, on a bumpy, winding country road about 10 miles from 
     his Jasper home, at the end of a trail of blood along a 2-
     mile stretch of road with his head, neck, and right arm 
     severed.
       (3) Mr. Byrd was so brutally disfigured that his head and 
     torso were completely severed, with his head, neck, and right 
     arm found about a mile away, and only finger prints could be 
     used to identify him.
       (4) Mr. Lawrence Russell Brewer, 31, of Sulphur Springs, 
     Texas and Mr. Shawn Allen Berry, 23, and Mr. John William 
     King, 23, of Jasper, Texas, all of whom have past criminal 
     records and have served time in prison or were on probation, 
     have been charged with murder and are being held without 
     bail.
       (5) The police released an affidavit of probable cause in 
     which Mr. Berry said they had been out drinking and picked up 
     Mr. Byrd as he walked down Martin Luther King Drive in Jasper 
     early Sunday.
       (6) Mr. Berry said that he stopped at a convenience store, 
     but Mr. King was angry that he was giving a ride to a black 
     man, so he took over at the steering wheel and drove to a 
     remote area 7 miles outside of town, where they killed Mr. 
     Byrd.
       (7) The 3 men were known to be members of various hate 
     groups, including the Ku Klux Klan and the Aryan Brotherhood.
       (8) This was not a random act of violence, but a senseless, 
     hate-filled crime.
       (9) The Federal Bureau of Investigation also is 
     investigating to see if the 3 could be charged with violating 
     Mr. Byrd's Federal civil rights.
       (10) One of the suspects allegedly said that they wanted to 
     ``start the Turner Diaries early,'' referring to a novel 
     about race war that is popular reading among some hate groups 
     and white supremacists.
       (11) This incident is reminiscent of the brutal slayings 
     that occurred at the turn of the century and in the 1920s and 
     1930s, with brutal hangings which brought the National 
     Association for the Advancement of Colored People into 
     existence and contributed to its growth in its early days.

[[Page H4532]]

       (12) This and similar incidents threaten the peaceful 
     coexistence, security, and foundation of all communities.

     SEC. 2. CONDEMNING THE KILLING OF JAMES BYRD, JR.

       The House of Representatives--
       (1) condemns the actions which occurred in Jasper, Texas as 
     unacceptable and outrageous, to be condemned by all people of 
     all races, creeds, and religions;
       (2) pledges to do everything in its power, including 
     holding public hearings, to probe the underlying causes of 
     this brutal killing and to make sure that the United States 
     does not return to the days when such hatred, brutality, 
     violence, hangings, and murder were deemed acceptable;
       (3) calls on the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 
     Department of Justice, the White House, and all other Federal 
     law enforcement agencies to conduct an immediate, full, and 
     fair investigation into all of the facts of the case to 
     aggressively respond to this tragedy with indictments, and 
     urges the prosecution proceed aggressively with a fair but 
     speedy trial;
       (4) calls upon each Member of Congress and every citizen of 
     the United States, in his or her own way, through his or her 
     church, synagogue, mosque, workplace, or social organization, 
     to join in denouncing and getting others to denounce this 
     outrageous murder of another human being; and
       (5) pledges to join in efforts to bring an end to racism 
     and an end to the fear and hatred which underlie it, and to 
     encourage all Americans to dedicate themselves to ending 
     racism and violence in the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the unanimous consent request, 
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) will be recognized for 10 
minutes and the gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) will be 
recognized for 10 minutes.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman 
from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) and I be permitted to add the names of any 
Members desiring to be original cosponsors by the end of business 
today.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the following 
Members be considered as original cosponsors of the resolution: Messrs. 
Gingrich, Armey, Hastert, Boehner, Linder, Watts of Oklahoma, Gephardt, 
Bonior and Fazio of California, Ms. Dunn, Ms. Pryce of Ohio and Mrs. 
Kennelly.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Kentucky?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) 
is recognized for 10 minutes.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, today the Congressional Black Caucus members and our 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle join with many other citizens of 
this country in sending our heartfelt condolences to the family of 
James Byrd, Jr. We, too, are pained by this senseless and racist 
killing. We are outraged that three young white men with ties to white 
supremacist hate groups apparently believed that Mr. Byrd's life had no 
value, simply because he was black.
  These men, who allegedly offered Mr. Byrd a ride home, beat him, 
chained him to the back of a pickup truck and dragged him until his 
body was torn to pieces. Mr. Byrd's head, arm and neck were severed and 
strewn along a two mile stretch of country road about 10 miles from his 
home in Jasper, Texas.
  This is a hate crime, pure and simple, that is what it is, and it 
should be charged as one.
  Each and every Member of this body should join the Congressional 
Black Caucus on this House resolution to condemn the murder as 
unacceptable and outrageous and to pledge to do everything in his or 
her power to probe the underlying causes of this brutal killing, to 
make sure that the United States does not return to the days when such 
hatred, brutality, violence, hangings and murder are deemed acceptable.
  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also welcome this opportunity, however it is a very, 
very sad time for this country in light of the very brutal slaying of 
James Byrd. It is important and it is appropriate that this House pass 
this resolution and state emphatically how important it is that we 
resolve the racial separation that exists in this country today.
  Officially we have to protect everybody's civil rights, and we know 
that this resolution requests that we do that. But, far beyond the 
legal responsibilities of protecting civil rights, we have to put the 
prestige and the leadership of this Congress forward and say that it 
collectively represents our personal sense of outrage.

                              {time}  1645

  This goes way beyond our outrage at the violation of Mr. Byrd's legal 
civil rights. Racial hatred is wrong. It is wrong in actions, it is 
wrong in the mind, and it is wrong in the heart.
  While the legal system will attack the actions, we have to, through 
our message, say that racial hate is wrong in our heart and in our 
mind. Every one of us and every American has to say in every way they 
can I love you, I accept you, and I want to reach out to you.
  We in this country of every race and especially to those that are 
most vulnerable and in the minority have to say every way possible that 
we want to share our lives, we want to share our neighborhoods, we want 
to share our schools, we want to share our families.
  In every way possible, we have to reach across whatever divides us. 
This means every American. This means every neighborhood. This means 
every economic group. In the end, this country will rise or fall as 
one. We will be part of the same community, the same neighborhood, and 
the same great country.
  I believe in this country, Mr. Speaker. I believe in my friends on 
this floor. I believe in our communities. I believe if we all use this 
occasion to reach down as deep as possible and find as many ways as 
possible to reach across the divisions we share and resolve to close 
those gaps, to open those discussions, and to unite our hearts and 
minds, that we will make a difference, and that James Byrd's very 
brutal and outrageous killing will not be in vain.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Conyers).
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, we are indebted to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters) and the gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs. 
Northup) for bringing us together on this resolution. I join it.
  I also would like to mention that, out of a discussion with the 
chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Hyde), there is an agreement that we will hold hearings very 
shortly on the measure, House Resolution 3081, which would make this a 
Federal criminal offense.
  Ironically, these kinds of civil rights violations are not violations 
unless they occurred on Federal property or unless they are connected 
to voter rights or civil rights activity. So it is with pleasure that, 
out of this tragedy, it can bring us forward and move us, move us 
forward, because every hate crime is an offense against the most basic 
values of the American system.
  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time is remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). The gentlewoman from 
Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) has 7 minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters) has 7\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde).
  (Mr. HYDE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, words are very inadequate to encompass the 
dimensions of this tragic event. Everybody is shocked by it. It is a 
tragedy of immense proportions. It is right that the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters) and her colleagues bring this resolution to the 
floor. Attention has to be paid to these acts of inhumanity.
  It is my strong feeling that the problems of racism will never be 
solved without a spiritual component until people realize we do share a 
common humanity. We are made in the image and likeness of our creator, 
and we are, indeed, brothers and sisters in the most profound way, not 
in the superficial way.
  These events have to shock the conscience of the country. When they 
stop shocking us, then we have lost some sensitivity and some of our 
humanity. So let us not forget that these things

[[Page H4533]]

happen. They happen today. They happen in our country. Let us not look 
away. Let us not avert our eyes. Let us focus, let us try to find out 
what crazy, irrational impulses cause this. Let us try to root them 
out. Let us, again, take a renewed look at each other and try to find 
the things that we share in common and remember we are children of God.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this week, we have 
been revisited by an ugly period in the life of our country. We know 
that we have had this in the past, and most of us thought it was a 
thing of the past. I know that it can happen. It happened in Jasper.
  My sympathy goes out to the families, to that community, to my 
colleague who has stood up and been on target with the family and his 
district. It is clear that we cannot allow this kind of incident to go 
unnoticed. It is time for us to talk about it, educate each other, to 
alert all of America that this kind of act will not be accepted in this 
country.
  It is clear that this community should not be singled out as a 
community that perpetuates this kind of attitude. This is not that kind 
of community. But it is an alertness to this entire Nation that the 
time is here, that we must address this type of dastardly act.
  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. McInnis).
  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman from Kentucky 
yielding me this time. I can tell you obviously this is tragic. It 
shocked everybody that has heard about it. I am not one of those kind 
of people that have a lot of forgiveness in my heart. I cannot forgive 
them. I tell you, in my opinion, this is an example of death. That is 
why I support the death penalty. This is inexcusable what those people 
did.
  But I also want to point out to our colleagues this is horrible, it 
has got to stop, but it is not the only thing that has occurred in this 
last week. In Albuquerque, New Mexico last week, a couple days before 
this, did not get this kind of attention, we had a policewoman shot and 
killed. We had a border patrolman shot and killed last week in the 
State of Texas.
  In my district, I am in the Four Corners, so actually within a mile 
or two of my district as well, we had methodically, in four separate 
incidents, two people, three people, one of them is now dead, shoot 
methodically four separate police officers. They are still on the 
loose.
  The fact is we have some very, and I hate to use the word ``sick'', 
because I am afraid the defense attorney will pick up my utilization of 
the word ``sick'' on the congressional floor and have it assist in the 
defense of insanity or something, but we have some very different 
individuals out there.
  In my opinion, the way to stop this, we can have lots of hearings, 
but until we have punishment that really means something in this 
country, we are not going to stop these kind of outrageous crimes.
  I commend the gentlewoman from California for standing up and 
bringing this resolution forward. Obviously the merits are very 
substantial. I pass my sympathies on to the family.
  But I do want to say to all of my colleagues this is not an isolated 
incident. We do have problems with race out there we have also got to 
overcome. We also have other problems out there with crime, like 
shooting cops and some of the other shooting incidents. We need to 
stand up and stop talking about all this forgiveness and punish these 
people for what they are doing. That will stop them.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), our minority leader.
  (Mr. GEPHARDT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues to condemn this 
senseless, horrible, dastardly act of violence based on racial hatred. 
I personally want to extend the prayers and thoughts of all of us and 
our families to the family of James Byrd. They are in our hearts, in 
our prayers, in our minds at this time of overwhelming sadness and 
sorrow.
  This death brings to mind the worst chapter in our Nation's history, 
when violent racial intolerance was practiced regularly in our land.
  While it is the Byrd family that will bear the greatest burden in 
this tragedy, every one of us in America, every person is diminished by 
this act of violence.
  I would simply ask our entire Nation that we all reach out and 
embrace this family as part of our American family and somehow help 
them heal the wounds that have been opened by this act of violence. I 
hope that some way we can work together so that this will not happen 
again to someone else in Texas or in Missouri or some other State in 
our union.
  This is a shameful act. It is a dastardly act. It must not happen 
again. I thought, and I believe you thought, that we had ended this 
era. It has not ended. It must end. It must end.
  Our prayers and thoughts, our belief, our compassion is with the 
family of James Byrd.
  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the 
chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus for her leadership, and I 
thank the gentlewoman from Kentucky for her kindness in yielding me 
this time.
  I think we are well aware that each Member who has come to the floor 
has not been in a shrieking voice. We have been in a strong voice. We 
have been demanding, but we have not been shrieking.
  The reason is because what has happened to Mr. Byrd and his family is 
so very overwhelming that it takes almost a calmness to appreciate it 
and understand it.
  This was a physically challenged individual, someone who was leaving 
a celebration by the family, walking home in a quiet, rural area of 
Texas; and, tragically, people like Lawrence Brewer and Shawn Berry and 
John King thought that they would have some fun and disregard his human 
dignity and drag him through the streets of Jasper, Texas, not 
reflecting upon those citizens, as my colleague and representative of 
that area has already said and will say, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Turner), but yet bringing to that community something that they will 
never, never forget.
  A question was asked earlier today: What do you think about this 
happening in Texas? I simply said that Texas is not a poster child for 
hatred. This happens all over the Nation. That is why it is so very 
important that this resolution be confirmed, if you will, affirmed by 
the entire body of the United States Congress.
  I would ask the Attorney General to establish a task force that is 
ongoing on investigating hate crimes across this Nation on why these 
kinds of incidences continuously occur.
  Lastly, I would ask, as was asked in this particular resolution, 
that, as we go to our respective houses of worship this weekend 
wherever we may be, we should denounce what happened, but we should 
also pray. We should also ask that this cancer be removed from the soul 
of America. We can not go into the 21st Century if we are to take this 
cancer with us.
  My sympathy to the family of Mr. Byrd. We should vote for this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give my full heart felt support for this 
powerful resolution from the members of the Congressional Black Caucus 
and the Texas Delegation as we all stand united in our horror as the 
gruesome reports about the brutal slaying of Mr. James Byrd in Jasper, 
Texas this weekend, have been diligently uncovered. I surely do not 
intend to sound callous, but as we all know, people in this country die 
every day. Some people die peacefully, some painfully, some die 
quickly, while others die patiently, but I can say without any 
reservation, that only a handful of people to have ever lived, died as 
savagely as James Byrd, Jr. did on a muggy Saturday night in Jasper, 
Texas this weekend.
  Mr. Byrd, a physically challenged African-American man of 49 years 
old was discovered by his three Caucasian murderers because he was 
minding his own business; I guess they felt outdone because he dared to 
walk home in their presence after leaving the celebration

[[Page H4534]]

of his niece's bridal shower. Little did James know that this would be 
the last walk he would ever take in his life. These three savage 
butchers, Mr. Lawrence Brewer, Mr. Shawn Berry, and Mr. John King, took 
it upon themselves to mercilessly and relentlessly beat James Byrd 
until he reached the door of death, but somehow, even as they proudly 
stood over his convulsing carcass, their unquenchable blood lust was 
still not satisfied. So after taking a brief moment to decide what 
other pleasures they could derive from torturing James Byrd's shivering 
body, his murderers decided to take him on a ``ride''.
  After making sure to thoroughly finish their vicious beating of a 
defenseless man, these three social and moral deviants proceeded to 
chain James Byrd's bloody and broken body to the back of their pick-up 
truck, and just drive away. For two miles, 3,500 yards, 11,000 feet, 
James Byrd's body was ripped and battered against the hard terrain of 
that East Texas country road, for two miles, for two miles, for two 
miles. The ``ride'' was so remarkably brutal that not only was James 
Byrd's body disfigured beyond recognition when found, but different 
parts of his body, like his head and arm, were found littered in a 
trail of blood stretching two miles long.
  My first request is that the President of the United States order the 
Attorney General, Janet Reno, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, Louis Freeh, to take swift and decisive action in this 
matter. The President, as a man I know to be genuinely concerned about 
the state of race relations in America today, has found a sad and 
disheartening answer to his nationwide inquiries about race in the 
broken, bloody and disfigured body of James Byrd. Mr. President, let's 
not allow James Byrd to have suffered and died in vain.
  Secondly, I hope that those of my colleagues who can legitimately 
appreciate the brutality of this inhumane act will not casually 
discount this slaying as an uncharacteristic, once-in-a-lifetime 
manifestation of bitter racial hatred. Hopefully, they will see it for 
what it is, merely the tip of the iceberg. Much like the scorching lava 
that steadily boils from under the surface of the earth, so do the 
fires of racial prejudice and hatred burn in the hearts of thousands 
upon thousands of racially insensitive men and women in this country. 
Some of them may not have the courage to beat a man and drag his dying 
body from the back of their speeding car, but nevertheless, they still 
find the courage to hate in their own special way.
  Hate. It is always there, boiling just under the surface of where the 
eye can see, always ready to explode. But every now and then, even 
though America seems to have changed, a volcanic eruption of hatred and 
prejudice spews forth, and an innocent man like James Byrd is engulfed 
in the tragedy of its consuming liquid fire. I promise you, the name of 
James Byrd, Jr. will not be soon forgotten in the Chamber of this 
House, or in any arena within the supervision and oversight of this 
body. Racism is the one disease that all of the brilliant minds to have 
passed through this world have not been able to find a cure for.
  The famed sociologist W.E.B. DuBois said that the color line was the 
great dilemma of the 20th century, as historian and Presidential Race 
Initiative Chairman John Hope Franklin has predicted that it will 
continue to be so on into the 21st century. Frankly, I stand in awe of 
the endurance of color line, and eventually, before more innocent 
people have to suffer and die, someone will have to muster courage to 
erase it, once and for all. Thank you, I urge the entire House to fully 
support this unfortunate, but sorely needed resolution.

                              {time}  1700

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution 
and in deep dismay of the action.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. The heinous 
crime that we unanimously condemn today is a reminder that racism 
continues to be far too prevalent in our society. The brutal death of 
James Byrd, Jr. at the hands of ignorant, racist men should serve as a 
wake up call to every American and signify that there is still work to 
be done to promote and protect racial tolerance in our Nation.
  It is unfortunate that we, as a Nation, have yet to appreciate the 
diversity of our country. How shameful that we have not reached a 
united point of tolerance and respect for our neighbors, judging them 
not by their race, color or nationality, rather, by the quality of 
their character, morals, and contributions to society. The children of 
this Nation should not be the unwitting witnesses to those who continue 
to foment racial hatred and violence, and they should be given the 
opportunity to extinguish the blemished record of racial intolerance 
that mar this century and the ones before it and start anew in the next 
millennium.
  There is no explanation for the loss of life that was a result of 
racism and hatred and I condemn this act of cowardice. I join my 
colleagues and extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. 
Byrd and the people of Jasper, Texas.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Bonior), the minority whip.
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to fathom how people could 
be so hateful, so completely cruel, and so utterly evil as to drag a 
man behind a pick-up truck until he was dead. This hate crime is a 
terrible reminder that racial hatred still infects this land, and it 
leaves us all feeling a sense of outrage and a sense of deep grief.
  Ironically, for me, the night before I had just finished reading the 
beautiful book by John Lewis on his courageous struggle, his memoire of 
the civil rights movement, Walking with the Wind, in which he documents 
and talks about the courageous struggle by him and others to fight the 
ugliness of racism in America.
  My colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Maxine Waters) has 
offered a resolution condemning this heinous crime, calling for a swift 
prosecution, and urging all Americans to raise their voice in 
condemnation of this atrocity.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I also offer my 
deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Byrd.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Turner), whose district this incident occurred in.
  (Mr. TURNER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, James Byrd, Junior, was a constituent of 
mine. His brutal death has shocked the conscience and saddened the 
hearts of all of us. The people of Jasper, Texas, black and white, have 
joined in denouncing this tragic hate crime.
  Local law enforcement officials have called upon the Justice 
Department to assist in fully prosecuting the perpetrators, and are 
committed to seeking the maximum punishment authorized by State and 
Federal law, including the death penalty.
  I have personally urged the United States attorney to prosecute with 
the full force of Federal civil rights laws. For all of us who believe 
that racial prejudice and hatred have no place in American society, 
this tragic event is a reminder that much is left to be done, that no 
American is safe until every American treats his neighbor with dignity, 
regardless of the color of his skin.
  Let us today renew our commitment to root out the vestiges of racial 
prejudice, that the tragic death of James Byrd be not in vain. I urge 
Members' support for this resolution for the Byrd family, for the 
people of Jasper, and for the American people.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Jesse Jackson, Jr.)
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, let me first begin by 
associating myself with the remarks of all the speakers who have 
preceded.
  I want, for the 50 seconds or so that I have left, to address my 
remarks to the people of Jasper. They are hearing today the outrage of 
people across the United States, through their elected representatives, 
of what has occurred in their part of the country.
  But they alone in Jasper share the burden and responsibility, the 
pain of rebuilding the spirit and the soul of their community. It is 
now their obligation to move beyond black and white, rebuilding the 
hopes of every child in Jasper whose self-esteem will be questioned by 
the entire country because of the acts of just a few.
  So our colleagues today have come across the lines, Democrat and 
Republican, across lines of black and white, of liberal and 
conservative, to let you know that we are with you. We pray for you and 
the Byrd family during this very difficult time. Justice, we hope, is 
swift. We hope it is accurate. There was a time when laws did not 
protect people who were dragged across our streets, but we have laws on 
the books now that can make the difference.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to continue for 5 
minutes to accommodate those who have been waiting, and I think there 
is an agreement from the other side to do that.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). So that the Chair is

[[Page H4535]]

clear, is the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) making a 
unanimous consent request that 5 minutes be added to each side?
  Ms. WATERS. Yes, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The majority and minority side will each 
have 5 additional minutes.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Elija Cummings).
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution to 
condemn the brutal murder of James Byrd in Jasper, Texas. This cruel 
and evil act is a shocking reminder to all Americans, regardless of 
race, that the threat of racial violence is alive and well in this 
country.
  James Byrd was a 49-year-old father of three children. He was 
attacked by men who have espoused white supremacist motives for the 
killing. This man accepted a ride and lost his life. He was dragged 
behind a pick-up truck for nearly 3 miles. His head and arms were torn 
from his body. Lynching in 1998 in any part of this country is totally 
unacceptable.
  Many may view this as an isolated incident. I am afraid to tell the 
Members, it is not. Similar acts have been committed in the State of 
Virginia and my home State of Maryland within the past 12 months. I 
call for a united, strong, and clear message from this body that this 
type of hateful and sick behavior will be dealt a swift and just blow.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Indiana (Ms. Julia Carson).
  Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I will be very quick, because we have heard very 
eloquent and profound statements in support of the resolution. I, too, 
obviously, rise in support of the resolution.
  Let me paraphrase, if you will, a commentary that appeared in the San 
Antonio press. It said, ``The monster of racism is born in fear, it is 
fathered by hate, and mothered by ignorance. Byrd's murder is a 
reminder that, left unchallenged, the monster grows stronger, always 
ready to strike.''
  It is important to note, I believe, that the last street on which 
James Byrd walked before he was murdered was named Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Junior. Dr. Martin Luther King, as we all know, stood for 
nonviolence, and the fact that Mr. Byrd has met an untimely fate in the 
manner that he has drives us to renew our support of Dr. Martin Luther 
King's movement on nonviolence. Indeed, Jasper, Texas, does not have a 
monopoly on incidents of this kind. They occur too often across 
America. I encourage Members' support of this resolution.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Mrs. Carrie Meek).
  (Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank my 
chairman, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Maxine Waters) and my 
friend on the Committee on Appropriations on the Republican side for 
having the insight to bring this tragedy to the attention of America, 
and to help America understand that until we reach across both sides of 
these aisles, until we join hands, until we forget about race, color, 
or creed, we will not be able to solve the kinds of problems that 
caused the murder and killing of James Byrd.
  It takes me back to the time when this happened in America very, very 
often. I want to plead to my colleagues and to America, do not let this 
happen again. Let us not turn back the clock. Let there not be any more 
James Byrds. Let us be sure that the ugly head of racism does not begin 
to raise its head again.
  The only way we can keep it from raising its head is to be sure there 
is no one who is perpetuating this sense of racism or alienation.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia (Ms. Eleanor Holmes Norton).
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Congressional 
Black Caucus for her leadership on this matter, and the gentlewoman 
from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) for managing this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the end, not the beginning of the century, but 
this crime is a throwback to the sorriest period of American history, 
and reminds us that that history is not all done yet. Those who 
deprecated the President's race commission, take notice. Race is more 
complicated today.
  This, however, is real simple. This is the worst of American racism, 
this is racist terrorism. I commend the local sheriff who made the 
arrests. I ask that the Federal officials remain involved until justice 
is done.
  At the same time, I remind this body that if these were black men, we 
would be rushing them to the death penalty now, and as a principled 
opponent of the death penalty, I stand here to ask that these men not 
be executed. This country does not need to execute black men and it 
does not need to execute white men. I part company with those blacks in 
Texas that have called for execution. I ask that these men get life 
without parole.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and echo the sentiments of all my colleagues who have 
spoken.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost).
  (Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, 
and to underscore that this act is condemned by people of all races in 
this country, black, white, and brown.
  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I think it is important that we remember 
that when one black man is brutalized, every other person of race feels 
a greater sense of unease, and rightfully so. The effects of what 
happened in Texas will live long beyond one person. It would be 
impossible to measure the sense of dis-ease, dis-ease, that black 
Americans all across this country feel as a result of this act. Because 
of that, it is important that we register our outrage and our agony.
  I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) for her 
resolution, for giving Congress and for giving this body the collective 
opportunity to share our outrage. Many white Americans wish that they 
had the opportunity to share their sympathy and their sorrow over what 
happened.
  So on behalf of them, I wish to thank the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Waters) and the Black Caucus for this opportunity, and to share 
with the Members the sympathy that so many Americans feel all across 
this country, and our commitment to a better America, where this will 
not happen in the future.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Miller).
  (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
this resolution, and join our colleagues on the Congressional Black 
Caucus and our other colleagues in expressing our sorrow and our anger 
and our sympathy for the family of this very unfortunate victim.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Furse).
  (Ms. FURSE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and to 
decry with the greatest of outrage the violence and the cowardice, the 
cowardice, of this act. I stand in support of my colleagues on this 
resolution.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand here today proud of my colleagues. I would like 
to thank the gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) for joining with 
me and others as principal cosponsors on this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, we are very tired. We are very pained, and we wish that 
this

[[Page H4536]]

nightmare would stop and it would go away. Unfortunately, we are 
perhaps saddled with the responsibility of fighting against racism and 
discrimination and marginalization, and all of those evils that we find 
ourselves confronted with.

                              {time}  1715

  And while I am disgusted and I am tired and I am pained, I will not 
go away. The members of the Congressional Black Caucus will not go 
away. And Members who want to live in this Nation in peace and harmony 
will not go away.
  So to those who would dare think they can frighten us, they can scare 
us, they can cause us to want to resign ourselves to the fact that 
there will be violence, let me just say that is not going to be the 
case. We will never resign ourselves to that inevitability.
  We will fight, we will work, we will provide leadership, we will do 
everything that is possible to make this Nation what it could be and 
what it should be.
  Mr. Speaker, we end this week of work with these little cards that we 
spread out throughout the United States, and it is just the 
Congressional Black Caucus 10-Point Alert, and it gives 10 points about 
what to do to avoid violence and confrontation, no matter how much 
racism may be any place, any time, anywhere.
  I stand here as a Member of Congress, a Member of the Congressional 
Black Caucus, knowing that when I leave here with many of the Members 
of this caucus that we go to our districts, we go to other places 
around this country, we do not know what we will encounter. We are 
proud black Americans who intend to make America everything that we 
ever dreamed it could be.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to join my CBC colleagues, and so 
many others, in support of this bi-partisan resolution condemning the 
outrageously brutal slaying of Mr. James Byrd, Jr. on June 6, 1998 in 
Jasper County, East Texas. I also want to send my heartfelt condolences 
to the family and friends of Mr. Byrd.
  I am gratified that this Congress has acted expeditiously to publicly 
express its collective outrage at this horrific incident. It is almost 
unfathomable that today, in 1998, we are still plagued by this kind of 
hatred. When I heard the details of this murder, my blood went cold, 
and chills went up my spine. The details are painful to hear, but it 
bears repeating so that we fully understand the severity of the 
problem.
  Mr. Byrd was walking home from his nice's bridal shower on June 6, 
1998. As he walked home three young white men offered him a ride home. 
They then drove to a remote area 7 miles outside of town where they 
mercilessly beat him and then proceeded to chain him to the back of a 
pickup truck and dragged him until the torso of his body was torn to 
pieces. His head, neck and right arm were severed and located a mile 
away from his body. Fingerprints were the only means possible to 
identify the body. Mr. Byrd was a son, a brother, a father. He was 
known as a friendly spirit. Unfortunately, it was this friendliness and 
belief in humanity that led to his ultimate demise. It is unfortunate 
for all of us that we need to be suspicious of the kindness of 
strangers for fear that they may in fact have ulterior motives.
  The three men charged with this heinous crime have past criminal 
records and have ties to white supremacist groups. It is easy to 
dismiss this act and its perpetrators as aberrations, so outside of the 
norm, that they do not warrant much of our attention. But it is exactly 
this complacency that has allowed this insidious hatred and violence to 
continue to reach into our communities and our young people. This is 
not an isolated incident. We have seen hate crimes around this country 
escalate. We cannot turn a blind eye any longer. We must act swiftly 
and quickly to end our complacency and condemn these acts.
  This action is clearly a hate crime and I expect that it will be 
charged as one. Justice should be swift but fair. I hope if the accused 
are found guilty that they are imprisoned for the remainder of their 
lives. I believe in the sanctity of life, even for those who do not 
value the lives of others.
  These incidents threaten the security and foundation of our 
communities and this very nation. We cannot return to the days when 
lynchings, and similar acts of brutality, such as this one, were 
acceptable. I feverently hope that this horrifying murder will spur all 
people of conscience to act within their own communities to ardently 
work to stem the tide of hate that invariably leads to these violent 
acts of brutality.
  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, it is always difficult for me 
to describe my thoughts when my feelings so overwhelm me. I would first 
like to extend my heartfelt sympathy and admiration to the Byrd family, 
their strength in the face of such sorrow is truly a testament to the 
power of the human character. Their pain most of us can only imagine. 
All Americans are affected by this tragedy.
  This lynching, this hate crime, this murder, is a throwback to days 
that remain an affront to our national dignity, to our American way of 
life, and we cannot tolerate such actions and still call ourselves 
Americans. It is a horrifying reminder that while we have made so much 
progress in our quest for civil equality and civil society, we still 
have so far to go.
  Mr. Speaker, I call on all of us to steal the power of this act, to 
twist this tragedy into something that we can use to fight the hatred 
that caused it, something that will instill fear in the hearts 
hatemongers everywhere . . . let us use this shared outrage, this 
shared anger to solidify our commitment to the pursuit of true civil 
equality, to real civil rights. And let us make the senseless death of 
James Byrd mean something . . . we must not let such actions continue 
in America.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my outrage at the vicious, 
cold-blooded murder of Mr. James Byrd, Jr. in Jasper, Texas. My 
heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family--his parents, Mr. and Mrs. 
James Byrd, Sr., his siblings, and his children, Renee, Ross and Jamie. 
They are in our thoughts and prayers during this time of such enormous 
pain and anguish. May they be comforted by the outpouring of support 
and concern from so many people throughout the nation.
  Mr. Speaker, sadly, this horrific incident did not occur in a vacuum. 
Atrocities such as this happen in part because of a national climate 
which is far too tolerant of racial hatred. Militia groups, skinheads, 
neo-nazis and other hate groups spread messages of hate and bigotry. 
Certain talk radio shows encourage racial division and mistrust. Even 
some police officers, who are sworn to be our protectors, have engaged 
in racist patterns of behavior by targeting African American motorists 
in what has been labeled ``racial profiling'' or Driving While Black. 
In my home state of New Jersey, four young black men were recently shot 
by two white state troopers after they were pulled over for allegedly 
speeding. This was just the latest of a string of similar incidents, 
many of them resulting in fatalities. It is time to say ``enough.'' It 
is time for all Americans to stand up and say that racially motivated 
violence is wrong and will not be tolerated in the most powerful 
democracy in the world.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I am a strong supporter of this resolution 
condemning the brutal murder of Mr. James Byrd, Jr. I was outraged when 
I heard about the vicious and hateful crime that took place in Jasper, 
Texas over the weekend. It sickens me to know that in this day and age, 
what amounted to a lynching can still take place in America. There can 
be no question that this crime happened because of the hardened 
criminal nature of the attackers, who made vile references to the 
killing of both blacks and Jews during the attack.
  One of the men has already confessed to being part of this senseless 
act of violence. All three of them should be tried and quickly 
convicted for this heinous crime. My sympathies go out to the family of 
the victim, Mr. Byrd, and I hope that the penalties are swift and 
severe for his killers.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, race violence reared its ugly head in the 
small Texas town of Jasper this past weekend, making it all too clear 
in our minds that racism is no phantom of a bygone era. A 49-year-old 
father of three children, James Byrd, Jr., appears to have been 
brutally murdered because his skin color is black. All of us must stand 
up, here in Congress at every street corner across America, and shout 
out this hatred from our midst.
  The murder was especially brutal. According to local authorities and 
media reports, the hate-motivated perpetrators tied Mr. Byrd by the 
ankles to the rear bumper of a pickup truck and then dragged him for at 
least a mile. When it was all over, only a decapitated and dismembered 
corpse, with clothes bunched up around the ankles, remained. It took 
fingerprint records to identify the body as that of Mr. Byrd.
  The alleged murderers appear to have significant ties to hate groups 
such as the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups. These 
organizations prey on the disaffected and convert their fears into 
venom. They preach of race wars against African-Americans, Jews and 
other minorities. Ultimately, they are at war with all of us.
  Even as we castigate those who committed this brutality, it is worth 
remembering the many good people of Jasper, people of different races 
and backgrounds who work and live together in peace. They too are 
victims, because this act of hatred has shattered their peace.
  We should all take this tragedy and give it meaning by committing 
ourselves to fight bigotry and senseless hatred, and to build even

[[Page H4537]]

stronger bonds of trust and understanding among all people. The San 
Antonio Express-News in its editorial stated that the ``monster of 
racism is born in fear, fathered by hate, and mothered by ignorance.'' 
We can and must challenge racism. Together, we can chain the beast.
  The full text of the editorial is reprinted below.

           [From the San Antonio Express-News, June 11, 1998]

                 Racism and Violence Exploded in Jasper

       Two of America's great obsessions--race and violence--
     intersected on a small-town Texas street last weekend.
       They collided in an act so barbaric as to transform James 
     Byrd Jr. into the Emmitt Till of his generation.
       In 1955, while visiting relatives in Mississippi, the 14-
     year-old Till became a symbol for racial violence when he was 
     beaten to death by two white men who then tied him to a 
     cotton fan and dumped him into a river.
       Forty-three years later, 49-year-old Byrd, a father of 
     three, was murdered because he was black. Not for acts he 
     did, words he spoke or for something valuable he possessed.
       That is what has transfixed the nation's horrified gaze on 
     the East Texas town of Jasper.
       At least two of the ignorant thugs accused of his murder 
     sport tattoos suggesting they are members of a white 
     supremacy group.
       When they looked at Byrd, they did not see a human being.
       So they beat him, tied him to a pickup truck and dragged 
     him for two miles until he was literally torn to pieces, his 
     body parts strewn along a country road.
       It's easy to condemn this murderous act and to denounce the 
     murderers. What's not so easy is to be vigilant against the 
     more subtle acts and attitudes of racism out of which such 
     violence grows.
       The racism exhibited by these men did not spring full-blown 
     from their hearts. As long as its seeds are planted and 
     nurtured, such atrocities will persist.
       The monster of racism is born in fear, fathered by hate, 
     and mothered by ignorance. Byrd's murder is a reminder that 
     lift unchallenged, the monster grows stronger, always ready 
     to strike.
       The last street on which James Byrd Jr. walked before he 
     was murdered is named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
       The distance between King's vision of a nonviolent nation 
     living in racial harmony remains greater than the two miles 
     of country road on which Byrd was dragged and murdered.
       Murdered because he was black.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I wish to associate myself with the remarks 
of the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ford) as well as of the other 
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus who so eloquently expressed 
themselves regarding the recent outrage in Texas.
  Our hearts and sympathies go to the family, friends, and loved ones 
of James Byrd, Jr., whose senseless, brutal death has shocked the soul 
of our nation. A two mile long trail of blood was left behind along the 
road upon which his body was dragged.
  While the horror of this tragedy cannot be minimized, it is a lesson 
to all Americans--a lesson that we have a long way to go before the 
diseases of prejudice and bigotry are finally stomped out. As long as 
one American believes that an atrocity such as this is appropriate, 
then no American can sleep soundly at night.
  We are hopeful that the perpetrators of this horrendous hate crime 
are quickly brought to justice, and that they serve as an example that 
we as a nation will not tolerate this kind of criminal behavior.
  The Rev. Jesse Jackson stated that the murder of James Byrd., Jr., is 
especially horrifying because it was ``arbitrary'' and thus, according 
to the Reverend, ``worse than a conspiracy.'' Rev. Jackson went on to 
state that: ``all of us must be concerned. It means none of us are 
safe.''
  Let us all in solidarity proclaim our indignation at this assault on 
human decency.
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of House 
Resolution 466 I rise to join my colleagues from Texas and across the 
nation in condemning the racially motivated murder of James Byrd, Jr., 
in Jasper, Texas.
  It isn't easy to find words strong enough to express my feelings and 
those of my fellow Texans about this act of evil. Revulsion, shock, 
outrage, and sadness are the first that come to mind.
  First and foremost, Mr. Speaker, justice must be swift and sure. We 
need to bring all federal, state, and local resources and laws to bear 
in investigating, prosecuting, and punishing those responsible. At the 
federal level, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department 
of Justice must investigate this incident as the racially motivated 
hate crime that it is. Our society must determine whether this was an 
isolated incident or whether the perpetrators were connected to or 
motivated by hate groups.
  Second, this murder is a wake-up call to all of us that such feelings 
of racial hatred unfortunately continue to exist in our nation today. 
It is difficult for most Americans to imagine how anyone could harbor 
such feelings, let alone understand how someone could act on them in 
such a sadistic manner. But this act is a reminder that we continue to 
need strong laws to protect the civil rights of all Americans and 
strong enforcement of these laws. This is racism at its most extreme, 
but we must remember that racism still exists in other settings as 
well--our workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. We must fight racism 
wherever it raises its ugly head.
  Third, this is a reminder to all Americans as individuals that we 
should not and must not tolerate hatred and discrimination based on 
personal characteristics. Government and laws can help, but we need a 
transformation of hearts and minds, and the best way to bring that 
about is through the example each of us sets, especially for our 
children. The people of Jasper and Texas, indeed people across the 
nation, have risen in condemnation of this awful act and in outreach to 
the family of James Byrd.
  But the search for common ground and understanding cannot end when 
the funerals and trials do. The best way to honor the memory of James 
Byrd is to have zero tolerance for discrimination and hate every day.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). All time for debate has 
expired.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the previous question is 
ordered.
  The question is on the resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Ms. WATERS. 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 397, 
nays 0, not voting 36, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 231]

                               YEAS--397

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Allen
     Andrews
     Archer
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baesler
     Baldacci
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barrett (NE)
     Barrett (WI)
     Bartlett
     Bass
     Bateman
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berry
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blagojevich
     Bliley
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonior
     Bono
     Borski
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (CA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Bryant
     Bunning
     Burr
     Burton
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Canady
     Cannon
     Capps
     Cardin
     Carson
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Chenoweth
     Christensen
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Coburn
     Collins
     Combest
     Condit
     Conyers
     Cook
     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
     Ensign
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Ewing
     Fattah
     Fawell
     Fazio
     Filner
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fossella
     Fowler
     Fox
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Furse
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gilman
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Granger
     Green
     Greenwood
     Gutknecht
     Hall (TX)
     Hamilton
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Herger
     Hill
     Hilleary
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Hooley
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hutchinson
     Hyde
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (WI)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Jones
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kelly
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kim
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klink
     Klug
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Lantos
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lazio
     Leach
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     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
     Meek (FL)
     Menendez
     Metcalf
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (CA)
     Miller (FL)
     Minge
     Mink
     Mollohan

[[Page H4538]]


     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Neumann
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pallone
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Payne
     Pease
     Pelosi
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pickett
     Pitts
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Poshard
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Redmond
     Regula
     Reyes
     Riley
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogan
     Rogers
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Rush
     Ryun
     Sabo
     Salmon
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sanford
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Scarborough
     Schaefer, Dan
     Schaffer, Bob
     Scott
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Sisisky
     Skaggs
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (OR)
     Smith (TX)
     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)
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Weygand
     White
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wynn
     Yates
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--36

     Baker
     Barr
     Barton
     Becerra
     Berman
     Callahan
     Cooksey
     Everett
     Farr
     Gejdenson
     Gillmor
     Gonzalez
     Gutierrez
     Hall (OH)
     Hefner
     Hilliard
     Houghton
     Inglis
     Johnson, Sam
     Kasich
     Kennedy (MA)
     Largent
     Lewis (GA)
     Meehan
     Meeks (NY)
     Moakley
     Murtha
     Parker
     Paxon
     Riggs
     Roukema
     Schumer
     Shaw
     Shays
     Smith, Adam
     Waxman

                              {time}  1735

  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.

                          ____________________