[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 29, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D860-D863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 11 public bills, H.R. 4342-4352; and 1 resolution, H. 
Res. 512, were introduced.
  Pages H6696-97
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.J. Res. 120, disapproving the extension of the waiver authority 
contained in section 402(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to 
Vietnam (H. Rept. 105-653);

[[Page D861]]


  H.R. 3482, to designate the Federal building located at 11000 
Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, as the ``Abraham Lincoln 
Federal Building'' (H. Rept. 105-654);
  H.R. 3598, to designate the Federal building located at 700 East San 
Antonio Street in El Paso, Texas, as the ``Richard C. White Federal 
Building'' (H. Rept. 105-655);
  S. 2032, to designate the Federal building in Juneau, Alaska, as the 
``Hurff A. Saunders Federal Building'', amended (H. Rept. 105-656);
  H.R. 3736, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make 
changes relating to H-B nonimmigrants, amended (H. Rept. 105-657);
  H. Res. 507, providing special investigative authority for the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce (H. Rept. 105-658); and
  Conference report on H.R. 1385, to consolidate, coordinate, and 
improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation 
programs in the United States (H. Rept. 105-659). 
                                                   Page H6604-94, H6696
Order of Proceedings: Agreed by unanimous consent that it be in order 
at any time on the legislative day of Thursday, July 30, 1998, to 
consider in the House the joint resolution, H.J. Res.120, disapproving 
the extension of the waiver authority contained in section 402(c) of 
the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to Vietnam; that the joint 
resolution be considered as read for amendment; that all points of 
order against the joint resolution and against its consideration be 
waived; and that the joint resolution be debatable for one hour equally 
divided and controlled.
  Page H6535
Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact: The House agreed to 
the conference report on H.R. 629, to grant the consent of the Congress 
to the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact by yea and 
nay vote of 305 yeas to 117 nays, Roll No. 344.
  Pages H6522-35
  H. Res. 511, the rule waiving points of order against the conference 
report was agreed to by yea and nay vote of 313 yeas to 108 nays, Roll 
No. 343.
                                                         Pages H6516-22
VA, HUD, Appropriations: The House passed H.R. 4194, making 
appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and 
Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, boards, 
commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1999 by a yea and nay vote of 259 yeas to 164 nays, Roll 
No. 352.
  Pages H6535-92
  Rejected the Obey motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Appropriations with instructions to report it back with an amendment 
that strikes language prohibiting rulemaking by the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission (CPSC) on chemical treatment of upholstery fabrics 
and strikes Section 425, adopted by the rule, that requires the CPSC to 
conduct a study on the toxicity of flame retardant chemicals and 
establish a Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel by a recorded vote of 164 
ayes to 261 noes, Roll No. 351.
                                                         Pages H6590-92
  On a demand for a separate vote, agreed to the Coburn amendment, 
numbered 33 and printed in the Congressional Record to, increase VA 
medical care funding by $304 million with the offset from FHA mortgage 
administrative expense funding by a recorded vote of 351 ayes to 73 
noes, Roll No. 350.
                                                         Pages H6589-90
                                                             Agreed To:
  The Obey amendment that reduces Veterans Health Administration 
medical equipment, land and structures object classifications funding 
by $69 million and increases medical care activities by the same 
amount;
                                                         Pages H6542-43
  The DeLauro amendment that prohibits funding by the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission to be used to develop and enforce the standard for 
the flammability of children's sleepware sizes 0 through 6x and 7 
through 14 (contained in regulations published at 16 CFR part 1615 and 
part 1616) as the standard was amended effective January 1, 1997; 
                                                         Pages H6543-46
  The Coburn amendment, numbered 33 and printed in the Congressional 
Record, that increases VA medical care funding by $304 million with the 
offset from FHA mortgage administrative expense funding; 
                                               Pages H6546-51, H6589-90
  The Berman amendment that prohibits FEMA from transferring funding 
from the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Panorama City, California under 
the Seismic Hazard Mitigation Program for Hospitals or to relocate the 
hospital to a site more than 3 miles from the current site; 
                                                             Page H6551
  The Neumann amendment that prohibits any funds to be used for 
researching methods to reduce methane emissions from cows, sheep, or 
any other ruminant livestock;
                                                             Page H6551
  The Scarborough amendment, numbered 29 and printed in the 
Congressional Record, that prohibit funds to carry out Executive Order 
13083;
                                                         Pages H6571-73
  The Hilleary amendment, numbered 32 and printed in the Congressional 
Record, that increases VA grants to construct state extended care 
facilities by $21 million and decreases the Housing Opportunities for 
Persons with AIDS program funding accordingly (agreed to by a recorded 
vote of 231 ayes to 200 noes, Roll No. 247);
                                                Pages H6563-68 H6576-77

[[Page D862]]


  The Riggs amendment, numbered 31 and printed in the Congressional 
Record, that prohibits any funds to be used to implement section 
12B.2(b) of the Administrative Code of San Francisco, California 
(agreed to by a recorded vote of 214 ayes to 212 noes, Roll No. 349. 
                                                         Pages H6578-88
                                                              Rejected:
  The Royce amendment, numbered 26 and printed in the Congressional 
Record that sought to maintain National Science Foundation funding for 
research at the fiscal year 1998 level of $2.5 billion; 
                                                         Pages H6536-40
  The Roemer amendment, numbered 5 and printed in the Congressional 
Record that sought to cancel funding for the space station. The 
amendment was debated on July 23 (rejected by a recorded vote of 109 
ayes to 323 noes, Roll No. 345);
                                                         Pages H6575-76
  The Hinchey amendment, numbered 22 and printed in the Congressional 
Record that sought to prohibit the use of Veterans Affairs funding to 
implement the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) system 
(rejected by a recorded vote of 146 ayes to 285 noes, Roll No. 346); 
                                                  Pages H6551-63, H6576
                                                             Withdrawn:
  The Nadler amendment to the Hilleary amendment was offered and 
subsequently withdrawn that sought to offset the $21 million increase 
for VA extended care facilities with a decrease in Space Station 
funding.
                                                         Pages H6564-65
                                     Points of Order sustained against:
  Sec. 423, that sought to require the CPSC to issue a final rule 
amending its Flammable Fabrics Act standards;
                                                             Page H6542
  The Bereuter amendment that sought to require the EPA, in 
consultation with the National Academy of Sciences, to expedite a study 
on the health effects of copper in drinking water.
                                                         Pages H6568-70
Congressional Gold Medal to Gerald and Betty Ford: The House passed 
H.R. 3506, to award a congressional gold medal to Gerald R. and Betty 
Ford.
  Page H6593
Military Construction Conference Report: The House agreed to the 
conference report on H.R. 4059, making appropriations for military 
construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure for the 
Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999 by 
yea and nay vote of 417 yeas to 1 nays, Roll No. 353. Earlier, agreed 
to consider the conference report by unanimous consent. 
                                                         Pages H6593-97
Energy and Water Appropriations: The House disagreed to the Senate 
amendment to H.R. 4060, making appropriations for energy and water 
development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and agreed 
to a conference. Appointed as conferees: Representatives McDade, 
Rogers, Knollenberg, Frelinghuysen, Parker, Callahan, Dickey, 
Livingston, Fazio, Visclosky, Edwards, Pastor, and Obey. 
                                                      Pages H6598-H6600
  Agreed to the Vento motion to instruct conferees to disagree with the 
provision in Title IV of the Senate amendment, providing funding for 
the Denali Commission, and the provision in Title VI of the Senate 
amendment, the authorization for such Commission.
                                                      Pages H6598-H6600
Presidential Messages: Read the following messages from the President:
  National Emergency with Iraq: Message wherein he transmitted his 
report concerning the national emergency with respect to Iraq--referred 
to the Committee on International Relations and ordered printed (H. 
Doc. 105-291);
  Page H6602
  Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Message wherein he transmitted 
the annual report of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for FY 
1997 and the Inventory of the Federal Funds Distributed to Public 
Telecommunications Entities by Federal Departments and Agencies for FY 
1997--referred to the Committee on Commerce;
  Page H6602
  Dayton Accords: Message wherein he transmitted his report concerning 
the benchmarks under which Dayton implementation can continue without 
the support of a major NATO-led military force--referred to the 
Committee on International Relations and ordered printed (H. Doc. 105-
292);
  Page H6705
  Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation Activities: Message wherein 
he reported that he has exercised his statutory authority to issue an 
Executive order to amend Executive Order 12938 in order to more 
effectively respond to the worldwide threat of weapons of mass 
destruction proliferation activities--referred to the Committee on 
International Relations and ordered printed (H. Doc. 105-293); and 
                                                         Pages H6602-03
  District of Columbia Budget Request Act: Message wherein he 
transmitted the District of Columbia FY 1999 Budget Request Act--
referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered printed (H. 
Doc. 105-294).
  Pages H6705-06
Integration of the Armed Forces: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 294, 
recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the integration of the Armed 
Forces. Agreed to amend the preamble and the title.
  Pages H6603-04
Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations: The House passed 
H.R. 4328, making appropriations for the Department of Transportation 
and

[[Page D863]]

related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999 by yea 
and nay vote of 391 yeas to 25 nays, Roll No. 355.
  Pages H6706-39
                                                             Agreed To:
  The Wolf amendment that provides FAA operating funds from the Airport 
and Airway Trust Fund;
                                                             Page H6728
  The Wolf amendment that makes a technical change to insure that 
specified funding is available to AMTRAK;
                                                             Page H6728
  The Andrews amendment that prohibits any funding by the Amtrak Reform 
Council for outside consultants;
                                                         Pages H6731-32
  The Nadler amendment that provides that only funds from obligations 
pursuant to sections 1601 and 1602 of the Transportation Equity Act for 
the 21st Century (P.L. 105-178) may be used for improvements to the 
Miller Highway in New York City; and
                                                         Pages H6732-35
  The Roukema amendment that waives the repayment of funds expended on 
the construction of high occupancy lanes on I-287 in the State of New 
Jersey under certain conditions.
                                                         Pages H6735-36
                                     Points of Order sustained against:
  Language on page 11, line 19; page 16, line 20 through 24; page 18, 
line 2 through 5, and Section 339.
                                                     Pages H6728, H6731
  The Nadler amendment that sought to prohibit the use of any funds for 
improvements or replacement of the Miller Highway in New York City. 
                                                             Page H6732
                                                             Withdrawn:
  The Ackerman amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that 
sought to prohibit any funds to be obligated or expended for closing a 
Coast Guard station in fiscal year 1999 unless such closure has been 
specifically authorized by law; and
                                                             Page H6731
  The Barr amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that sought 
to prohibit the National Transportation Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration from implementing a rule dealing with a national 
identification card. The rule implements section 656(b) of the Illegal 
Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996. 
                                                  Pages H6735, H6736-37
  Earlier, the House agreed to H. Res. 510, the rule providing for 
consideration of the bill by a voice vote.
                                                         Pages H6601-02
Biomaterials Access Assurance Act of 1998: The House passed H.R. 872, 
to establish rules governing product liability actions against raw 
materials and bulk component suppliers to medical device manufacturers. 
Earlier, agreed to the Gekas amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                         Pages H6740-48
Terry Sanford Federal Building: The House passed H.R. 3982, to 
designate the Federal building located at 310 New Bern Avenue in 
Raleigh, North Carolina, as the ``Terry Sanford Federal Building''. 
Earlier, agreed to the amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                         Pages H6748-49
American Luge Association Races: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 305, 
authorizing the use of the Capitol grounds for the American Luge 
Association Races. Earlier, agreed to the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute; and agreed to amend the title.
  Pages H6749-50
Meeting Hour--July 30: Agreed that when the House adjourns on the 
legislative day of July 29, it adjourn to meet at 1:00 p.m. on 
Thursday, July 30.
  Page H6750
Meeting Hour--July 31: Agreed that when the House adjourns On Thursday, 
July 30, it adjourn to meet at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31. 
                                                             Page H6750
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate appears on page H6513.
Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
pages H6697-H6704.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two quorum calls (Roll No. 348, Roll No. 354), 
five yea and nay votes and six recorded votes developed during the 
proceedings of the House today and appear on pages H6522, H6534, H6575-
76, H6576, H6576-77, H6587, H6587-88, H6590, H6591-92, H6592, H6597, 
H6600, and H6739.
Adjournment: The House met at 10:00 and adjourned at 1:03 a.m. on 
Thursday, July 30.