[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 120 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7608-H7609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  (Mr. FAZIO of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inquire about next 
week's schedule from the leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey).
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FAZIO of California. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce we have concluded the 
legislative business for the week. The House will next meet on Monday, 
September 14, at 10:30 a.m. for morning hour and at 12 o'clock noon for 
legislative business. We do not expect any recorded votes before 5 p.m. 
on next Monday.
  On Monday, September 14, we will consider a number of bills under 
suspension of the rules, a list of which will be distributed to 
Members' offices this afternoon.
  On Tuesday, September 15, and throughout the balance of the week, the 
House will consider the following legislation:
  H.J. Res. 117, a resolution expressing the Sense of the House that 
marijuana is a dangerous and addictive drug and should not be legalized 
for medicinal use;
  H.R. 4006, the Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act;
  The Drug Demand Reduction Act of 1998;
  H.R. 4300, the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act.
  We will also consider H.R. 3736, the Workforce Improvement and 
Protection Act of 1998; and H.R. 3248, the Dollars to the Classroom 
Act.
  Mr. Speaker, we are also hoping to go to conference on several 
appropriations bills and perhaps get a few conference reports completed 
next week. We hope to conclude legislative business for the week by 2 
p.m. on Friday, September 18.
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I yield to 
the gentleman from New York, who has some questions about their 
primary.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, New York has a primary, and other 
States as well. There are probably seven or eight States that have a 
primary.
  I happen to have a contested primary election, as some of my 
colleagues do as well. I know in the past we have avoided having votes 
on a day that States are having primaries, and I am wondering if the 
same consideration could be given to those of us in New York who have a 
primary. Because, obviously, if we are running for election, we cannot 
be here and we would miss votes. And again, it has been done for other 
States, and I am wondering if it could be done on Tuesday, as well.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FAZIO of California. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Engel) for his inquiry; and I certainly appreciate the concern the 
gentleman has.
  Unfortunately, given the rush of work we have yet to complete this 
year and some lost time earlier this year because of tragic and 
unforeseen events and the efforts that we have made to make sure that 
we fully and completely accommodate the Jewish holiday, we did not feel 
that it would be possible this year to suspend votes on this important 
Tuesday.
  I know that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) will agree that 
is easier for me than for the gentleman. And let me just, if I may, 
express my regret and apologies to the gentleman for the inconvenience.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would further yield, if I 
may ask the majority leader one further question.
  Would it not be possible to perhaps hold votes on Tuesday, hold votes 
over until Wednesday, to do the debates on Tuesday, as we so very often 
do, but not have the votes actually held until Tuesday?
  That would not slow down the procedures of the House or the ability 
of the House to do the kinds of work that we need to do, but it would 
be fairer to have the actual votes on Wednesday.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman would continue to yield, I 
would say to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) I do not believe 
that is possible, given the structure of the work that we have before 
us for that day.
  But I will again, out of consideration for the gentleman from New 
York and others as well, I will see what and if some accommodation can 
be made, and I will get announcements to their offices as soon as I can 
determine so.
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, if I could 
ask further of the majority leader, could he give us some understanding 
as to which days the bills that he listed are expected to come to the 
floor?
  Mr. ARMEY. If the gentleman would yield further, I would expect that 
we would do the work related to the work on drugs, H. Res. 117, H.R. 
4006, the Drug Demand Act, and H.R. 4300; we would expect that we would 
occupy most of Tuesday with that work.
  In addition to that, of course we have the Workforce Improvement and 
Protection Act and the Dollars to the Classroom Act. We would expect 
those two bills to be taken up later on in the week.
  Let me again remind the gentleman, we will also be occupying a good 
deal of the floor time with respect to going to conference with some of 
the work related to the appropriations bills.
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, if I could 
ask the gentleman, are there any late nights anticipated in next week's 
schedule?
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the inquiry of the gentleman, 
and I would say that at this point we do not anticipate there will be a 
need for any late nights. And, obviously, if we see something that 
changes, we will let the body know as soon as possible.

[[Page H7609]]

  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, one further, final question.
  Could the gentleman give us any understandings as to which 
appropriations bills he expects to come before us next week with 
motions to go to conference with the potential of instruction for 
conferees and all that goes with it?
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate again the inquiry, and I am, 
unfortunately, unable to give him that. But if the gentleman would 
check with the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Livingston), the chairman 
of the Committee on Appropriations, perhaps he could get a better read 
directly from him about what his plans are with respect to asking for 
time.

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