[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 30, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H5123-H5124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 791, STAR-SPANGLED BANNER NATIONAL 
                    HISTORIC TRAIL STUDY ACT OF 1999

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the 
Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 232 and ask for its 
immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 232

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 
     XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 791) to amend the National Trails System Act 
     to designate the route of the War of 1812 British invasion of 
     Maryland and Washington, District of Columbia, and the route 
     of the American defense, for study for potential addition to 
     the national trails system. The first reading of the bill 
     shall be dispensed with. General debate shall be confined to 
     the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and 
     controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
     Committee on Resources. After general debate the bill shall 
     be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. It 
     shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the 
     purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment 
     in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on 
     Resources now printed in the bill. The committee amendment in 
     the nature of a substitute shall be considered as read. 
     During consideration of the bill for amendment, the chairman 
     of the Committee of the Whole may accord priority in 
     recognition on the basis of whether the Member offering an 
     amendment has caused it to be printed in the portion of the 
     Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 
     of rule XVIII. Amendments so printed shall be considered as 
     read. The chairman of the

[[Page H5124]]

     Committee of the Whole may: (1) postpone until a time during 
     further consideration in the Committee of the Whole a request 
     for a recorded vote on any amendment; and (2) reduce to five 
     minutes the minimum time for electronic voting on any 
     postponed question that follows another electronic vote 
     without intervening business, provided that the minimum time 
     for electronic voting on the first in any series of questions 
     shall be 15 minutes. At the conclusion of consideration of 
     the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report 
     the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been 
     adopted. Any Member may demand a separate vote in the House 
     on any amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the 
     bill or to the committee amendment in the nature of a 
     substitute. The previous question shall be considered as 
     ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage 
     without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with 
     or without instructions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) 
is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate 
only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Hall), pending which I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is 
for the purpose of debate only.
  (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, H.Res. 232 would grant H.R. 
791, the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trails Study Act of 
1999, an open rule providing 1 hour of general debate, divided equally 
between the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Resources.
  The rule makes in order the Committee on Resources amendment in the 
nature of a substitute as an original bill for the purpose of 
amendment, which shall be open to amendment at any point.
  The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to 
Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional 
Record. The rule also allows the chairman of the Committee of the Whole 
to postpone votes during consideration of the bill and to reduce voting 
time to 5 minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a 15-
minute vote.
  Finally, H.Res. 232 provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 791 would amend the National Trails System Act to 
designate for study as a potential addition to the National Trails 
System the route of the British invasion of Maryland and the District 
of Columbia during the War of 1812. Such designation would give 
recognition to the patriots whose determination to stand firm against 
enemy invasion and bombardment preserved this Nation for future 
generations of Americans.
  H.R. 791, introduced by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest), 
would authorize studies which the Congressional Budget Office estimates 
would cost the Federal Government approximately $250,000 over the next 
2 years. The bill contains no unfunded mandates and thus would not 
affect pay-go procedures.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 791 was reported favorably by the Committee on 
Resources on a voice vote and there is no controversy surrounding this 
legislation. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support both the rule 
and the underlying bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings), for yielding me this time, 
and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an open rule which will allow full and fair 
debate on H.R. 791. This rule provides 1 hour of debate to be equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
the Committee on Resources.
  The rule permits amendments under the 5-minute rule. This is the 
normal amending process in the House. All Members on both sides of the 
aisle will have a chance to offer amendments if they are germane.
  H.R. 791 authorizes a study of the route British invaders and 
American defenders followed between Baltimore and Washington during the 
War of 1812.
  The study is the first step to declare the route part of the National 
Trails System. This is an open rule and it was adopted by a voice vote 
in the Committee on Rules. I urge adoption of the rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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