[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 101 (Friday, July 16, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H5747-H5748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  (Mr. LEWIS of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inquire of the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Armey) regarding next week's schedule.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

[[Page H5748]]

  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, before I announce the next week's schedule, I 
would like to just take a moment on behalf of myself, and I daresay on 
behalf of all of us on this side of the aisle, to express our deep 
condolences to the family of George Brown. He was, for us, a treasured 
colleague, a fine man, a gentleman, and a good legislator. The body was 
richer for his having been here, and the memories we have of our time 
in this body will be richer for our having had the privilege of serving 
with him.
  Mr. Speaker, with respect to the schedule, the House has concluded 
legislative business for the week. I want to thank all the Members for 
their work this week. It was a difficult week, with three 
appropriations bills under the 5-minute rule, which kept us late. Very 
late.
  And, incidentally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the staff, the 
floor staff especially, for their long hours. Nevertheless, it allowed 
us to pass three appropriations bills, keeping us on track to get our 
key appropriations bills all passed before the August district work 
period, and that is the kind of progress we are all looking for. So I 
extend my personal appreciation to all the Members and all the staff 
for their good work, and especially to the appropriators for their hard 
work.
  Mr. Speaker, next week the House will meet on Monday, July 19, at 
12:30 p.m. for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. We 
will consider a number of bills under suspension of the rules, a list 
of which will be distributed to all Members' offices this afternoon.
  On Monday evening, after suspensions, we will take up H.R. 2415, the 
American Embassy Security Act. This bill will be considered under a 
structured rule which passed the House last night. The rule provides 
for substantial debate on many amendments, so we will complete this 
bill later in the week.
  Members should note that we expect votes on suspension bills and 
amendments to the American Embassy Security Act after 6 p.m. on Monday 
evening, July 19.
  On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week, the House will 
consider the following bills, all of which are subject to rules: H.R. 
1995, the Teacher Empowerment Act; H.R. 2488, the Financial Freedom Act 
of 1999; The Department of Defense Appropriations Act; and H.R. 1074, 
the Regulatory Right to Know Act of 1999.
  Also, Members should note that on Thursday, the House will not meet 
until 11 a.m. in order to allow Members to attend the ceremony 
commemorating the valiant service of Capitol Police Officers Chestnut 
and Gibson, who died 1 year ago while serving to defend this Capitol. I 
know that many of our Members will want to attend this.
  As my colleagues can see, this will be another very busy week for the 
House. I am happy, however, to let Members know we will complete votes 
on Thursday, July 22, by 6 p.m. and that the House will not be in 
session on Friday, July 23.

                              {time}  1430

  I know that our Members will make good use of that time in their 
district for that 3-day weekend.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hastert) the Speaker of the House.
  The SPEAKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that the House will do its very best 
to accommodate the family of the gentleman from California (Mr. Brown) 
in the arrangements, and we look forward to seeing what those 
arrangements will be.
  I just want to join all my colleagues in this House to pay our 
deepest respect to a very, very fine gentleman who represented his 
district, who represented the ideas that he felt were very, very 
important to him and this country, and who served on the Committee on 
Science.
  I just want to say that we will look forward to see what those 
arrangements are and abide by what the wishes of the family will be.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I ask the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), the majority leader, if he can tell 
us what day the tax bill will be on the floor of the House?
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to respond to the gentleman.
  The tax bill should be expected to be on the floor on Wednesday. That 
is the day for which it is scheduled.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask the gentleman, what day will 
the teacher empowerment act be on the floor?
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would continue to yield, we 
expect to see the teacher empowerment bill on the floor on Tuesday.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask the gentleman, do we expect 
any late nights next week, any 11 o'clock and midnight nights?
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for asking. I am sure 
the entire body thanks the gentleman for asking.
  We have only one appropriations bill scheduled during next week. It 
is under the 5-minute rule. With those bills, it becomes difficult to 
manage the time. So that, I think I can say with total confidence, 
certainly not like this week we have just endured. And I expect, 
frankly, no real serious late nights next week. I think our work will 
be managed in a much more comfortable time zone.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am sure all of our colleagues 
will be very grateful and appreciative.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, our 
colleagues and their families will; and we will work hard for that.

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