[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D942-D946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 92 public bills, H.R. 2713-2804; 2 private bills, 
H.R. 2805-2806; and 12 resolutions, H.J. Res. 65, H. Con. Res. 173-179, 
and H. Res. 277-280, were introduced.
  Page H7880-85
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 853, to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide 
for joint resolutions on the budget, reserve funds for emergency 
spending, strengthened enforcement of budgetary decisions, increased 
accountability for Federal spending, accrual budgeting for Federal 
insurance programs, mitigation of the bias in the budget process toward 
higher spending, modifications in paygo requirements when there is an 
on-budget surplus, amended (H. Rept. 106-198 Pt. 2);
  H.R. 853, to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide 
for joint resolutions on the budget, reserve funds for emergency 
spending, strengthened enforcement of budgetary decisions, increased 
accountability for Federal spending, accrual budgeting for Federal 
insurance programs, mitigation of the bias in the budget process toward 
higher spending, modifications in paygo requirements when

[[Page D943]]

there is an on-budget surplus, amended (H. Rept. 106-198 Pt. 3);
  H.R. 1867, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to 
reform the financing of campaigns for elections for Federal office (H. 
Rept. 106-294);
  H.R. 2668, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to 
reform the financing of campaigns for election for Federal office, 
amended (H. Rept. 106-295);
  H.R. 1922, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to 
reform the financing of campaigns for election for Federal office (H. 
Rept. 106-296, Pt. 1);
  H.R. 417, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to 
reform the financing of campaigns for elections for Federal office, 
amended (H. Rept. 106-297, Pt. 1);
  Conference report on S. 507, to provide for the conservation and 
development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary 
of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers 
and harbors of the United States (H. Rept. 106-298);
  Conference report on H.R. 2587, making appropriations for the 
government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable 
in whole or in part against revenues of said District for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2000 (H. Rept. 106-299);
  H.R. 2559, to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to strengthen the 
safety net for agricultural producers by providing greater access to 
more affordable risk management tools and improved protection from 
production and income loss, to improve the efficiency and integrity of 
the Federal crop insurance program, amended (Rept. 106-300); and
  Conference report on S. 1059, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2000 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for 
military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of 
Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the 
Armed Forces (Rept. 106-301). 
                     Pages H7276-H7316, H7384-H7413, H7469-H7868, H7880
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
designated Representative Kolbe to act as Speaker pro tempore for 
today.
  Page H7251
Journal Vote: Agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal of 
Wednesday, August 4, by a yea and nay vote of 356 yeas to 50 nays with 
1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 376.
  Pages H7251-52
Financial Freedom Act: The House agreed to the conference report on 
H.R. 2488, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce 
individual income tax rates, to provide marriage penalty relief, to 
reduce taxes on savings and investments, to provide estate and gift tax 
relief, and to provide incentives for education savings and health care 
by yea and nay vote of 221 yeas to 206 nays, Roll No. 379. 
                                                         Pages H7261-76
  Agreed to H. Res. 274, the rule that provided for consideration of 
the conference report was agreed to by a yea and nay vote of 224 yeas 
to 203 nays, Roll No. 377.
Pages H7252-61
  Rejected the Rangel motion to recommit the conference report to the 
committee on conference with instructions, to the extent permitted 
within the scope of conference, to insist on limiting the net 10-year 
tax reduction to not more than 25% of the currently projected non-
Social Security surpluses (or if greater, the smallest tax reduction 
permitted within the scope of conference); and shall insist on not 
including any provision which would constitute a limited tax benefit 
within the meaning of the Line Item Veto Act in order to A. preserve 
100% of the Social Security Trust Fund surpluses for the Social 
Security program and preserve 50% of the currently projected non-Social 
Security surpluses for purposes of reducing the publicly held national 
debt, and B. insure that there will be adequate budgetary resources 
available to extend the solvency of the Social Security and Medicare 
systems, and provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit, the by yea 
and nay vote of 205 yeas to 221 nays, Roll No. 378.
Pages H7274-75
Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations: The House passed H.R. 2670, making appropriations for 
the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and 
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000 by yea 
and nay vote of 217 yeas to 210 nays, Roll No. 387. The House completed 
general debate and began considering amendments on August 4. 
                                                         Pages H7317-84
  Rejected the Bonior motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Appropriations with instructions to report it back with an amendment 
that increases the amount provided for Community Oriented Policing 
Services to the amount requested in the President's budget, with 
corresponding adjustments to keep the bill within the committee 302(B) 
allocation by a recorded vote of 208 ayes to 219 noes, Roll No. 386. 
                                                         Pages H7382-83
Agreed to:
  The Ehlers amendment that increases NOAA funding by $390,000 for 
research projects;
Pages H7318-19
  The Terry amendment that increases Merchant Marine Academy funding by 
$2 million for repair of buildings;
Pages H7319-21

[[Page D944]]


  The Tiahrt amendment, as modified, that prohibits the expenditure of 
any appropriation to denigrate or otherwise undermine the religious or 
moral beliefs of students who participate in programs funded by the 
Department of Justice;
Pages H7342-44
  The Deal amendment that prohibits any funds appropriated from being 
used to process or provide visas to countries that deny or unreasonably 
delay accepting the return of their citizens under section 243(d) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act;
Pages H7348-49
  The Traficant amendment, as modified, that prohibits the transport of 
maximum or high security prisoners to a facility that is not certified 
by the Bureau of Prisons as appropriately secure for housing such 
prisoners;
Page H7349
  The Vitter amendment that prohibits any funds to be used by United 
States delegates to the Standing Consultative Commission in any 
activity to implement the Memorandum of Understanding relating to the 
Anti-Ballistic Missile Limitation Treaty entered into by the United 
States, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Ukraine on September 26, 1997;
                                                         Pages H7349-50
  The Hayworth amendment that prohibits the expenditure of any funds 
for activities in support of adding or maintaining any World Heritage 
Site (agreed to by a recorded vote of 217 ayes to 209 noes, Roll No. 
383); and
Pages H7355-56, H7378
  The Tauzin amendment that prohibits any funds to be used by the FCC 
to enforce or administer the Uniform Systems of Accounts for 
Telecommunications Companies with respect to any common carrier that 
was determined to be subject to price cap regulation by the 
Commission's order or has elected to be subject to price cap regulation 
(agreed to by a recorded vote of 374 ayes to 49 noes, Roll No. 384). 
                                               Pages H7362-65, H7378-79
Rejected:
  The Hall of Ohio amendment that sought to strike the provision that 
prohibits the payment of United Nations arrearages unless expressly 
authorized by an Act that makes such payments contingent upon United 
Nations reform (rejected by a recorded vote of 206 ayes to 221 noes, 
Roll No. 380);
Pages H7324-34
  The Bass amendment that sought to require that the Federal 
Communications Commission develop and implement a plan for the 
efficient allocation of telephone numbers (rejected by a recorded vote 
of 169 ayes to 256 noes, Roll No. 381);
Pages H7344-48, H7376-77
  The George Miller of California amendment that sought to limit the 
amount obligated or expended for the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission (rejected by a recorded vote of 211 ayes to 215 noes, Roll 
No. 382); and
Pages H7350-54, H7377-78
  The Kucinich amendment that sought to prohibit any funds to be used 
for the filing of a complaint or any motion seeking injunctive relief 
in any legal action brought under the North American Free Trade 
Agreement Implementation Act or Uruguay Round Agreements Act (rejected 
by a recorded vote of 196 ayes to 226 noes, Roll No. 385). 
                                               Pages H7368-73, H7379-80
Withdrawn:
  The Stearns amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that 
sought to reduce State Department general administrative funding by 
$500,000 to highlight personnel issues relating to Ms. Linda Shenwick's 
employment at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations;
Pages H7334-35
  The Inslee amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that 
sought to strike Section 620 that prohibits any funds appropriated to 
be used for the implementation of or the preparation for the Kyoto 
Protocol;
Pages H7340-42
  The Davis of Illinois amendment was offered, but subsequently 
withdrawn, that sought to prohibit funding to any law enforcement 
agency except one identified in an annual summary of data on the use of 
excessive force published by the Attorney General;
Pages H7357-58
  The Campbell amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that 
sought to require that aliens have access to secret evidence used to 
detain or deport them;
Pages H7358-61
  The Wynn amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that 
sought to increase funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission by $33 million and reduce Administration of Foreign Affairs 
funding accordingly;
Pages H7361-62
  The Crowley amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that 
sought to prohibit any funding to be used for joint training programs 
between the Royal Ulster Constabulary and any Federal law enforcement 
agency;
Pages H7365-67
  The Dingell amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that 
sought to prohibit grants to states that have not certified that 95 
percent or more of records evidencing a State judicial or executive 
determination are sent to the FBI to support implementation of the 
National Instant Criminal Background Check System; and
Pages H7367-68
  The Jackson-Lee amendment was offered, but subsequently withdrawn, 
that sought to establish new provisions cited as the Hate Crimes 
Prevention Act.
Pages H7373-75
Late Report: The Commerce Committee received permission to have until 
midnight on September 7,

[[Page D945]]

1999 to file reports on H.R. 1714, H.R. 1858, H.R. 486, H.R. 2130, and 
H.R. 2506.
  Page H7413
VA, HUD Appropriations: The House agreed to H. Res. 275, the rule 
providing for consideration of H.R. 2684, 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, 2000. Agreed to order 
the previous question by yea and nay vote of 217 yeas to 208 nays, Roll 
No. 388.
  Pages H7413-25
Legislative Branch Appropriations: The House agreed to the conference 
report on H.R. 1905, making appropriations for the Legislative Branch 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000 by a yea and nay vote of 
367 yeas to 49 nays, Roll No. 389.
  Pages H7425-31
  Earlier, agreed that it be in order to consider the conference 
report, that it be considered as read, that all points of order be 
waived; and that the previous question be ordered to final adoption 
without intervening motion except 20 minutes of debate, equally divided 
and controlled and one motion to recommit.
Page H7413
Committee Resignations: Read a letter from Representative Clyburn 
wherein he resigns from the Committee on Appropriations and read a 
letter from Representative Ackerman wherein he resigns from the 
Committee on Banking and Financial Services.
  Page H7432
Committee Election: The House agreed to H. Res. 277 electing 
Representative Forbes to the Committees on Appropriations and Banking 
and Financial Services.
  Page H7432
Water Resources Development Act: House agreed to the conference report 
on S. 507, to provide for the conservation and development of water and 
related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct 
various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United 
States--clearing the measure for the President.
  Pages H7432-33
Technical Corrections to Water Resources Development Act: The House 
passed H.R. 2724, to make technical corrections to the Water Resources 
Development Act.
  Pages H7433-34
Extension of Aviation Programs: The House passed S. 1467, to extend the 
funding levels for aviation programs for 60 days. Subsequently, agreed 
to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the text of H.R. 
1000, a similar House-passed bill. Agreed to amend the title. 
                                                         Pages H7434-59
  The House then agreed to insist on its amendments to S. 1467 and ask 
for a conference. Appointed as conferees: From the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure for consideration of the Senate bill 
and the House amendment and modifications committed to conference: 
Representatives Shuster, Young of Alaska, Petri, Duncan, Ewing, Horn, 
Quinn, Ehlers, Bass, Pease, Sweeney, Oberstar, Rahall, Lipinski, 
DeFazio, Costello, Danner, E.B. Johnson of Texas, Millender-McDonald, 
and Boswell. From the Committee on the Budget for consideration of 
titles IX and X of the House amendment, and modifications committed to 
conference: Representatives Chambliss, Shays, and Spratt. From the 
Committee on Ways and Means for consideration of title XI of the House 
amendment and modifications committed to conference: Representatives 
Nussle, Hulshof, and Rangel.
Pages H7459-60
Permission for Temporary Construction on the Capitol Grounds: The House 
agreed to the Senate amendment to H. Con. Res. 167, authorizing the 
Architect of the Capitol to permit temporary construction and other 
work on the Capitol Grounds that may be necessary for construction of a 
building on Constitution Avenue Northwest, between 2nd Street Northwest 
and Louisiana Avenue Northwest.
  Page H7460
International Religious Freedom Act: The House passed S. 1546, to amend 
the International Religious Act of 1998 to provide additional 
administrative authorities to the United States Commission on 
International Religious Freedom, and to make technical corrections to 
that Act--clearing the measure for the President.
  Pages H7460-62
Veteran Owned Small Business: The House agreed to the Senate amendments 
to H.R. 1568, to provide technical, financial, and procurement 
assistance to veteran owned small businesses--clearing the measure for 
the President.
  Pages H7462-67
Tobacco Production and Marketing Information: The House passed S. 1543, 
to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to release and protect 
the release of tobacco production and marketing information--clearing 
the measure for the President.
  Pages H7467-68
Summer District Work Period: The House agreed to S. Con. Res. 51, 
providing for a conditional adjournment or recess of the Senate and a 
conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives.
  Pages H7468
Speaker pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
designated Representative Morella or, if not available, Representative 
Wolf to act as Speaker pro tempore to sign enrolled bills and joint 
resolutions through September 8.
  Page H7468
Resignations--Appointments: Agreed that notwithstanding any adjournment 
of the House until

[[Page D946]]

Wednesday, September 8, 1999, the Speaker, Majority Leader, and 
Minority Leader were authorized to accept resignations and to make 
appointments authorized by law or by the House.
  Page H7468
Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday 
business of Wednesday, September 8.
  Page H7468
Presidential Message--Legislative Proposal: Read a letter from the 
President wherein he transmitted a legislative proposal entitled 
``Central American and Haitian Parity Act of 1999--referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary and ordered printed H. Doc. 106-114. 
                                                             Page H7468
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate appear on pages 
H7252, H7356-57, H7413, and H7431.
Referral: S. 695 was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. 
                                                             Page H7868
Amendments Ordered Printed: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the 
rule appear on pages H7887-88.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Seven yea and nay votes and seven recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H7251-52, H7260, H7275, H7275-76, H7333-34, H7376-77, H7377-78, H7378, 
H7378-79, H7379, H7383, H7384, H7425, and H7431. There were no quorum 
calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10:00 a.m. and pursuant to the provisions 
of S. Con. Res. 51, adjourned at 12:13 a.m. on Friday, August 6 until 
10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 8.