[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 135 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1107-D1108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page D1107]]




                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 20 public bills, H.R. 3035-3036, 3038-3055; 1 private 
bill, H.R. 3056; and 3 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 194 and H. Res. 324-
325, were introduced.
  Page H9644-45
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 748, to amend the Act that established the Keweenaw National 
Historical Park to require the Secretary of the Interior to consider 
nominees of various local interests in appointing members of the 
Keweenaw National Historical Parks Advisory Commission, amended (H. 
Rept. 106-367);
  H.R. 1615, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to extend the 
designation of a portion of the Lamprey River in New Hampshire as a 
recreational river to include an additional river segment (H. Rept. 
106-368);
  H.R. 2140, to improve protection and management of the Chattahoochee 
River National Recreation Area in the State of Georgia, amended (H. 
Rept. 106-369); and
  H.R. 3037, making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health 
and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2000 (H. Rept. 106-370).
Page H9644
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
designated Representative Biggert as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H9517
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. Carl 
W. Rehling of Lothian, Maryland.
  Page H9517
Access for the Uninsured and Managed Care Improvement Act: The House 
passed H.R. 2723, to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act of 1974, title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, and 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect consumers in managed care 
plans and other health coverage by a recorded vote of 275 ayes to 151 
noes, Roll No. 490. Subsequently, the text of H.R. 2723 was added as 
new matter to H.R. 2990, Quality Care for the Uninsured Act. H.R. 2723 
was then laid upon the table.
  Pages H9523-H9636
Rejected:
  The Boehner amendment that sought to prohibit gag rules, ensure 
access to emergency medical care, direct access to an OB/GYN, access to 
a pediatrician as a primary care provider, establish continuity of 
care, make health care lawsuit reform with limits on ``non-economic 
damages'', and requires a patient choice of provider option (rejected 
by a recorded vote of 145 ayes to 284 noes, Roll No. 487; 
                                                         Pages H9535-64
  The Goss amendment that sought to establish utilization review 
procedures, require a timely appeals process and external review of 
benefit disputes, allow patients to sue for denials that cause harm, 
provide protection for employers, allow choice of medical 
professionals, prohibit gag clauses, and expand access to clinical 
trials (rejected by a recorded vote of 193 ayes to 238 noes, Roll No. 
488); and
Pages H9564-H9604
  The Houghton amendment that sought to allow lawsuits in Federal court 
against the final decision-maker who fails to exercise ordinary care 
decisions including employers, caps non-economic damages and prohibits 
punitive damages (rejected by a recorded vote of 160 ayes to 269 noes, 
Roll No. 489).
Pages H9604-29
  H. Res. 323 the rule that provided for consideration of the bill was 
agreed to on October 6. Pursuant to the rule, the amendments printed in 
Part A of H. Rept. 106-366 that make technical changes and clarify 
provisions to ensure that employers cannot be held liable unless they 
are making medical decisions, were considered as adopted.
Late Report: Conferees received permission to have until midnight on 
Friday, October 8, to file a conference report on H.R. 2561, making 
appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2000.
  Page H9636
Legislative Program: Representative Lazio announced the Legislative 
Program for the week of October 11.
  Pages H9636-37
Meeting Hour--Friday, October 8: Agreed that when the House adjourns 
today it adjourn to meet at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 8. 
                                                             Page H9637
Meeting Hour--Tuesday, October 12: Agreed that when the House adjourns 
on Friday, October 8, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 
October 12 for morning-hour debates.
  Page H9637
Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday 
business of October 13.
  Page H9637
Quorum calls--Votes: One yea and nay vote and four recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H9522-23, H9564, H9603-04, H9628-29, and H9635-36. There were no quorum 
calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at 5:52 p.m.

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