[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 138 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1127-D1129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 9 public bills, H.R. 3063-3071; and 1 resolution, H. 
Con. Res. 197, were introduced.                             
  Page H10032
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 1753, to promote the research, identification, assessment, 
exploration, and development of methane hydrate resources, amended (H. 
Rept. 106-377 Pt. 1);
  H.R. 2260, to amend the Controlled Substances Act to promote pain 
management and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and 
euthanasia (H. Rept. 106-378 Pt. 1);
  Conference report on 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 (H. Rept. 106-
379);
  H. Res. 328, waiving points of order against the conference report on 
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 (H. Rept. 106-380);
  H. Res. 329, providing for consideration of H.R. 2679, to amend title 
49, United States Code, to establish the National Motor Carrier 
Administration in the Department of Transportation, to improve the 
safety of commercial motor vehicle operators and carriers, to 
strengthen commercial driver's licenses (H. Rept. 106-381); and
  H. Res. 330, providing for consideration of H.R. 3064, 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-
382).                                        
Pages H9983-H10030, H10032
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rabbi 
Ronald D. Gerson of Athens, Georgia.                         
  Page H9903
Department of Defense Appropriations Act: The House agreed to the 
conference report on H.R. 2561, making appropriations for the 
Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000 by 
a yea and nay vote of 372 yeas to 55 nays, Roll No. 494. 
                                                         Pages H9909-21
  H. Res. 326, the rule that waived points of order against the 
conference report was agreed to by voice vote.           
Pages H9907-09
Export Enhancement Act--OPIC Authorization: The House passed H.R. 1993, 
to reauthorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the 
Trade and Development Agency by a recorded vote of 357 ayes to 71 noes, 
Roll No. 499.                                            
  Pages H9923-57
  Agreed to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute made 
in order by the rule.                                        
Page H9956
Agreed to:
  The Terry amendment that directs OPIC to address concerns that it 
does not promptly dispose of legitimate claims regarding projects that 
it insures or guarantees and recognize that private parties face 
financial obligations that cannot be deferred indefinitely; 
                                                         Pages H9930-33

[[Page D1128]]


  The Gejdenson amendment that prohibits approval of projects that may 
have an adverse environmental impact until assessments have been made 
available to the public for a 60 day comment period and requires that 
OPIC meet with at least one representative of individuals who have 
concerns about the project's environmental impact;       
                                                         Pages H9934-37
  The Traficant amendment, as modified, that requires an annual report 
on countries where United States goods or services do not have market 
access;                                                  
                                                         Pages H9951-52
  The Manzullo amendment that clarifies that the Global Diversity and 
Urban Export Initiative will focus on businesses that, because of their 
minority ownership, may have been excluded from export trade; 
                                                             Page H9952
  The Rohrabacher amendment, as amended, that prohibits OPIC funding 
for manufacturing enterprises in foreign countries if such investments 
would cause a reduction in manufacturing in the United States. Earlier, 
agreed to the Manzullo amendment to the Rohrabacher amendment that 
limited the prohibition to investments that cause a reduction in U.S. 
manufacturing (agreed to by a recorded vote of 379 ayes to 49 noes, 
Roll No. 495);                                 
                                               Pages H9937-42, H9953-54
  The Terry amendment, as amended, that requires a GAO report that 
reviews claims processing by OPIC and includes an analysis of claims 
paid, settled, and denied. Earlier, agreed to the Menendez amendment to 
the Terry amendment that specified the GAO review of OPIC claims 
processing activity (agreed to by a recorded vote of 259 ayes to 169 
noes, Roll No. 497);                              
                                                  Pages H9945-48, H9955
  The Terry amendment, as amended, that requires OPIC to publish and 
report to Congress interventions, by other Federal departments or 
agencies, with the intent to impede or delay the timing or settlement 
of any claim. Earlier, agreed to the Menendez amendment to the Terry 
amendment that clarifies that the interventions requiring public 
disclosure are those that intend to impede or delay (agreed to by a 
recorded vote of 253 ayes to 173 noes, Roll No. 498); and 
                                               Pages H9948-50, H9955-56
                                                              Rejected:
  The Sanford amendment that sought to authorize OPIC for one year 
instead of four (rejected by a recorded vote of 104 ayes to 323 noes, 
Roll No. 496);                                 
                                               Pages H9942-45, H9954-55
                                                             Withdrawn:
  The Rohrabacher substitute amendment to the Gejdenson amendment was 
offered, but subsequently withdrawn, that sought to require that OPIC 
provide all relevant environmental impact statements, assessments, and 
audits for a 60 day public comment period before any project is 
approved.                                                
                                                         Pages H9936-37
  The Clerk was authorized in the engrossment of the bill to correct 
sections numbers, cross references, punctuation, indentation, and any 
other technical and conforming changes necessary to reflect the actions 
of the House.                                                
                                                             Page H9957
  H. Res. 327, the rule that provided for consideration of the bill was 
agreed to by voice vote.                                 
                                                         Pages H9921-23
Celebrating One America: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 141, 
celebrating One America.                                 
  Pages H9957-58
Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations--Motion to Instruct: 
Representative Tancredo notified the House of his intention to offer a 
motion to instruct conferees on 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, to 
agree to provisions that (1) reduce nonessential spending in programs 
within the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, 
and other related agencies; (2) reduce spending on international 
organizations, in particular, in order to honor the commitment of the 
Congress to protect Social Security; and (3) do not increase overall 
spending to a level that exceeds the higher of the House bill or the 
Senate amendment.                                            
  Page H9958
Juvenile Justice Reform--Motion to Instruct: Representative Jackson-Lee 
notified the House of her intention to offer a motion to instruct 
conferees on H.R. 1501, to provide grants to ensure increased 
accountability for juvenile offenders to insist that (1) the committee 
of conference should immediately have its first substantive meeting to 
offer amendments and motions, including gun safety amendments and 
motions, and (2) the committee of conference report a conference 
substitute by October 20, the six month anniversary of the tragedy at 
Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, and with sufficient 
opportunity for both the House and the Senate to consider gun safety 
legislation prior to adjournment.                            
  Page H9965
Presidential Message--Payments to Cuba: Read a message from the 
President wherein he transmitted his semiannual report on payments to 
Cuba--referred to the Committee on International Relations. 
                                                             Page H9964
Recess: The House recessed at 9:27 p.m. and reconvened at 11:07 p.m. 
                                                             Page H9983
Recess: The House recessed at 11:08 p.m. and reconvened at 11:57 p.m. 
                                                            Page H10030
Senate Messages: Message received from the Senate appears on pages 
H9961-62.

[[Page D1129]]

Amendments Ordered Printed: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the 
rule appear on page H10033.
Quorum Calls--Votes: One yea and nay vote and five recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H9920-21, H9953-54, H9954-55, H9955, H9955-56, and H9956-57. There were 
no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at 11:58 p.m.