[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 46 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2148-H2149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3039, CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION 
                              ACT OF 1999

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 470 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 470

       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. 3039) to amend the Federal Water Pollution 
     Control Act to assist in the restoration of the Chesapeake 
     Bay, and for other purposes. 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 Transportation and Infrastructure. After general 
     debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the 
     five-minute rule. The bill 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 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. 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 New York (Mr. Reynolds) 
is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield 
the customary 30 minutes to the 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. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks, and include extraneous material.)
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 470 is an open rule 
providing for the consideration of H.R. 3039, a bill to amend the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act to assist in the restoration of the 
Chesapeake Bay. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate, equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and the ranking member of the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides that the bill shall be open for 
amendment at any point, and authorizes the Chair to accord priority in 
recognition to Members who have preprinted their amendments in the 
Congressional Record. Additionally, the rule 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 rule follows a 15 minute vote.
  Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit, with or 
without instructions.
  Mr. Speaker, the Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United 
States and is an important commercial, recreational, and historical 
center for thousands of residents in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 
and the District of Columbia.
  The Chesapeake Bay is protected and promoted under a unique voluntary 
partnership under the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, first adopted in 1983. 
The signatories to the agreement are the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and the States of Virginia, 
Pennsylvania, and Maryland, along with the District of Columbia. The 
agreement directs and conducts the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
  Over the past two decades, much progress has been made in restoring 
the Chesapeake Bay. Area wildlife is recovering, toxic pollutant 
releases are down, and bay grasses have increased. However, much more 
needs to be done, particularly regarding water clarity and restoring 
the oyster population.
  This bill addresses the need for a cooperative Federal, State, and 
local effort in restoring the Chesapeake Bay by authorizing $180 
million for the Chesapeake Bay Program for fiscal years 2000 through 
2005. In addition, the bill requires Federal facilities to participate 
in watershed planning and restoration activities.
  Finally, the bill requires a study of the state of the Chesapeake Bay 
ecosystem and a study of the Chesapeake Bay Program's effect on this 
ecosystem.
  Mr. Speaker, 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 yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding me 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an open rule. The debate time will be equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member on 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. 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 the opportunity to offer germane 
amendments.
  Mr. Speaker, the Chesapeake Bay is one of the most important bodies 
of water within the United States. Activities in the Bay make 
significant contributions to our economy through commercial fishing and 
shipping. The Bay supports extensive wildlife and vegetation. It also 
provides Americans with numerous recreational opportunities.
  Years of man-made pollution have threatened the Bay and the life 
within it. However, there has been progress, and it is being made under 
the Chesapeake Bay Agreement signed by the District of Columbia, the 
Chesapeake Bay Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
and the States of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3039 will authorize money over a 6-year period for 
the United States Federal Government to support the agreement. The 
Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. The legislation is necessary to 
help protect

[[Page H2149]]

 the Bay and its resources for all Americans. This is an open rule, we 
support it, and we urge its adoption.

                              {time}  1345

  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gillmor). Without objection, the 
previous question is ordered on the resolution.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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