[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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