[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 96 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        COMPREHENSIVE RETIREMENT SECURITY AND PENSION REFORM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BILL ARCHER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2000

  Mr. ARCHER. Mr. Speaker, I am submitting for the Record under general 
leave on H.R. 1102, the ``Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension 
Reform Act,'' the attached exchange of letters between myself and 
Chairman Goodling.

                                      Committee on Ways and Means,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, July 18, 2000.
     Hon. William F. Goodling,
     Chairman, Committee on Education and the Workforce, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Goodling: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 1102, the ``Comprehensive Retirement Security and 
     Pension Reform Act'' and H.R. 4843, the ``Comprehensive 
     Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act of 2000.''
       As you have noted, the Committee on Ways and Means has 
     ordered favorably reported H.R. 4843, the ``Comprehensive 
     Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act of 2000.'' In 
     order to expedite consideration of H.R. 1102, I appreciate 
     your agreement that the text of H.R. 4843 be made in order as 
     an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 1102. This 
     is based on the understanding that I would continue to work 
     with you to include the agreed upon pension provisions within 
     the jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and the 
     Workforce in the final conference report on H.R. 1102 and 
     that I would not object to your request for conferees with 
     respect to matters within the jurisdiction of your Committee 
     when a conference with the Senate is convened on this 
     legislation.
       Finally, I will include in the Record a copy of our 
     exchange of letters on this matter during floor 
     consideration. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation 
     in expediting this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Bill Archer,
                                                         Chairman.

                                  ____
                                  

         Committee on Education and the Workforce, House of 
           Representatives,
                                    Washington, DC, July 17, 2000.
     Hon. Bill Archer,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Archer: I am writing to confirm our mutual 
     understanding with respects to further consideration of H.R. 
     1102, the ``Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension 
     Reform Act,'' which was referred to the Committee on Ways and 
     Means, and in addition, to the Committee on Education and the 
     Workforce and the Committee on Government Reform. I 
     understand that the House will consider this bill in the near 
     future. As you know, on July 14, 1999, the Committee on 
     Education and the Workforce ordered favorably reported H.R. 
     1102, H. Rept. 106-331, Part I.
       The Committee on Education and the Workforce has 
     jurisdiction over pension provisions amending the Employee 
     Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which are contained 
     in Title VI, of H.R. 1102. With your agreement, several of 
     these ERISA provisions were included in the Conference Report 
     to H.R. 2488, the ``Financial Freedom Act of 1999.''
       I understand that the Committee on Ways and Means has 
     approved H.R. 4843, the ``Comprehensive Retirement Security 
     and Pension Reform Act of 2000.'' H.R. 4843 amends the 
     Internal Revenue Code, but does not include any corresponding 
     ERISA pension amendments. In order to expedite consideration 
     of H.R. 1102, I do not object to the House of Representatives 
     considering the text of H.R. 4843 as an Amendment in the 
     Nature of a Substitute to the Education and the Workforce 
     reported version of H.R. 1102. However, I appreciate your 
     willingness to work with me to assure that the ERISA 
     provisions contained in H.R. 1102, as reported by the 
     Committee on Education and the Workforce, are added in any 
     conference agreement. I also appreciate your support in my 
     request to the Speaker for the appointment of conferees from 
     my Committee with respect to matters within the jurisdiction 
     of my Committee when a conference with the Senate is convened 
     on this legislation.
       Thank you for agreeing to include this exchange of letters 
     in the Congressional Record during the House debate on H.R. 
     1102. Again, I thank you for working with me in developing 
     this legislation and I look forward to working with you on 
     these issues in the future.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Bill Goodling,
                                                         Chairman.

     

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