[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H6786-H6790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS CLAIMS ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2000
Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4864) to amend title 38, United States Code, to reaffirm and
clarify the duty of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist
claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4864
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Claims Assistance
Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF ``CLAIMANT'' FOR
PURPOSES OF VETERANS LAWS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 51 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by inserting before section 5101 the
following new section:
``Sec. 5100. Definition of `claimant'
``For purposes of this chapter, the term `claimant' means
any individual applying for, or submitting a claim for, any
benefit under the laws administered by the Secretary.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting before the
item relating to section 5101 the following new item:
``5100. Definition of `claimant'.''.
SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO CLAIMANTS.
(a) Reaffirmation and Clarification of Duty To Assist.--
Chapter 51 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking sections 5102 and 5103 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 5102. Applications: forms furnished upon request;
notice to claimants of incomplete applications
``(a) Furnishing Forms.--Upon request made in person or in
writing by any person claiming or applying for a benefit
under the laws administered by the Secretary, the Secretary
shall furnish such person, free of all expense, all such
printed instructions and forms as may be necessary in
establishing such claim.
``(b) Incomplete Applications.--If a claimant's application
for a benefit under the laws administered by the Secretary is
incomplete, the Secretary shall notify the claimant and the
claimant's representative, if any, of the information
necessary to complete the application. The Secretary shall
notify each claimant of any additional information and
medical and lay evidence necessary to substantiate the claim.
As
[[Page H6787]]
part of such notice, the Secretary shall indicate which
portion of such evidence, if any, is to be provided by the
claimant and which portion of such evidence, if any, the
Secretary will attempt to obtain on behalf of the claimant.
``(c) Time Limitation.--In the case of evidence that the
claimant is notified is to be provided by the claimant, if
such evidence is not received by the Secretary within one
year from the date of such notification, no benefits may be
paid or furnished by reason of such application.
``(d) Inapplicability to Certain Benefits.--This section
shall not apply to any application or claim for Government
life insurance benefits.
``Sec. 5103. Applications: Duty to assist claimants
``(a) Duty To Assist.--The Secretary shall make reasonable
efforts to assist in obtaining evidence necessary to
establish a claimant's eligibility for a benefit under a law
administered by the Secretary. However, the Secretary may
decide a claim without providing assistance under this
subsection when no reasonable possibility exists that such
assistance will aid in the establishment of eligibility for
the benefit sought.
``(b) Assistance in Obtaining Records.--(1) As part of the
assistance provided under subsection (a), the Secretary shall
make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant records that the
claimant adequately identifies to the Secretary and
authorizes the Secretary to obtain.
``(2) Whenever the Secretary, after making such reasonable
efforts, is unable to obtain all of the records sought, the
Secretary shall inform the claimant that the Secretary is
unable to obtain such records. Such a notice shall--
``(A) specifically identify the records the Secretary is
unable to obtain;
``(B) briefly explain the efforts that the Secretary made
to obtain those records;
``(C) describe any further actions to be taken by the
Secretary with respect to the claim; and
``(D) request the claimant, if the claimant intends to
attempt to obtain such records independently, to so notify
the Secretary within a time period to be specified in the
notice.
``(c) Obtaining Records for Compensation Claims.--In the
case of a claim by a veteran for disability compensation, the
assistance provided by the Secretary under subsection (a)
shall include obtaining the following records if relevant to
the veteran's claim:
``(1) The claimant's existing service medical records and,
if the claimant has furnished information sufficient to
locate such records, other relevant service records.
``(2) Existing records of relevant medical treatment or
examination of the veteran at Department health-care
facilities or at the expense of the Department, if the
claimant has furnished information sufficient to locate such
records.
``(3) Information as described in section 5106 of this
title.
``(d) Medical Examinations for Compensation Claims.--In the
case of a claim by a veteran for disability compensation, the
assistance provided by the Secretary under subsection (a)
shall include providing a medical examination, or obtaining a
medical opinion, when the evidence of record before the
Secretary--
``(1) establishes that--
``(A) the claimant has--
``(i) a current disability;
``(ii) current symptoms of a disease that may not be
characterized by symptoms for extended periods of time; or
``(iii) persistent or recurrent symptoms of disability
following discharge or release from active military, naval,
or air service; and
``(B) there was an event, injury, or disease (or
combination of events, injuries, or diseases) during the
claimant's active military, naval, or air service capable of
causing or aggravating the claimant's current disability or
symptoms, but
``(2) is insufficient to establish service-connection of
the current disability or symptoms.
``(e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe
regulations to carry out this section. Such regulations shall
include provisions for--
``(1) specifying the evidence necessary under subsection
(a) to establish a claimant's eligibility for a benefit under
a law administered by the Secretary; and
``(2) determining under subsections (b) and (c) what
records are relevant to a claim.
``(f) Rule With Respect to Disallowed Claims.--Nothing in
this section shall be construed to require the Secretary to
reopen a claim that has been disallowed except when new and
material evidence is presented or secured, as described in
section 5108 of this title.
``(g) Other Assistance Not Precluded.--Nothing in this
section shall be construed as precluding the Secretary from
providing such other assistance to a claimant as the
Secretary considers appropriate.''.
(b) Reenactment of Rule for Claimant's Lacking a Mailing
Address.--Chapter 51 of such title is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
``Sec. 5126. Benefits not to be denied based on lack of
mailing address
``Benefits under laws administered by the Secretary may not
be denied a claimant on the basis that the claimant does not
have a mailing address.''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 51 of such title is amended--
(1) by striking the items relating to sections 5102 and
5103 and inserting the following:
``5102. Applications: forms furnished upon request; notice to claimants
of incomplete applications.
``5103. Applications: duty to assist claimants.'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new item:
``5126. Benefits not to be denied based on lack of mailing address.''.
SEC. 4. BURDEN OF PROOF.
(a) Repeal of ``Well-Grounded Claim'' Rule.--Section 5107
of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
``Sec. 5107. Burden of proof; benefit of the doubt
``(a) Burden of Proof.--Except when otherwise provided by
this title or by the Secretary in accordance with the
provisions of this title, a claimant shall have the burden of
proving entitlement to benefits.
``(b) Benefit of the Doubt.--The Secretary shall consider
all evidence and material of record in a case before the
Department with respect to benefits under laws administered
by the Secretary and shall give the claimant the benefit of
the doubt when there is an approximate balance of positive
and negative evidence regarding any issue material to the
determination of the matter.''.
SEC. 5. PROHIBITION OF CHARGES FOR RECORDS FURNISHED BY OTHER
FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.
Section 5106 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new sentence: ``No charge may
be imposed by the head of any such department or agency for
providing such information.''.
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) In General.--Except as specifically provided otherwise,
the provisions of section 5107 of title 38, United States
Code, as amended by section 4 of this Act, apply to any
claim--
(1) filed on or after the date of the enactment of this
Act; or
(2) filed before the date of the enactment of this Act and
not final as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Rule for Claims the Denial of Which Became Final After
the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Decision in the
Morton Case.--(1) In the case of any claim for benefits--
(A) the denial of which became final during the period
beginning on July 14, 1999, and ending on the date of the
enactment of this Act; and
(B) which was denied or dismissed by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs or a court because the claim was not well
grounded (as that term was used in section 5107(a) of title
38, United States Code, as in effect during that period),
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, upon the request of
the claimant, or on the Secretary's own motion, order the
claim readjudicated under chapter 51 of such title, as
amended by this Act, as if such denial or dismissal had not
been made.
(2) A claim may not be readjudicated under this subsection
unless the request is filed or the motion made not later than
two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) In the absence of a timely request of a claimant,
nothing in this Act shall be construed as establishing a duty
on the part of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to locate
and readjudicate claims described in this subsection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Stump) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump).
General Leave
Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks, and include extraneous material on H.R. 4864, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. STUMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4864 is the Veterans Claims Assistance
Act of 2000. The bill includes difficulties veterans have experienced
with the claims processing since the Veterans Administration's
implementation of a decision in the case of Morton v. West.
The bill requires the VA to assist veterans in obtaining records even
though the veterans has not filed what has been called a well-grounded
claim.
The Subcommittee on Benefits has worked closely with the veterans
service organizations, with the VA, and with the Senate Committee on
Veterans Affairs on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support passage
of H.R. 4864, as amended.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, last fall I introduced H.R. 3193, the Duty to Assist
Act. This measure provided a statutory requirement for the Department
of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans filing a claim for benefits
administered by the VA. This legislation became necessary as a result
of the ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for veterans benefits in
Morton v. West. Nearly 200 Members of the House have cosponsored this
legislation.
Following a hearing on H.R. 3193 and subsequent meetings, including
representatives of the VA and veterans
[[Page H6788]]
service organizations, H.R. 4864 was introduced. It incorporates the
basic principles of H.R. 3193. This measure will eliminate the onerous
well-grounded claim requirement that reinstates the VA's traditional
duty to assist claimants, as did H.R. 3193.
This legislation is needed to correct erroneous interpretations of
the law. Judicial review was intended to continue VA's strong
continuing obligation to assist all veterans with the development of
their claims, but the exact opposite has occurred.
I strongly believe in judicial review; however, courts can and do
make erroneous decisions. When those decisions affect the fundamental
rights of veterans, it is this Congress' responsibility to correct the
problem. H.R. 4864 will do this.
Under this measure, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to
obtain all evidence in control of the VA and other departments and
agencies necessary to establish eligibility for benefits before
deciding the claim. Likewise, veterans will be responsible for
providing such evidence in their control.
Veterans seeking to establish their entitlement to benefits they have
earned as a result of their service to our country deserve to have
their claims decided fairly and fully, based on all relevant and
available evidence. Passage of H.R. 4864 will help to assure that their
claims are properly considered and decided.
I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), chairman of
the committee. He has done great work on all of these bills today. I
want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), the chairman of
the Subcommittee on Benefits; the gentleman from California (Mr.
Filner), the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee, for their important
work in this measure.
We have moved it timely, Mr. Chairman, because of your leadership;
and I look forward to working with the gentleman on this issue. Madam
Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Veterans Claims Assistance
Act of 2000, H.R. 4864.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), chairman of the Subcommittee on
Benefits.
Mr. QUINN. Madam Speaker, the members of the Subcommittee on Benefits
have worked for the past 6 months or so to craft this legislation that
we are considering this morning, which I am pleased to say has the
bipartisan support of over 100 of our colleagues here in the House.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 4864, as amended, is in direct response to a 1999
decision by the Court of Appeals for veterans claims, the Morton v.
West decision, which puts limitations on the VA's duty to assist
veterans with the development of their claims.
The bill clarifies the claimants' and the VA's duties with respect to
obtaining evidence in support of claims for veterans benefits. The bill
also requires that the Secretary make reasonable effort to obtain
relevant records that the claimant identifies and authorizes the
Secretary to obtain, and it eliminates the requirement that a claimant
submit a ``well-grounded'' claim before the Secretary can assist in
obtaining evidence.
The Subcommittee on Benefits had a hearing on the issue this past
March 23; and since that time, we have been working and meeting with
members, not only the veterans service organizations but also the VA
and its officials to develop the bill that addresses the concerns of
all interested parties without requiring the Veterans Benefits
Administration to do unnecessary work. It is our intention that H.R.
4864, as amended, this morning will give direction to both the VA and
the claimant himself or herself.
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr.
Stump), and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking
member, for their leadership on this issue as we crafted this bill.
Both of these individuals have served together on the VA committee now
for some 19 years. Thanks also goes to the VSOs that engaged in
oftentimes a spirited dialogue to ensure that this bill does right by
veterans and all of their survivors.
Madam Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank
the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), the ranking member, and my
partner on the Subcommittee on benefits, the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Reyes), who had input from beginning to end on this matter.
Madam Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support H.R. 4864, as
amended, this morning.
Madam Speaker, I inform the Chair that we expect to ask for a
recorded vote when the time is appropriate.
Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Filner).
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4864 will eliminate a significant
obstacle that has been imposed upon veterans who file a claim for
benefits administered by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Claimants for these benefits are now facing obstacles which are
created by the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for veterans
claims in the so-called Morton v. West decision last July. That
decision meant that benefits claims that were filed by disabled
veterans have been rejected prior to their proper development and
consideration. This is simply unacceptable.
Madam Speaker, lead by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), our
chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, we as a committee, along with
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) as a member, undertook hearings,
undertook discussions with the VA and the VSOs. And in that process,
within a year of that decision, we now have a bill before us; and I
thank the majority Chairs for getting this through in this timely
fashion.
This legislation clearly and unequivocally removes the well-grounded
claim requirement which has proven to be a significant barrier facing
veterans seeking the fair and prompt adjudication of their claims. This
bill includes many of the concepts contained in an earlier bill, H.R.
3193, which is sponsored and introduced by the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Evans), our ranking member. It takes into consideration also
recommendations from the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as the
veterans service organizations, who I know the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Quinn), and I commend very deeply for their advocacy to assure
that veterans seeking benefits have their claims fairly and accurately
adjudicated.
H.R. 4864 is certainly one of the most important veterans measures to
be considered by this Congress. I urge a unanimous vote by my
colleagues.
Mr. QUINN. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. FILNER. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
Mr. QUINN. Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank
the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) to make certain our
colleagues understand that this is an effort by the Veterans
Subcommittee on Benefits to make the VA more user friendly, more
constituent friendly. When we have said so many times on the
subcommittee, when there is an area that is not certain, the benefit of
the doubt should always go to the veteran when we are able to do that.
Madam Speaker, I want to publicly thank the gentleman for his effort
in this regard. It has really made the hearings, I think, more
beneficial to everybody.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Quinn) for his leadership. We have had those
hearings; they have not only been educational but fruitful. Ideas are
put on the table; people have commented on them. We have taken those
ideas and incorporated them in the process. And the gentleman's
responsiveness to those concerns has been a model to the way I think we
ought to be conducting ourselves in this Congress.
Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith), the vice chairman of our committee.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Stump), my good friend, for yielding the time to me.
Madam Speaker, the House has before it today a piece of legislation
that will go a long way towards helping veterans and their families
file claims for VA benefits. I think the gentleman
[[Page H6789]]
from New York (Mr. Quinn) rightly summarized it. The idea behind this
bill is to make the VA more veterans user-friendly, so that the
benefits that we owe to those who serve this country can be accorded to
them.
{time} 1045
very happy and I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr.
Stump), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), my good friend the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) and the gentleman from California
(Mr. Filner) for their good work in crafting this legislation.
Madam Speaker, as things now stand, it is up to veterans to prove
that they are entitled to receive a particular benefit. This is how the
Veterans Court of Appeals interpreted, last October, the requirement
that a veteran's claim be well grounded before the VA consider it. Once
determined to be well grounded, the VA must help obtain evidence
related to the claim's actual merits.
The preliminary process approving eligibility for a claim can be an
onerous one for veterans, as well as for their families. Take, for
example, the claims for service-connected disabilities. Veterans must,
one, present evidence that they sustained a disease or injury during
military service. We all know from our case work how often the St.
Louis fire comes up. Two, a diagnosis of a current disability; and
three, a medical opinion stating that the in-service injury or disease
caused the current disability.
The reality is that many veterans are unable to secure the medical
records and other documents that they need because of poor health,
difficult economic circumstances or an unfamiliarity with how to
navigate a very complex Federal bureaucracy system, and thus have their
legitimate claims dismissed outright as not well grounded. Or, they
just get deterred in the process.
We all know again through our case work how often a veteran will come
to one of our offices or a town meeting or one-to-one meeting and say,
``I am just exhausted, will you please help me?''
Under H.R. 4864, the VA would have to help the veterans obtain
service records and a medical examination if the former serviceman or
woman has symptoms of a current disability or evidence of an injury or
disease sustained during medical service. The Veterans Claims
Assistance Act of 2000 would also require other Federal agencies to
furnish service records to the VA at no cost to the claimant.
Today's bill reassures veterans and their families that the country
they served in uniform is on their side when it comes to getting
assistance that they have more than earned. I urge support for this
legislation.
Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Reyes).
Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4864, the
Veterans Claims Assistance Act. I also want to thank our chairman, the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump); the ranking member, the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Evans); the subcommittee chair, the gentleman from
New York (Mr. Quinn); and subcommittee ranking member, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Filner) for their leadership on this very important
issue for our veterans.
This bill is important because it makes sure that assistance is given
to our veterans when establishing a claim for benefits. The bill
requires the VA to assist a veteran in obtaining evidence to establish
a claim by requiring the Veterans Administration to make reasonable
efforts to obtain relevant records and materials.
This is an important legislative correction as it eliminates the
unfair requirement that a veteran must first submit a well-grounded
claim before the VA will assist him.
We have an obligation to make sure that our veterans are given a hand
in receiving the benefits that they have worked for, that they have in
some cases bled for, and have certainly earned in the defense of our
country. We should never require our veterans to first overcome
bureaucratic obstacles before they are given the help that they earned
and that they deserve.
The Department of Veterans Affairs was established to assist our
veterans, and this legislation reinforces their obligation to serve our
veterans and to help them receive any benefits to which they are
entitled. I am therefore extremely pleased with this bill's requirement
that the VA assist our veterans in obtaining medical and treatment
records and information from other Federal agencies and to provide a
medical examination to establish whether or not they have a service-
connected claim.
This is good, pro-veterans legislation, and I therefore ask the
entire House to join in full support.
This morning, Madam Speaker, I also urge the House to fully support
eliminating the offset of military retired pay against veterans
compensation, which is included in the Senate defense authorization
bill and which is contained in H.R. 303. Many of us have already made
this request in a letter, and today I ask the House to vote to
eliminate this very unfair and costly penalty to our veterans.
I again want to thank the ranking members and the chairmen of our
committee for their leadership.
Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, once again I would like to express my appreciation to
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member; as well as
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), the chairman of our
subcommittee; the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), the ranking
member on the subcommittee; as well as the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Stupak) for bringing this forward.
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Veterans Claims
Assistance Act of 2000 which enables veterans to receive proper
assistance from the Veterans' Administration in obtaining evidence to
establish entitlement to a benefit.
Currently, the Veterans Administration simply denies a veteran's
claim for service-connected compensation benefits as ``not well
grounded'' if the veteran does not provide medical and military
information which shows a current disability is related to medical
service. While I agree that the VA should not work on claims that do
not merit attention, veterans are caught in a Catch-22 when the VA
requires the veteran to provide the required information in 30 days and
it routinely takes 6 months or longer to obtain records from the
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) or other military information
repositories. Even after receiving those records, the VA must make a
new determination of the case's status as well-grounded.
My hard working district office handles on average 3,600 constituents
a year; many of these cases involve veterans who request my assistance
in facilitating their retrieval of medical documents and their receipt
of deserved disability compensation. The ``well grounded'' provision
has severely hindered the American veterans' legal right to assistance
from the government in gathering necessary medical evidence.
The Veterans Claims Assistance Act would help our nation's veterans
by strengthening the VA's duty to assist by eliminating the requirement
that a claimant submit a ``well-grounded'' claim. America is eternally
grateful for the selfless service of our veterans. They must be
reassured that their country stands steadfast in support.
Mr. FOLEY. Madam Speaker, on July 21, 2000, the Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committee found that Florida has the largest backlog of
veterans' benefits claims in the country. In fact, Florida has over
20,000 such claims pending, more than any other state. Florida veterans
wait an average 213 days to have their claims processed whereas the VA
target is 74 days.
While this might have been news to the committee, it wasn't news to
me. Every time I visit my district in Florida, I hear from veterans who
have been waiting sometimes months to even get a call returned from the
VA.
We have a serious problem in this country when our Nation's veterans,
who have sacrificed so much for this country, must wait months to even
get a telephone call returned.
The Veterans' Claims Assistance Act would take a step toward
alleviating this problem by directing the VA to assist claimants in
obtaining the necessary documentation to establish their entitlement to
benefits. This, in turn, should speed the process and allow our
veterans to receive the benefits that are rightfully theirs.
Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H6790]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4864, as amended.
The question was taken.
Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________