[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 21, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1022-H1023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PREVENTING ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN REPORTS

  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1042) to prevent the elimination of certain reports, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1042

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REPORTS.

       Section 3003(a)(1) of the Federal Reports Elimination and 
     Sunset Act of 1995 (31 U.S.C. 1113 note) does not apply to 
     any report required to be submitted under any of the 
     following provisions of law:
       (1) Section 801(b) and (c) of the Department of Energy 
     Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7321(b) and (c)).
       (2) Section 822(b) of the National Defense Authorization 
     Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 (42 U.S.C. 6687).
       (3) Section 7(a) of the Marine Resources and Engineering 
     Development Act of 1966 (33 U.S.C. 1106(a)).
       (4) Section 206 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act 
     of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2476).
       (5) Section 404 of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 
     (47 U.S.C. 744).
       (6) Section 205(a)(1) of the National Critical Materials 
     Act of 1984 (30 U.S.C. 1804(a)(1)).
       (7) Section 17(c)(2) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
     Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a(c)(2)).
       (8) Section 10(h) of the National Institute of Standards 
     and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278(h)).
       (9) Section 212(f)(3) of the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     1989 (15 U.S.C. 3704b(f)(3)).
       (10) Section 11(g)(2) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
     Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710(g)(2)).
       (11) Section 5(d)(9) of the National Climate Program Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 2904(d)(9)).
       (12) Section 7 of the National Climate Program Act (15 
     U.S.C. 2906).
       (13) Section 703 of the Weather Service Modernization Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 313 note).
       (14) Section 118(d)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution 
     Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1268(d)(2)).
       (15) Section 304(d) of the Federal Aviation Administration 
     Research, Engineering, and Development Authorization Act of 
     1992 (49 U.S.C. 47508 note).
       (16) Section 2367(c) of title 10, United States Code.
       (17) Section 303(c)(7) of the Federal Property and 
     Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 253(c)(7)).
       (18) Section 102(e)(7) of the Global Change Research Act of 
     1990 (15 U.S.C. 2932(e)(7)).
       (19) Section 5(b)(1)(C) and (D) of the Earthquake Hazards 
     Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(1)(C) and (D)).
       (20) Section 11(e)(6) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
     Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710(e)(6)).
       (21) Section 2304(c)(7) of title 10, United States Code, 
     but only to the extent of its application to the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration.
       (22) Section 4(j)(1) of the National Science Foundation Act 
     of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(j)(1)).
       (23) Section 36(e) of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885c(e)).
       (24) Section 37 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d).
       (25) Section 108 of the National Science Foundation 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1986 (42 U.S.C. 1886).
       (26) Section 101(a)(3) of the High-Performance Computing 
     Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(3)).
       (27) Section 3(a)(7) and (f) of the National Science 
     Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862(a)(7) and (f)).
       (28) Section 7(a) of the National Science Foundation 
     Authorization Act, 1977 (42 U.S.C. 1873 note).
       (29) Section 16 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
     Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2215).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Grucci) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and insert extraneous material on H.R. 1042, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, last year, the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset 
Act of 1995 went into effect, eliminating all reports to Congress 
contained in House Document 103-7. The law was intended to alleviate 
the amount of paperwork agencies are required to produce.
  However, included in the hundreds of reports eliminated, the 
Committee on Science identified 29 contained in H.R. 1042 that are 
relevant to its oversight responsibilities. Included in these are the 
National Science Foundation's Science Indicators; a biennial report 
from the President on activities of all agencies in the field of marine 
science; an annual report on the National Technology Information 
Service and its activities; updates to the National Earthquake Hazards 
Reductions Program; and an annual report on the application of new 
technologies to reduce aircraft noise levels.
  These and other reports in H.R. 1042 will continue to provide 
constructive evaluation tools for the committee and the agencies 
producing them.
  In the 106th Congress, the House passed H.R. 3904 under suspension 
and by voice vote. Unfortunately, the Senate ran out of time after the 
bill was cleared for passage and failed to be enacted into law. Less 
one report, H.R. 1042 is identical to H.R. 3904 passed last year. It is 
a noncontroversial legislation, and I urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.

[[Page H1023]]

1042, a bill to prevent the elimination of certain government reports.
  Mr. Speaker, the task of the Committee on Science and obligation is 
to oversee a number of technical and scientific aspects of our 
government's business. In order to do so, we are enhanced or helped by 
the important reports that we have been receiving over the years.
  This legislation helps to correct an error that eliminated the 
reporting of or providing of such reports. I am representing the 
interests of the entire Congress as I speak, but especially the 
interests of the Committee on Science.
  This bill, should it pass both Houses and be signed into law, would 
stop the elimination of valuable reports that are produced by agencies 
at the direct request of Congress throughout the entire Federal 
Government.
  Briefly, the situation is that H.R. 1042 was designed to address, 
began with the signing into law of the Federal Reports Elimination 
Sunset Act of 1995. This legislation was one of the actions taken in 
the first year after the Republicans took over that now appears to be 
excessive.
  This bill eliminated every report listed in a document reports to be 
made to Congress in the 103rd Congress, which was virtually every 
statutorily required report to Congress. Some reporting requirements 
were arguably obsolete, but these reports contained much of the 
information that the executive branch supplies to Congress, ranging 
from the annual budget documents to reports on the functioning of 
specific government programs.
  These reports go to the heart of executive branch accountability and 
Congress oversight responsibilities. It is hard to fathom how Congress 
could do its job of reviewing executive branch activities and making 
intelligent and legislative decisions without current detailed 
information on many of those subjects.
  H.R. 1042 prevents the elimination of 29 reports within the 
jurisdictional areas covered by the Committee on Science. These range 
from the National Energy Policy Plan, which obviously at this juncture 
in our history is enormously important, and I serve on the Subcommittee 
on Energy, and we will be intensely reviewing how we can enhance the 
utilization of our limited resources, create alternative resources for 
energy and, in general, help America continue to be successful in 
having the right energy resources, to the Annual Report on Aeronautics 
and Space Activities, to the Annual Report of the National Science 
Board. Other reports let Congress know how the administration is doing 
in such high-priority areas as women and minorities in science and 
technology, high performance computing, placement of minorities, women 
and handicapped individuals at the National Science Foundation, and 
global warming.
  Other reports deal with satellites, with critical technologies, with 
earthquakes and with technology transfer.
  Mr. Speaker, this information is too important not to be made public. 
We, therefore, support this legislation; and I would ask my colleagues 
to support the passage of H.R. 1042.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, I include the following letter from the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), chairman of the Committee on 
Resources, for the Record:

                                         House of Representatives,


                                       Committee on Resources,

                                   Washington, DC, March 20, 2001.
     Hon. Sherwood L. Boehlert,
     Chairman, Committee on Science, Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I have just reviewed the text of H.R. 
     1042, to prevent the elimination of certain reports, which is 
     scheduled to be considered by the House of Representatives 
     this Wednesday under suspension of the rules. This bill was 
     referred exclusively to the Committee on Science. One of the 
     reports to Congress proposed to be restored is found in 
     section 7(a) of the Marine Resources and Engineering 
     Development Act of 1966.
       Based on recent referrals of bills, the Committee on 
     Resources has primary jurisdiction of the National Sea Grant 
     College Program which is part of the Marine Resources and 
     Engineering Development Act of 1966. The Committee on Science 
     has received sequential referrals of bills which reauthorize 
     appropriations for the Sea Grant program. See H.R. 437 (105th 
     Congress) and H.R. 1175 (104th Congress).
       The Committee on Resources supports the restoration of this 
     report to Congress and thanks Congressman Grucci for 
     including it in his bill. We have no objection to the 
     consideration of H.R. 1042 on the Floor this week but ask 
     that this letter be included as part of the debate to 
     register our jurisdictional interest.
       Thank you for your leadership in ensuring that Congress has 
     adequate information on the programs it supports and I look 
     forward to working with you in the coming months on 
     legislation of mutual interest.
           Sincerely,
                                                  James V. Hansen.

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1042, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. 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.

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