[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3089-H3092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1515
HOLOCAUST RESTITUTION TAX FAIRNESS ACT OF 2002
Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 4823) to repeal the sunset of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief
Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to the exclusion from Federal
income tax for restitution received by victims of the Nazi Regime.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4823
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 ``Holocaust Restitution Tax
Fairness Act of 2002''.
SEC. 2. REPEAL OF APPLICABILITY OF SUNSET OF THE ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND TAX RELIEF RECONCILIATION ACT OF
2001 WITH RESPECT TO EXCLUSION FROM FEDERAL
INCOME TAX FOR RESTITUTION RECEIVED BY VICTIMS
OF NAZI REGIME.
Section 901 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief
Reconciliation Act of 2001 is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
``(c) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to section
803 (relating to no federal income tax on restitution
received by victims of the Nazi regime or their heirs or
estates).''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr.
Cardin) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw).
Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. SHAW asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks and include extraneous material.)
Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be the sponsor of this
important piece of legislation, H.R. 4823, the Holocaust Restitution
Tax Fairness Act. It exempts Holocaust survivors from taxation any
restitution claims they received for the crimes committed against them
by Nazi Germany.
The bill permanently extends a provision of The Economic Growth and
Tax Reconciliation Act that makes such claims tax-free. Like the rest
of the tax cut signed into law by President Bush last year, this
provision sunsets in 2010. Today we are taking action to provide that
for as long as the victims and their heirs receive Holocaust-related
claims, they will be tax-free.
In recent years settlement agreements worth billions of dollars for
Holocaust survivors have been reached. Although no amount of money
could ever compensate the victims of the Holocaust for the crimes
committed against them, it would be wrong for the United States Tax
Code to treat these modest settlements as some sort of financial
windfall. Current estimates are that there will be 88,000 Holocaust
survivors in 2010 when the tax cuts sunset, many of whom reside in my
South Florida district. Congress should be prepared to give these
survivors the security of at least knowing that their settlement claims
will not be subject to the hands of the Internal Revenue Service.
Mr. Speaker, it is as simple as this: When something is stolen from
you,
[[Page H3090]]
you should not be taxed when it is returned. The idea that Uncle Sam
might take a bite out of these claims because of the tax cut sunset is
real appalling. This bill is supported by the Jewish Council for Public
Affairs, the Conference of Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, the
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Miami, the American
Jewish Committee, the American Gathering/Federation of Jewish Holocaust
Survivors, and the International Commission on the Holocaust Era
Insurance Claims.
I submit these letters of support from the organizations that I have
mentioned.
Mr. Speaker, this provision must be made permanent, not because it
will simplify the tax code, nor will it stimulate our recovering
economy, nor do we need to do this because it will directly affect
millions of Americans' pocketbooks. This needs to be done because it is
right.
With that in mind, I urge my colleagues to send a strong message of
support to the victims of the Holocaust and their families by voting
for this bill.
Jewish Council for Public
Affairs,
New York, May 31, 2002.
Hon. E. Clay Shaw,
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Shaw: On behalf of the Jewish Council for
Public Affairs, I am writing to thank you for introducing
legislation to repeal the sunset provisions in the last tax
package that provides exclusion from federal income tax for
restitution payments received by victims of the Nazi regime
(H.R. 4823). As you know, the Jewish Council for Public
Affairs is the public affairs arm of the organized American
Jewish community and serves as the national coordinating body
for the 13 national and 122 local agencies comprising the
field of Jewish community relations.
Holocaust survivors have been receiving various types of
compensation payments from Germany and Austria since the
1950s. Although the Internal Revenue Service had issued
several rulings exempting certain Holocaust compensation
payments from taxation, (such as Rev. Rul. 56-518 and Rev.
Rul. 69-212), until last year the Congress had never passed
legislation that would provide broad tax exemption for all
Holocaust-related payments.
Recent efforts to secure compensation payments for former
slave and forced laborers who suffered under the Nazi regime,
and to obtain restitution of stolen Holocaust-era assets,
have and will continue to result in survivors receiving
additional payments over the next several years. In light of
these developments, there is a need to ensure forever that
all compensation and restitution payments received by
Holocaust survivors and/or their heirs are not subject to
federal taxation.
No amount of money can ever compensate Holocaust survivors
for the horrors they endured. However, this legislation would
at least enable survivors to benefit fully from the token
compensation and restitution payments they will receive in
the future.
Sincerely,
Hannah Rosenthal,
Executive Director.
____
The American Jewish Committee,
Washington, DC, May 28, 2002.
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative: The American Jewish Committee, the
nation's premier human relations organization, with some
110,000 members and supporters and offices in 32 cities
nationwide, urges you to support H.R. 4823, the Holocaust
Restitution Tax Fairness Act of 2002, introduced by
Representative Clay Shaw.
The Holocaust Restitution Tax Fairness Act would remove
sunset provisions currently applicable to legislation enacted
last year that grants tax relief to Holocaust survivors. With
the passage of H.R. 1836, the Economic Growth and Tax Relief
Act, the Congress decided last year that Holocaust
restitution payments should not be a part of a beneficiary's
taxable income. Between 1933 and 1945, Nazi Germany
systematically stripped European Jews of their property.
Given the complications resulting from the Jewish people's
displacement following World War II, compensatory payments to
Holocaust survivors have been slow in coming. In recent years
there have been important developments in this area, but
there are still may survivors who have not received
restitution.
Because the tax relief offered to Holocaust survivors was
enacted as part of H.R. 1836, it is subject to a sunset
provision. Because of this, property and monetary
compensation received by Holocaust survivors after 2001 will
no longer be tax-free. The Holocaust Restitution Tax Fairness
Act of 2002 would remove the sunset clause from H.R. 1836
insofar as it is applicable to Holocaust compensation
payments. Instead of arbitrarily ending tax relief for
Holocaust survivors. H.R. 4823 will continue the status quo
so that this compensation will continue to be tax-free.
Additionally, H.R. 4823 ensures that Holocaust survivors who
receive property through restitution will not have to pay
capital gains taxes should they immediately sell this newly
received capital.
We strongly urge you to support the Holocaust Restitution
Tax Fairness Act. Passage of this bill will demonstrate
Congress' commitment to preserving principles of just
compensation for all Holocaust survivors, so that all
families will receive the modicum of justice that these tax-
free payments reflected, no matter how long it may take.
Thank you for considering our views.
Sincerely,
Richard T. Foltin,
Legislative Director and Counsel.
____
The International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance
Claims,
Washington, DC, May 31, 2002.
Hon. E. Clay Shaw,
United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Shaw: As Chairman of the International
Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC), I
would like to voice my support for H.R. 4823.
One of the greatest tragedies of history is that so many
victims of the Holocaust and their families were denied the
justice they deserved.
One area where the U.S. Government can attempt to ease the
burdens felt by Holocaust survivors and their families is to
permanently remove the tax burden of restitution payments.
This is not justice, nor should it be considered as such. It
is simply the least that can be done to ease some of the
ongoing suffering that still remains from the Holocaust.
I fully support your efforts to permanently make Holocaust
restitution payments tax-exempt. It is impossible for anyone
to say at this point if some of the claims funds or
humanitarian funds will still be functioning after December
2010. But in the event that they are, why should we allow an
issue of taxation to tarnish the may efforts that are being
made currently to bring final resolution to this matter?
Sincerely,
Lawrence S. Eagleburger,
Chairman.
____
American Gathering/Federation of Jewish Holocaust
Survivors,
New York, NY, May 31, 2002.
Representative Clay Shaw,
Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Shaw: The United States Congress
created an important provision for Holocaust survivors in
this country receiving compensation and restitution payments
from Germany and other countries when it passed legislation
last year exempting such payments from taxation.
I ask you now to help ensure that this legislation becomes
permanent. Exempting these payments from taxes sends a strong
statement that the United States government believes that
victims of Nazism are entitled to the full amount paid to
them. As Chairman of the American Gathering of Jewish
Holocaust Survivors, I can tell you that these payments are
an acknowledgment of the indescribable suffering endured by
Jews under the Nazis, and as such should not be treated as
normal income.
As you are aware, the legislation enacted last year expires
in 2010. There are thousands of survivors in the U.S. who
will continue to receive payments after that date. It is
important that this taxation exemption continue as long as
there are Holocaust survivors alive and receiving
compensation and restitution.
Sincerely,
Roman Kent.
____
Jewish Community Relations Council,
Miami, FL, May 31, 2002.
Hon. E. Clay Shaw,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Shaw: Thank you for sponsoring H.R. 4823,
a bill that will make permanent the exclusion from taxes of
proceeds from Holocaust restitution payments. As you know,
South Florida is home to one of the largest Holocaust
survivor communities in the United States and the Miami
Jewish community has actively advocated on their behalf for
many years.
We know that no amount of money can ever compensate
Holocaust survivors for the horrors they endured. However,
your tax-exempt legislation would at least enable survivors
to benefit fully from the token compensation and restitution
payments they will receive.
We support your efforts to permanently exempt restitution
payments received by victims of the Nazi regime from federal
income tax.
Sincerely,
Samuel J. Dubbin,
Chairman.
Judy Gilbert-Gould,
Director.
____
Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany,
Inc.,
New York, NY, May 28, 2002.
Representative Clay Shaw,
Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives,
Congress of the United States, Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Shaw: The Claims Conference was founded
in 1952 by twenty
[[Page H3091]]
two Jewish organizations and since that date has both
negotiated Holocaust restitution and compensation agreements
on behalf of the Jewish people and has played a pivotal role
in the distribution of funds to individuals and allocating
funds to institutions that assist Nazi victims.
The Claims Conference actively supported section 803 of the
Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 as
this provision is of great benefit to Holocaust survivors.
Consequently, the Claims Conference would like to express its
support for section 1 of H.R. 4823 that repeals the sunset
provision of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief
Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to exclusion from
Federal Income Tax for restitution received by victims of the
Nazi regime.
As you are aware, the provision enacted last year expires
in 2010. Thousands of holocaust survivors in the United
States currently receive pensions related to their
persecution under the Nazi regime and these survivors will
continue to receive such pensions as long as they are alive,
which we anticipate in the case of some survivors will be
beyond 2010.
It is important for thousands of holocaust survivors and
their families that the sunset clause be repealed in order
that the benefit to Holocaust survivors of this legislation
can continue during the lifetime of survivors.
Sincerely yours,
Israel Singer,
President.
Gideon Taylor,
Executive Vice President.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. CARDIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Shaw) for bringing forward this bill.
I strongly support H.R. 4823, the Holocaust Restitution Tax Fairness
Act of 2002. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) has explained the
purpose of this legislation and I just want to underscore on the
importance of making sure that the funds that the Holocaust survivors
receive in restitution are not subject to taxes here in the United
States.
We know that the victims and their families have already paid a
terrible price. No amount of money can compensate for their suffering,
but Congress can guarantee that the survivors can keep the full amount
of the money that they receive in partial restitution. Many families
are depending upon those funds and they do not know now that 10 years
from now what Congress will do as far as extending the tax law. It is
important that we clarify it now, and I strongly support this
legislation.
As a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe,
commonly referred to as the Helsinki Commission, I have been fortunate
to help a number of my constituents reclaim their family property that
has been seized by Nazi or communist regimes during and immediately
after World War II.
As we continue to press Europe and former Soviet Republic governments
to enact nondiscriminatory property restitution laws, Congress should
take this step to ensure that the United States Government does not
benefit from the restitution claims.
The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany is
overseeing the distribution of an estimated 60,000 restitution payments
to individuals residing in the United States. Mr. Speaker, I might add
that there are other governments and institutions that are now
participating in restitution claims for the victims of Nazi Germany.
Mr. Speaker, this bill has a nominal fiscal impact on government
revenues, and I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Levin) who is a distinguished member of the
Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time,
my colleague and good friend.
In a real sense there cannot be restitution, but this is a small way
that a small part can be restored where people, survivors or their
heirs lost assets, they were either expropriated or stolen or in other
ways lost. There is argument over making permanent some provisions of
the tax bill that was passed earlier in this session. I trust there is
no dispute about making permanent this provision. It is a small step
that we can take to bring a small measure of justice when full justice
cannot begin to be restored. So I would very much rise in support of
this proposal and urge its unanimous support.
Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Cantor).
Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Shaw) for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4823, the Holocaust
Restoration Tax Fairness Act. Mr. Speaker, in recent years settlement
agreements worth millions of dollars have been reached to compensate
Holocaust survivors. Many of these survivors who live in the United
States receive small payments from these restoration agreements.
Currently, Holocaust victims are exempt from paying income tax on the
restoration payments they receive. But a provision in the tax code
sunsets this exemption on January 1, 2011.
This heroic group of Holocaust survivors is an aging population and
current estimates show that there will only be 88,000 living Holocaust
survivors by the year 2011. If we fail to pass this legislation, many
of the victims who suffered directly at the hands of the Nazis will be
forced to share up to one-third of their restoration payments with the
Internal Revenue Service.
Mr. Speaker, let us pass this legislation and allow the survivors of
the Holocaust to fully keep what was and is rightfully theirs.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4823 and I
commend the gentleman from Florida, my friend and colleague Congressman
Shaw, for introducing it. I strongly urge my colleagues to adopt this
worthy legislation.
This act will prevent government taxation from incurring on any
payments of restitution to holocaust survivors after 2010. This is a
significant beneficial provision for the Economic Growth and Tax Relief
act. it is imperative that we make this provision permanent. if not, it
is possible that holocaust survivors could lose one third of their
restitory income.
These payments are quite modest to begin with and by 2010 the
majority of beneficiaries will be elderly members of the population who
are already in need of economic aid. The loss of one third of their
compensation would greatly deprive them. These payments are
compensation for pain and suffering and should be off limits to the
government. The IRS has no right in profiting from the pain of others
and therefore, the act before us should be passed.
We have a moral obligation to help those who suffered at the hands of
evil regimes during world war two. It is only fair that these
unfortunate souls be compensated for their pain without government
taxation. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to fully support this
measure.
Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4823,
important legislation that permanently excludes taxable income all
forms of restitution payments to victims of the Nazi regime.
This legislation is a small but important step in recognizing the
suffering that the Holocaust inflicted on millions of families,
including several who live in my district, the 25th Congressional
District of Texas. These individuals, in addition to being displaced
from their homes, families, and communities, also suffered devastating
economic loss when the Nazi regime pillaged their finances and assets.
As the appropriate entities have made necessary restitution payments to
these victims, it is important to protect these funds that the
recipients have payed dearly for.
This is the essence of H.R. 4823, which makes permanent the tax
protection offered in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation
Act, H.R. 1836, which excluded these assets from taxable income for the
fiscal year 2001 to 2011 period, and was enacted into law last June. I
am also pleased to note that H.R. 4823 is similar to legislation I co-
sponsored in the 106th Congress, H.R. 3511, which unfortunately did not
become law. Today, however, we can rectify that effort and successfully
pass the current bill, and help compensate the enormous losses suffered
by victims of the Holocaust.
For all these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me
in support for H.R. 4823.
Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to offer my
support for H.R. 4823, a bill which repeals the sunset of a provision
in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 which
provides a Federal income tax exclusion for restitution payments
received by victims of the Nazi Regime.
During the 106th Congress, Congressman Robert Matsui and I introduced
a bill, H.R. 1292, which would have excluded from gross income any
amount received by an individual, or any heir of the individual from
any person as a result of any moral or legal injustice experienced by
such individual as a Holocaust
[[Page H3092]]
victim persecuted for racial or religious reasons by Nazi Germany. Many
of the provisions included in H.R. 1292 were included in the tax bill
signed by President Bush last year, we are working to make these
provisions permanent today.
In August 1998, after many years of effort, Holocaust survivors who
had assets withheld by Swiss banks or others finally received justice
through a $1.25 billion settlement. These settlements continue to be
distributed to Holocaust survivors and their heirs world-wide.
the settlements return assets to their rightful owners and their
heirs more than 50 years after they were first entrusted to their care.
Funds have been established by banks and corporations in France,
Austria, Italy and Germany to return assets such as bank accounts and
insurance policies to Holocaust survivors. With the enactment of the
Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act last year, and with
H.R. 4823, which we are considering today, we can ensure that any
payment, from Swiss banks or other similar sources, will not be taxed.
This is clearly the right thing to do because they are receiving back
what was always theirs to begin with.
With the average age of Holocaust survivors at 80, the time left to
debate these payments is slipping away. Certainly, these payments will
make life more comfortable for these survivors in their remaining
years. To tax them on these long overdue payments would simply be
wrong.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this important
legislation and I thank you for the opportunity to speak in favor of
H.R. 4823.
H.R. 4823--Holocaust Restitution Tax Fairness Act of 2002
H.R. 4823 will make permanent provisions in the Economic
Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (EGTRRA) that
exclude from gross income any restitution payments received
by victims of the Nazi Regime or their heirs or estates.
This bill is supported by Conference of Jewish Material
Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), Jewish Community
Relations Council of Greater Miami (JCRC), American Jewish
Committee (AJC), American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust
Survivors, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA),
United Jewish Communities (UJC), the Religious Action Center
of Reform Judaism (RAC) and International Commission on
Holocaust Era Insurance.
These tax relief provisions expire or ``sunset'' on
December 31, 2010. After that any restitution payments could
be subject to federal taxation.
The sunset (i.e. expiration) of the tax provisions in
EGTRRA creates significant risk and uncertainty for tax
planning and other important personal decisions for victims
of the Holocaust and their families.
holocaust restitution settlements
In recent years, settlement agreements worth billions of
dollars have been reached to compensate Holocaust survivors.
It is unknown what future agreements will occur but U.S. tax
law should ensure that any and all future payments be
excluded from federal taxation.
In addition, millions of dollars of restitution payments
are made every year to thousands of survivors of the
Holocaust in the form of monthly payments. If this tax
provision is not made permanent, thousands of Holocaust
survivors could lose over one-third of their restitution to
the IRS when EGTRRA expires.
Holocaust survivors are an aging population but current
estimates are that there will be 88,000 Jewish Holocaust
survivors in 2010 and 37,000 in 2020. A large fraction of
these survivors are receiving reparation payments. If this
provision is not made permanent, those who suffered at the
hands of the Nazis will be forced to share their modest
payments with the government.
Not exempting this income from taxation is tantamount to
the federal government ``profiting'' from restitution
payments that are compensation for the pain and suffering of
Holocaust survivors and their families.
International Consideration
The U.S. provision has served as a model for similar
legislation in other countries. Specifically, the Russian
government has studied and been influenced by the U.S.
legislation when crafting a similar provision exempting
Holocaust payments to Russian citizens.
Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the United States has a long
tradition of recognizing the importance of tax exemptions for the
restitution of assets lost during World War II. The tradition began
with military law 59 in 1947 and was continued by three treaties with
Germany. While I voted against last year's H.R. 1836, I did support the
provision exempting restitution payments for Holocaust survivors. That
provision proves that the United States has retained its sensitivity to
the extraordinary nature and penitent purpose of Holocaust restitution
payments.
H.R. 4823 seeks to continue this proud tradition. This bill makes
permanent the provision in H.R. 1836 excluding payments to Holocaust
victims from taxable income. Without this bill, the exclusion for
holocaust restitution payments, like all aspects of H.R. 1836, will
expire on December 31, 2010.
While no amount of money can truly compensate Holocaust survivors for
the horrors they endured, in a world where Holocaust denial lives, it
is crucial to make strong statements of support for Holocaust
survivors. The increase over the past year of Anti-Semitic incidents in
Europe makes it an especially important time to stand with those who
refuse to condone Anti-Semitism.
Many of the restitution payments have maximum income qualifications.
Therefore, much of the restitution goes to individuals with yearly
incomes under $20,000. Furthermore, according to the Jewish Council for
Public Affairs, as many as 1.4 million people may receive claims,
cutting the payments to individuals to a relatively small amount. For
this money to have any real, rather than merely token, significance,
the tax exemption must remain.
Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, The Netherlands,
The United Kingdom, and Israel currently exempt restitution payments
from taxation. So do 46 out of the 50 dates. The Federal government
must continue to lead the way in supporting Holocaust Survivors. H.R.
4823 ensures that the support will not disappear in 2010.
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4823. I am
glad that we are moving forward to make permanent the provisions in the
Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act.
The Holocaust was one of the worst atrocities committed by man
against man. This simple provision will exclude compensatory payments
made to victims and their heirs from taxation. Given the fact that an
entire generation was nearly wiped out and that those who survived will
never fully recover from the emotional horrors of the Holocaust, this
is a small way of compensating the victims. The current tax provisions
are due to, ``sunset,'' or expire on December 31, 2010. This
instability makes it difficult for Holocaust victims and their families
to plan their financial futures.
I find it deplorable to think that the Federal Government would seek
to profit from restitution payments that are meant to compensate
Holocaust victims and their families. These people have suffered
enough. They must not be subjected to legislation that would rob them
of over one-third of their rightful compensation.
Mr. Speaker, my brother-in-law and best friend, Andy Ross, survived
the Holocaust. He was imprisoned in Belsen concentration camp until
being freed by the Allied Forces. I'm not certain if he's eligible for
compensation under the agreements worked out in Europe, and quite
frankly, that doesn't really matter. What does matter is that while
there is absolutely nothing we can do to ever erase the horrors of the
Holocaust that are imbedded in the minds and hearts of those, like
Andy, who survived this tragedy, we can avoid making it worse by taxing
their compensation.
The thought of us promoting such a scheme as taxing these payments
makes me absolutely ill.
Today, we are making a decision that might very well be the model for
other nations. Therefore, I urge you, to be a role model and vote in
favor of H.R. 4823
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 4823.
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. SHAW. 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.
____________________