[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H109-H112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MEDICAL DEVICES TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT
Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3493) to amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to
make technical corrections relating to the amendments made by the
Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act of 2002, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3493
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 ``Medical Devices Technical
Corrections Act''.
SEC. 2. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS REGARDING PUBLIC LAW 107-250.
(a) Title I; Fees Relating to Medical Devices.--Part 3 of
subchapter C of chapter VII of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 379i et seq.), as added by section
102 of Public Law 107-250 (116 Stat. 1589), is amended--
(1) in section 737--
(A) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``and for which
clinical data are generally necessary to provide a reasonable
assurance of safety and effectiveness'' and inserting ``and
for which substantial clinical data are necessary to provide
a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness'';
(B) in paragraph (4)(D), by striking ``manufacturing,'';
(C) in paragraph (5)(J), by striking ``a premarket
application'' and all that follows and inserting ``a
premarket application or premarket report under section 515
or a premarket application under section 351 of the Public
Health Service Act.''; and
(D) in paragraph (8), by striking ``The term `affiliate'
means a business entity that has a relationship with a second
business entity'' and inserting ``The term `affiliate' means
a business entity that has a relationship with a second
business entity (whether domestic or international)''; and
(2) in section 738--
(A) in subsection (a)(1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i) by striking
``subsection (d),'' and inserting ``subsections (d) and
(e),'';
(II) in clause (iv), by striking ``clause (i),'' and all
that follows and inserting ``clause (i).''; and
(III) in clause (vii), by striking ``clause (i),'' and all
that follows and inserting ``clause (i), subject to any
adjustment under subsection (e)(2)(C)(ii).''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (D), in each of clauses (i) and (ii),
by striking ``application'' and inserting ``application,
report,'';
(B) in subsection (d)(2)(B), beginning in the second
sentence, by striking ``firms. which show'' and inserting
``firms, which show'';
(C) in subsection (e)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Where'' and inserting
``For fiscal year 2004 and each subsequent fiscal year,
where''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraph (B), beginning in the second sentence,
by striking ``firms. which show'' and inserting ``firms,
which show''; and
(II) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``Where'' and
inserting ``For fiscal year 2004 and each subsequent fiscal
year, where'';
(D) in subsection (f), by striking ``for filing''; and
(E) in subsection (h)(2)(B)--
(i) in clause (ii), by redesignating subclauses (I) and
(II) as items (aa) and (bb), respectively;
(ii) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses
(I) and (II), respectively;
(iii) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(i) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) More than 5 percent.--To the extent such costs are
more than 5 percent below the specified level in subparagraph
(A)(ii), fees may not be collected under this section for
that fiscal year.''.
(b) Title II; Amendments Regarding Regulation of Medical
Devices.--
(1) Inspections by accredited persons.--Section 704(g) of
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 374(g)),
as added by section 201 of Public Law 107-250 (116 Stat.
1602), is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by striking
``conducting inspections'' and all that follows and inserting
``conducting inspections of establishments that manufacture,
prepare, propagate, compound, or process class II or class
III devices, which inspections are required under section
510(h) or are inspections of such establishments required to
register under section 510(i).'';
(B) in paragraph (5)(B), in the first sentence, by
inserting after ``standards of accreditation,'' the
following: ``or where the Secretary has information
indicating that the relationship between the establishment
and the accredited person may create a conflict of
interest,'';
(C) in paragraph (6)(A)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``of the establishment
pursuant to subsection (h) or (i) of section 510'' and
inserting ``described in paragraph (1)'';
(ii) in clause (ii)--
(I) in the matter preceding subclause (I)--
(aa) by striking ``each inspection'' and inserting
``inspections''; and
(bb) by inserting ``during a 2-year period'' after
``person''; and
(II) in subclause (I), by striking ``such a person'' and
inserting ``an accredited person'';
(iii) in clause (iii)--
(I) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking
``and the following additional conditions are met:'' and
inserting ``and 1 or both of the following additional
conditions are met:'';
(II) in subclause (I), by striking ``identified under
subclause (II) of this clause'' and inserting ``identified
under clause (ii)(II) as a person authorized to conduct
inspections of device establishments''; and
(III) in subclause (II), by inserting ``or by a person
accredited under paragraph (2)'' after ``by the Secretary'';
(iv) in clause (iv)(I)--
(I) in the first sentence--
(aa) by striking ``the two immediately preceding
inspections of the establishment'' and inserting
``inspections of the establishment during the previous 4
years''; and
(bb) by inserting ``section'' after ``pursuant to'';
(II) in the third sentence--
(aa) by striking ``the petition states a commercial reason
for the waiver;''; and
(bb) by inserting ``not'' after ``the Secretary has not
determined that the public health would''; and
(III) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``granted until''
and inserting ``granted or deemed to be granted until'';
(v) in clause (iv)(II)--
(I) by inserting ``of a device establishment required to
register'' after ``to be conducted''; and
(II) by inserting ``section'' after ``pursuant to''; and
(vi) by adding at the end the following clause:
``(v) The eligibility of the establishment for inspections
by accredited persons has not been suspended under
subparagraph (B)(iv)(II).'';
(D) in paragraph (6)(B)(iii)--
(i) in the first sentence, by striking ``, and data
otherwise describing whether the establishment has
consistently been in compliance with sections 501 and 502'';
(ii) in the second sentence--
(I) by striking ``inspections'' and inserting
``inspectional findings''; and
(II) by inserting ``relevant'' after ``together with all
other''; and
(iii)(I) by inserting ``(I)'' after ``(iii)'';
(II) by adding at the end the following subclause:
``(II) In making a decision under this paragraph, the
Secretary may consider any information relevant to the
establishment's compliance with any provision of this Act.
Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to
expand the Secretary's inspectional authority under
subsection (a).'';
(E) in paragraph (6)(B)(iv)--
(i) by inserting ``(I)'' after ``(iv)''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following subclause:
``(II) If, during the two-year period following clearance
under subparagraph (A) with respect to a device
establishment, the Secretary obtains information indicating
significant deviations from compliance with this Act or
implementing regulations, the Secretary may, after notice and
an opportunity for a written response, notify the
establishment that the eligibility of the establishment for
inspections by accredited person has been suspended.'';
(F) in paragraph (6)(C)(ii), by striking ``in accordance
with section 510(h), or has not during such period been
inspected pursuant to section 510(i), as applicable'';
(G) in paragraph (10)(B)(iii), by striking ``a reporting''
and inserting ``a report''; and
(H) in paragraph (12)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) the number of inspections conducted by accredited
persons pursuant to this subsection and the number of
inspections conducted by Federal employees pursuant to
section 510(h) and of device establishments required to
register under section 510(i);''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``obtained by the
Secretary'' and all that follows and inserting ``obtained by
the Secretary pursuant to inspections conducted by Federal
employees;''.
(2) Other corrections.--
[[Page H110]]
(A) Prohibited acts.--Section 301(gg) of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 331(gg)), as amended by
section 201(d) of Public Law 107-250 (116 Stat. 1609), is
amended to read as follows:
``(gg) The knowing failure to comply with paragraph (7)(E)
of section 704(g); the knowing inclusion by a person
accredited under paragraph (2) of such section of false
information in an inspection report under paragraph (7)(A) of
such section; or the knowing failure of such a person to
include material facts in such a report.''.
(B) Electronic labeling.--Section 502(f) of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 352(f)), as amended
by section 206 of Public Law 107-250 (116 Stat. 1613), is
amended, in the last sentence--
(i) by inserting ``or by a health care professional and
required labeling for in vitro diagnostic devices intended
for use by health care professionals or in blood
establishments'' after ``in health care facilities'';
(ii) by inserting a comma after ``means'';
(iii) by striking ``requirements of law and, that'' and
inserting ``requirements of law, and that'';
(iv) by striking ``the manufacturer affords health care
facilities the opportunity'' and inserting ``the manufacturer
affords such users the opportunity''; and
(v) by striking ``the health care facility''.
(c) Title III; Additional Amendments.--
(1) Effective date.--Section 301(b) of Public Law 107-250
(116 Stat. 1616), is amended by striking ``18 months'' and
inserting ``36 months''.
(2) Premarket notification.--Section 510(o) of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360(o)), as added by
section 302(b) of Public Law 107-250 (116 Stat. 1616), is
amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``, adulterated'' and
inserting ``or adulterated''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, adulterated'' and
inserting ``or adulterated''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``semicritical'' and
inserting ``semi-critical''.
(d) Miscellaneous Corrections.--
(1) Certain amendments to section 515.--
(A) In general.--
(i) Technical correction.--Section 515(c) of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360e(c)), as amended
by sections 209 and 302(c)(2)(A) of Public Law 107-250 (116
Stat. 1613, 1618), is amended by redesignating paragraph (3)
(as added by section 209 of such Public Law) as paragraph
(4).
(ii) Modular review.--Section 515(c)(4)(B) of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360e(c)(4)(B)) is
amended by striking ``unless an issue of safety'' and
inserting ``unless a significant issue of safety''.
(B) Conforming amendment.--Section 210 of Public Law 107-
250 (116 Stat. 1614) is amended by striking ``, as amended''
and all that follows through ``by adding'' and inserting ``is
amended in paragraph (3), as redesignated by section
302(c)(2)(A) of this Act, by adding''.
(2) Certain amendments to section 738.--
(A) In general.--Section 738(a) of the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 379j(a)), as amended by
subsection (a), is amended--
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(I) by striking ``(a) Types of Fees.--Beginning on'' and
inserting the following:
``(a) Types of Fees.--
``(1) In general.--Beginning on''; and
(II) by striking ``this section as follows:'' and inserting
``this section.''; and
(ii) by striking ``(1) Premarket application,'' and
inserting the following: ``(2) Premarket application,''.
(B) Conforming amendments.--Section 738 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 379j), as amended by
subparagraph (A), is amended--
(i) in subsection (d)(1), in the last sentence, by striking
``subsection (a)(1)(A)'' and inserting ``subsection
(a)(2)(A)'';
(ii) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``subsection
(a)(1)(A)(vii)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(2)(A)(vii)'';
(iii) in subsection (e)(2)(C)--
(I) in each of clauses (i) and (ii), by striking
``subsection (a)(1)(A)(vii)'' and inserting ``subsection
(a)(2)(A)(vii)''; and
(II) in clause (ii), by striking ``subsection
(a)(1)(A)(i)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(2)(A)(i)''; and
(iv) in subsection (j), by striking ``subsection
(a)(1)(D),'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(2)(D),''.
(C) Additional conforming amendment.--Section 102(b)(1) of
Public Law 107-250 (116 Stat. 1600) is amended, in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``section
738(a)(1)(A)(ii)'' and inserting ``section
738(a)(2)(A)(ii)''.
(3) Public law 107-250.--Public Law 107-250 is amended--
(A) in section 102(a) (116 Stat. 1589), by striking ``(21
U.S.C. 379F et seq.)'' and inserting ``(21 U.S.C. 379f et
seq.)'';
(B) in section 102(b) (116 Stat. 1600)--
(i) by striking paragraph (2);
(ii) in paragraph (1), by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
and (B) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and
(iii) by striking:
``(b) Fee Exemption for Certain Entities Submitting
Premarket Reports.--
``(1) In general.--A person submitting a premarket report''
and inserting:
``(b) Fee Exemption for Certain Entities Submitting
Premarket Reports.--A person submitting a premarket report'';
and
(C) in section 212(b)(2) (116 Stat. 1614), by striking ``,
such as phase IV trials,''.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON BARRIERS TO AVAILABILITY OF DEVICES
INTENDED FOR CHILDREN.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives a report on the barriers to the
availability of devices intended for the treatment or
diagnosis of diseases and conditions that affect children.
The report shall include any recommendations of the Secretary
of Health and Human Services for changes to existing
statutory authority, regulations, or agency policy or
practice to encourage the invention and development of such
devices.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood).
General Leave
Mr. GREENWOOD. 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. 3493.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3493 is a bill that I introduced with the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), which seeks to make technical
and clarifying amendments to the Medical Device User Fee and
Modernization Act of 2002 (MDUFMA). That bill, which was signed into
law by President Bush on October 26, 2002, made sweeping changes to the
laws that govern medical device approvals to establish new programs and
streamline processes to accelerate the availability of medical devices
to patients. For example, MDUFMA established a user fee program that
will provide substantial new resources to speed up the approval of the
medical devices. It streamlined the approval of combination products
such as drug-coated stents which are one of the most exciting new areas
of technology. It expanded the role of third parties and outside
experts to augment the FDA resources to help FDA meet its beneficial
manufacturing inspection requirements; and MDUFMA also extended the use
of third-party review programs for 1 year so that it expires in
conjunction with other device provisions.
The legislation before us today amends the Medical Device User Fee
Modernization Act to ensure that it is being implemented properly.
While some of the amendments are truly technical, others clarify the
intentions of Congress. For example, this legislation ensures that the
user fee reductions that apply to small businesses apply for 2004 and
years in the future. In addition, the legislation clarifies that as
part of the third-party inspection program, companies must submit
reports of inspectional findings consistent with current FDA practices.
{time} 1445
H.R. 3493 clarifies which data need to be submitted for a firm to be
eligible for third-party inspection.
Medical devices are some of our health care system's most remarkable
innovations. The provisions in this technical and clarifying amendments
bill will allow the FDA to continue to reduce review times, increase
the efficiency of its operations and allow these wonderful technologies
to be delivered to patients more quickly.
I want to thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the gentleman from Michigan
(Mr. Dingell) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) as well as the
gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) and each of their staffs for
this legislation. This has been another outstanding example of teamwork
and bipartisanship on the part of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I am pleased to support this legislation which is intended to, and
will,
[[Page H111]]
help ensure that FDA's medical device user fee and third-party review
programs operate as intended. The goal of these programs is to promote
timely access to medical devices without compromising FDA's ability to
properly evaluate both the safety and the effectiveness of those
devices. Successful bipartisan negotiations produced the authorizing
legislation for these programs, and it is the same with this follow-up
measure today.
I commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo) and the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) as well as the gentleman
from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell)
and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the subcommittee Chair,
for their leadership on this successful committee effort.
Unfortunately, the need for noncontroversial technical corrections is
not the only obstacle preventing the medical device user fee program
from fulfilling its potential. It is important for colleagues on both
sides of the aisle to be aware that continuation of the user fee
program, and it is this program that enables patients to receive
cutting-edge medical devices on a timely basis, the continuation of the
user fee program does in fact hinge on the appropriations process.
User fees do no incremental good if they supplant, rather than
supplement, Federal spending. As in the successful prescription drug
user fee program, the continuation of user fees depends on sufficient
annual appropriations. Last year's appropriation for medical device
reviews was insufficient to sustain the medical device user fee program
in an optimal way. If this year's appropriation does not address that
shortfall, the user fee program will likely fold.
Hard work went into establishing this program. The existence of the
program enables patients more timely access to medical devices at no
additional cost to American taxpayers. We need to make sure the program
does not indeed fold.
I hope the President's budget includes sufficient funding for the
user fee program, and I hope we follow through by allocating sufficient
dollars to keep this program alive.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman
from California (Ms. Eshoo), one of the architects of this bill.
Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank our distinguished ranking member and
my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) who,
together we introduced this legislation, H.R. 3493. I appreciate always
his cooperation and that of his staff. This is not the first effort
where we have worked together and been successful. We are proud of that
and proud of the work that has come out of our committee.
This bill makes important technical corrections. While it may seem a
little dull and dry, the technical corrections really enhance the
Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act which was a very
important piece of legislation which allowed major new programs that
really streamline the Food and Drug Administration's medical device
approval process to be actually implemented. This bipartisan bill is
about making sure that patients are, one, able to safely benefit from
new medical technologies and, secondly, as quickly as possible. As
medical technologies become more advanced, it takes more attention and
resources to ensure that these products are safe and effective.
Last year, the House overwhelmingly passed the Medical Device User
Fee and Modernization Act which helps the FDA get lifesaving products
to patients faster, as well as resources to the agency to assure this.
Specifically under that law, and I think it is important to underscore
what was in that law and why we are bolstering it, the importance of
bolstering it today, the medical device industry agreed to pay fees to
the FDA for every product it proposes to market. These fees will help
the FDA hire additional staff, much needed, I might add, and to
purchase needed equipment so that they can review the products on a
timely basis.
Secondly, the resources were increased for additional inspections of
manufacturing plants and facilities, a very, very important part of
that legislation, as well as the creation of an Office of Combination
Products to shepherd advanced products, such as devices with drug
coating, through the approval process. This new administrative
flexibility allows the FDA to devote its resources to the devices that
patients need most.
Finally, the bill created a way to regulate what are known as
reprocessed devices. Some people may have tuned into nationally
televised programs where the national discovery was made that
reprocessed devices were being used in hospitals unbeknownst to doctors
and unbeknownst to patients. I did not like that when I heard it, and
we addressed it in the bill.
The bill requires that reprocessed products undergo additional
scrutiny by the FDA and that they be held to the highest standards that
the FDA can apply. It also required that doctors, who are often unaware
that they are using a reprocessed device, be informed about the reused
device so that they can, in turn, inform their patients about the
reused device.
This Technical Corrections Act is an important bill because it is
ultimately, Mr. Speaker, about patients, and it will implement the
Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act as Congress fully
intended.
One of the best parts of doing something like this is to work with
the very able people that helped make it possible, so I want to thank
the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), chairman of our full
committee; the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), our
distinguished subcommittee chairman; the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Dingell), ranking member of our full committee; the gentleman from
California (Mr. Waxman) and certainly my colleague, who is the ranking
member of the Subcommittee on Health.
I also want to thank several staff people: Pat Ronan of Chairman
Tauzin's staff; Alan Eisenberg of the office of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood); John Ford of the office of the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Dingell); and Anne Witt of the office of the
gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman). Without all of these good
people, we would not be here today doing this. So we have come a long
way, and I think we have created something that will serve our country
very well.
I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this, to make it unanimous.
We will then accomplish yet something else very good and important for
the American people.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
I also would like to thank my very able staff member, Mr. Alan
Eisenberg, for his tireless work on this and so many other issues.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a supporter of
H.R. 3493 which amends Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This
legislation is necessary to clarify certain provisions relating to the
Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act of 2002. I am pleased to
see that this bill enjoys broad bipartisan support in this body after
it was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate. It is imperative that
we continually update and rework the regulations that govern the use of
our Nation's medical devices.
I would also like to recognize my distinguished colleague
Representative Sherrod Brown and affirm his view on the necessity of
providing additional appropriations funding for the Medical Device User
Program. In the last series of appropriations this vital program was
under funded and was left with a potentially dangerous mandate. While
H.R. 3493 is a timely bill, we must make sure to provide the necessary
resources for all medical device programs in order to make this
legislation truly effective.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Medical
Devices Technical Corrections Act. This bipartisan legislation makes
technical corrections to the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization
Act of 2002, which I was proud to cosponsor.
The Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act has several key
components that will result in a better, more efficient process in
which the Food and Drug Administration works with medical device
companies to review applications, inspect device plants, and ensure
that reprocessed devices are used in a safe and identifiable fashion.
The user fees included in the legislation are intended to provide FDA
with additional resources to review new or updated device applications
more quickly, but also more effectively. Every day,
[[Page H112]]
medical devices save or improve the lives of patients around the world
and this legislation will mean that patients will have access to new
and improved devices in a much timelier fashion.
Mr. Speaker, the manner in which the Energy and Commerce Committee
worked to enact the original bill and the legislation before us today
should be a model for future legislative efforts. Because of the truly
bipartisan process, the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act
enjoys widespread support which will work to ensure its success. I
commend the medical device community and my colleagues for their
efforts to improve the delivery of health care to millions of
Americans.
Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3493, 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. GREENWOOD. 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.
____________________