[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7433-H7437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROMOTING ANTITERRORISM CAPABILITIES THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 
                                  ACT

  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4942) to establish a capability and office to 
promote cooperation between entities of the United States and its 
allies in the global war on terrorism for the purpose of engaging in 
cooperative endeavors focused on the research, development, and 
commercialization of high-priority technologies intended to detect, 
prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against acts of 
terrorism and other high consequence events and to address the homeland 
security needs of Federal, State, and local governments, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4942

       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 ``Promoting Antiterrorism 
     Capabilities Through International Cooperation Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The development and implementation of technology is 
     critical to combating terrorism and other high consequence 
     events and implementing a comprehensive homeland security 
     strategy.
       (2) The United States and its allies in the global war on 
     terrorism share a common interest in facilitating research, 
     development, testing, and evaluation of technologies that 
     will aid in detecting, preventing, responding to, recovering 
     from, and mitigating against acts of terrorism.
       (3) Certain United States allies in the global war on 
     terrorism, including Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, 
     Australia, and Singapore have extensive experience with, and 
     technological expertise in, homeland security.
       (4) The United States and certain of its allies in the 
     global war on terrorism have a history of successful 
     collaboration in developing mutually beneficial technologies 
     in the areas of defense, agriculture, and telecommunications.
       (5) The United States and its allies in the global war on 
     terrorism will mutually benefit from the sharing of 
     technological expertise to combat domestic and international 
     terrorism.
       (6) The establishment of a program to facilitate and 
     support cooperative endeavors between and among government 
     agencies, for-profit business entities, academic 
     institutions, and nonprofit entities of the United States and 
     its allies will safeguard lives and property worldwide 
     against acts of terrorism and other high consequence events.

     SEC. 3. PROMOTING ANTITERRORISM THROUGH INTERNATIONAL 
                   COOPERATION ACT.

       (a) In General.--The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 
     amended by inserting after section 313 (6 U.S.C. 193) the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 314. PROMOTING ANTITERRORISM THROUGH INTERNATIONAL 
                   COOPERATION PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:

[[Page H7434]]

       ``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director 
     selected under subsection (c)(1).
       ``(2) International cooperative activities.--The term 
     `international cooperative activities' includes--
       ``(A) coordinated research projects, joint research 
     projects, or joint ventures;
       ``(B) joint studies or technical demonstrations;
       ``(C) coordinated field exercises, scientific seminars, 
     conferences, symposia, and workshops;
       ``(D) training of scientists and engineers;
       ``(E) visits and exchanges of scientists, engineers, or 
     other appropriate personnel;
       ``(F) exchanges or sharing of scientific and technological 
     information; and
       ``(G) joint use of laboratory facilities and equipment.
       ``(3) Under secretary.--The term `Under Secretary' means 
     the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       ``(4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     `institution of higher education' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       ``(b) International Cooperative Activities.--
       ``(1) Authorization.--The Under Secretary is authorized to 
     carry out international cooperative activities to support the 
     responsibilities specified under section 302.
       ``(2) Mechanisms and equitability.--In carrying out this 
     section, the Under Secretary may award grants to and enter 
     into cooperative agreements or contracts with United States 
     governmental organizations, businesses, federally funded 
     research and development centers, institutions of higher 
     education, and foreign public or private entities. The Under 
     Secretary shall ensure that funding and resources expended in 
     international cooperative activities will be equitably 
     matched by the foreign partner organization through direct 
     funding or funding of complementary activities, or through 
     provision of staff, facilities, materials, or equipment.
       ``(3) Cooperation.--The Under Secretary is authorized to 
     conduct international cooperative activities jointly with 
     other agencies.
       ``(4) Foreign partners.--Under this section, the Under 
     Secretary may form partnerships with United States allies in 
     the global war on terrorism, including Israel, the United 
     Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and other countries as 
     appropriate.
       ``(5) Exotic diseases.--As part of the international 
     cooperative activities authorized in this section, the Under 
     Secretary may facilitate the development of information 
     sharing and other types of cooperative mechanisms with 
     foreign countries, including nations in Africa, to strengthen 
     American preparedness against threats to the Nation's 
     agricultural and public health sectors from exotic diseases.
       ``(c) Program and Director.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--The Under Secretary shall establish 
     the Science and Technology Homeland Security International 
     Cooperative Program to facilitate international cooperative 
     activities throughout the Science and Technology Directorate. 
     The Program shall be headed by a Director, who shall be 
     selected by and shall report to the Under Secretary.
       ``(2) Responsibilities of the director.--
       ``(A) Development of mechanisms.--The Director shall be 
     responsible for developing, in consultation with the 
     Department of State and in coordination with other Federal 
     agencies, mechanisms and legal frameworks to allow and to 
     support international cooperative activities in support of 
     homeland security research.
       ``(B) Identification of partners.--The Director shall 
     facilitate the matching of United States entities engaged in 
     homeland security research with non-United States entities 
     engaged in homeland security research so that they may 
     partner in homeland security research activities.
       ``(C) Coordination.--The Director shall ensure that the 
     activities under this subsection are coordinated with those 
     of other components of the Department and of other relevant 
     research agencies.
       ``(D) Conferences and workshops.--The Director, 
     periodically, shall support the planning and execution of 
     international homeland security technology workshops and 
     conferences to improve contact among the international 
     community of technology developers and to help establish 
     direction for future technology goals.
       ``(3) Program manager authority.--This subsection shall not 
     be construed to limit the ability of a program manager to 
     initiate or carry out international cooperative activities 
     provided that such activities are appropriately coordinated 
     with the Program established under this subsection.
       ``(d) Budget Allocation.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Secretary, to be derived from amounts 
     otherwise authorized for the Directorate of Science and 
     Technology, $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 
     through 2010 for activities under this section.
       ``(e) Report to Congress on International Cooperative 
     Activities.--
       ``(1) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of enactment of this section, the Under Secretary, 
     acting through the Director, shall transmit to the Congress a 
     report containing--
       ``(A) a brief description of each partnership formed under 
     subsection (b)(4), including the participants, goals, and 
     amount and sources of funding; and
       ``(B) a list of international cooperative activities 
     underway, including the participants, goals, expected 
     duration, and amount and sources of funding, including 
     resources provided to support the activities in lieu of 
     direct funding.
       ``(2) Updates.--At the end of the fiscal year that occurs 5 
     years after the transmittal of the report under subsection 
     (a), and every 5 years thereafter, the Under Secretary, 
     acting through the Director, shall transmit to the Congress 
     an update of the report required under subsection (a).''.
       (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The table of contents of 
     the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by adding after 
     the item relating to section 313 the following new item:

``Sec. 314. Promoting antiterrorism through international cooperation 
              program.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. King) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on this legislation and insert extraneous material on the 
bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise in support of H.R. 4942. This is really 
legislation whose time has come. Let me at the very outset commend 
Ranking Member Thompson, Chairman Reichert of the Emergency 
Preparedness Subcommittee, and my good friend from New Jersey, Mr. 
Pascrell, for their tremendous cooperation and leadership on this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in a battle for survival. There is a war 
against international terrorism. It is a war in which we must know who 
our allies are, who our friends are. We have to know those who will 
stand with us through the tough times. We must know those who are 
willing to work with us and take risks with us.
  The purpose of H.R. 4942 is to codify the right to assist in the 
sharing and developing of technologies, sharing of technologies between 
and among countries who share common values and who are dedicated to 
defeating international terrorism.
  This legislation refers to certain specific allies in the global war 
on terrorism, such as Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and 
Singapore. They have extensive experience with and technical expertise 
in homeland security, and we can benefit from them and they can benefit 
from us.
  Really, the time has come for us to break down artificial barriers, 
artificial walls, and use the commonality of our cultures, of our 
traditions, of our beliefs, and use the benefit of our technological 
expertise to form a common bond as we go forward to defeat 
international terrorism.
  This bill has a wide variety of support, as I believe it should. It 
is an aggressive step forward. It is a commonsense step forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4942, the Promoting 
Antiterrorism Capabilities Through International Cooperation Act. This 
is a true product of bipartisan effort and collegial dedication.

                              {time}  1845

  I am heartened at the process by which this bill has moved forward.
  In particular, I want to commend the hard work of both the chairman 
and the ranking member, Mr. King, Mr. Thompson, and my counterpart, 
Chairman David Reichert, chairman of the Emergency Preparedness, 
Science, and Technology Subcommittee. Their commitment to this vitally 
important legislation has been unwavering, and the collaboration 
offered epitomizes the very best of what the Homeland Security 
Committee can, should, and must be. Indeed, it is a tremendous 
achievement to see this proposal move forward.

[[Page H7435]]

  This legislation will help to ensure that the Department of Homeland 
Security works with our allies in the war on terror to develop and 
share the best homeland security technologies possible, and we will all 
be the better off because of it. This must be part of a global strategy 
in order to finish off terror.
  H.R. 4942 will establish what we call the Science and Technology 
Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Office. Its 
objective will be to facilitate international cooperative activities 
throughout the Directorate of Science and Technology within the 
Department of Homeland Security.
  The Director of the Office, who shall report directly to the Under 
Secretary for Science and Technology, will be responsible for 
developing mechanisms and legal frameworks to allow and support 
international cooperative activity in support of homeland security 
research;
  To identify and match domestic entities engaged in homeland security 
research with foreign entities so that they may partner in homeland 
security research activities;
  To ensure coordination of international cooperative activities 
carried out by the Office with the activities of other components of 
the Department and other relative research agencies; and
  Holding international homeland security technology workshops and 
conferences.
  We saw in a recent trip of the Homeland Security Committee to Europe 
the significance of working closely with our allies. These 
international cooperative activities will be supported through grants, 
cooperative agreements, contracts with U.S. governmental organizations 
and businesses, federally funded research and development centers, 
institutions of higher education, and foreign public and private 
entities.
  The bill seeks to strengthen ongoing partnerships as well as 
encourage new ones. And the bill specifically says that we should seek 
to partner with our allies in this global war, as the chairman has 
pointed out. This global war or terrorism includes our closest allies, 
the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Israel, and Singapore.
  To be sure, the United States would greatly benefit from joint 
international homeland security development programs between the United 
States and our allies in the war on terror. The fact is this: Many of 
our allies have substantial experience dealing with terrorism. By 
necessity, they have become hotbeds for counterterrorism research.
  The bill authorizes $25 million for international cooperation and 
cooperative activities for each of the fiscal years 2007 to 2010. It 
requires that the funds come out of the existing budget of the 
directorate of Science and Technology. $25 million is not a lot of 
money when we consider the vast array of benefits that such cooperation 
can produce.
  Forming partnerships and working together in a way that will 
ultimately help secure America is the main objective of the bill, 
again, of global strategy, and it should always be the main objective 
of this body. Passage of the legislation today shows that the House 
takes this austere responsibility seriously.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, let me just concur in what the 
gentleman from New Jersey said about the bipartisan cooperation; and I 
want to especially thank him and the ranking member for the tremendous 
cooperation he gave us on this legislation.
  I yield as much time as he may consume to the author of the 
legislation, the Chairman of the Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee, 
Sheriff Reichert from the State of Washington.
  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, I remember the day when this legislation 
first kind of came to our attention. I attended a meeting with some 
good friends from our Israeli community, Jewish community, and we had 
this idea. And to watch it come from that day many months ago, just a 
discussion around a concept, to today when the legislation has finally 
come together is indeed exciting; and to know, too, that it is a 
bipartisan effort.
  I congratulate the chairman, Mr. King, and his wisdom and foresight 
in seeing that this is an important project, an important piece of 
legislation and moving it forward; and his good friend and my good 
friend, Mr. Bennie Thompson, the ranking member of that committee; and 
also my good friend, my colleague from the subcommittee, Mr. Pascrell; 
all working hard together, the staff of the Democrats and Republicans 
working hard on this legislation to make it come to the floor of the 
House of Representatives today.
  As the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on 
Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology, I rise today to express 
my strong support for H.R. 4942, the Promoting Antiterrorism 
Capabilities Through International Cooperation Act. My subcommittee 
passed H.R. 4942 on March 15; and on June 14, 2006, it was approved by 
the full Homeland Security Committee.
  I congratulate again the chairman of the full committee and the 
ranking member and Mr. Pascrell for all their hard work and all members 
of the committee for their support.
  In just over 2 weeks since the 5-year anniversary of September 11, 
the 9/11 Commission's recommendations have taken center stage again as 
a principal guide to our Nation's homeland security measures. It is 
important that they take that role.
  In its report, the 9/11 Commission recommended, and I quote, ``the 
United States should engage other nations in developing a comprehensive 
coalition strategy against Islamist terrorism. There are several 
multilateral institutions in which such issues should be addressed, but 
the most important policies should be discussed and coordinated in a 
flexible contact group of leading coalition governments.''
  There is no question that one of these important policies is the 
development of homeland security technologies that keep our country 
safe. H.R. 4942 implements the Commission's recommendations by applying 
it to the homeland security technology we develop to help our Nation's 
first responders prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from 
acts of terrorism, national disasters, and other emergencies.
  Echoing the 9/11 Commission recommendation on international 
cooperation in the war on terrorism, the title of 4942 says it all: The 
Promoting Antiterrorism Capabilities Through International Cooperation 
Act.
  The United States, Israel, and our allies confront a common enemy and 
share similar homeland security challenges. Cooperation inside our 
government among Federal agencies and cooperation outside our 
government with Israel and our allies could very well prove to be the 
deciding factor in the war on terror.
  Specifically, H.R. 4942 enables the Department of Homeland Security's 
research and development arm, the Science and Technology Directorate, 
to coordinate international cooperative programs with our allies to 
advance homeland security research. The Science and Technology 
Directorate at the Department would coordinate joint research studies, 
scientist exchange programs, cooperative field exercises, and 
technology sharing with our strongest and most trusted allies in the 
war on terrorism, including Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, 
Australia, Singapore.
  Today, the United States cooperates with these nations to develop the 
best technologies to defeat our shared terrorist threat. H.R. 4942 
makes those partnerships even stronger, with the force of law and the 
will of Congress behind them.
  H.R. 4942 is modeled after a partnership created by Congress in 1977 
between the United States and Israel called the Bi-national Industrial 
Research and Development Foundation, or the so-called BIRD Foundation.
  The mission of the BIRD Foundation is to stimulate, promote, and 
support industrial research and development of mutual benefit to both 
nations. In 29 years, the BIRD Foundation has invested $225 million in 
690 cooperative research and development projects mutually beneficial 
to the United States and Israel. The BIRD model serves as a solid 
foundation of international cooperation in homeland security research 
and development.
  The international cooperation enabled by H.R. 4942 will give our 
Nation access to a worldwide library of lessons

[[Page H7436]]

learned and scientific expertise that will no doubt strengthen our own 
homeland security measures. It is our duty, as allies united under a 
common purpose, to defeat terrorism, that we join forces in the 
laboratory to combat our shared adversaries and meet our similar 
technology needs.
  H.R. 4942 incorporates the wisdom of the 9/11 Commission and the BIRD 
Foundation partnership between the United States and Israel to 
strengthen our hand in developing technologies that will make us all, 
the United States and its allies alike, safer and more secure.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this critical 
legislation.
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he wishes to 
consume to the ranking member of Homeland Security, my friend, and a 
gentleman in all sense of the word, from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson).
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from 
New Jersey for those kind words.
  I rise this evening in strong support of H.R. 4942, the Promoting 
Antiterrorism Capabilities Through International Cooperation Act, which 
Chairman King and I introduced along with Chairman Reichert and Ranking 
Member Pascrell and other Members. I am happy to see this bill finally 
make it to the House floor.
  I first raised the idea of this bill in January 2005, soon after I 
became ranking member. I know my Democratic colleagues had pushed for 
it in the 108th Congress as well. While it took a while to get my 
colleagues on board, I was glad when they finally did. The product 
before us today is a good one.
  Personally, I expressly want to thank Chris Beck and Todd Gee from my 
staff and Andy Weiss from the majority staff for their hard work on 
this bill.
  The threat of terrorism is an international one. Terrorist attacks 
occur all over the world, and we must promote international cooperation 
to stop them.
  Cooperation in developing antiterrorism technology should be a top 
priority. The different challenges faced by our many friends around the 
world have resulted in new approaches that the United States should 
leverage to protect our citizens.
  In fact, Mr. Speaker, the United States has a history of conducting 
scientific and technological collaborations with Israel, the United 
Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and others. The Department of Homeland 
Security has participated in some of these partnerships with foreign 
governments and others. This legislation will encourage and further 
strengthen those efforts, as well as direct the Department to look to 
new partners beyond those we already have.
  I am especially heartened that this bill will strengthen the means 
for protecting our Nation's agriculture and public health from exotic 
diseases. Emerging diseases that can affect both animals and humans are 
a threat to the world's population. Active collaboration with 
scientists in Africa, where many of these diseases originate, should be 
promoted. I am glad this bill encourages that collaboration.
  Too often, Mr. Speaker, the United States presents a posture of 
unilateralism to the world. I hope that through programs like the one 
authorized in this legislation we encourage a more cooperative 
approach.
  I strongly support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do 
the same.

                              {time}  1900

  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as we stated, H.R. 4942 will enable us to work with 
certain allies, Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and 
Singapore, to engage with them in cooperative endeavors, focus on 
research, development, the commercialization of high-priority 
technologies, and enable us to prevent acts of terrorism and address 
the homeland security needs of Federal, State and local governments.
  The gentleman from New Jersey referenced the $25 million for each of 
the fiscal years from 2007 to 2010. That money is to be matched in each 
instance by the foreign partner organizations who participate in this 
international cooperative activity. This is very significant 
legislation. It is very vital. I would certainly urge the passage of 
the bill.
  But before I yield back my time, I would like to include for the 
Record letters exchanged between the Committee on Homeland Security and 
the Committee on Science regarding jurisdiction over H.R. 4942. I 
certainly thank the Science Committee and the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Boehlert) for their input on this bill and thank my colleagues for 
their bipartisan support.

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                               Washington, DC, September 22, 2006.
     Hon. Sherwood Boehlert,
     Chairman, Committee on Science,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your recent letter 
     expressing the Science Committee's jurisdictional interest in 
     H.R. 4942, the ``Promoting Antiterrorism Capabilities Through 
     International Cooperation Act.'' The Committee on Homeland 
     Security acknowledges your claim to jurisdiction over 
     provisions contained in this bill, as amended, and 
     appreciates your agreement not to request a sequential 
     referral. The Committee on Homeland Security understands that 
     nothing in this legislation or your decision to forgo a 
     sequential referral waives, reduces or otherwise affects the 
     jurisdiction of the Science Committee, and that a copy of 
     this letter and of our response will be included in the 
     Committee report and in the Congressional Record when the 
     bill is considered on the House Floor. The Committee on 
     Homeland Security will also support your request to be 
     conferees during any House-Senate conference on this 
     legislation.
       Thank you for your cooperation as we work towards the 
     enactment of H.R. 4942.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Peter T. King,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                         Committee on Science,

                               Washington, DC, September 21, 2006.
     Hon. Peter T. King,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Science Committee in matters 
     being considered in H.R. 4942, the Promoting Antiterrorism 
     Capabilities Through International Cooperation Act, as 
     amended by the Homeland Security Committee. The Science 
     Committee has jurisdictional interest in this bill based on 
     the Committee's jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland 
     Security Science and Technology Directorate, ``DHS S&T'', and 
     other DHS research and development (See Rule X(o)(14) which 
     grants the Science Committee jurisdiction over ``Scientific 
     research, development, and demonstration, and projects 
     therefore'').
       This bill would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
     establish a capability and office within DHS S&T to promote 
     international ``cooperative endeavors focused on research, 
     development, and commercialization of high-priority 
     technologies intended to detect, prevent, respond to, recover 
     from, and mitigate against acts of terrorism and other high 
     consequence events.'' All of the international cooperative 
     activities authorized by the bill relate to homeland security 
     research (e.g., ``coordinated research projects, joint 
     research projects, or joint ventures;'' ``training of 
     scientists and engineers;'' and ``joint use of laboratory 
     facilities and equipment''). In addition, the funding for 
     such activities is to be derived from amounts otherwise 
     authorized to DHS S&T.
       The Science Committee acknowledges the importance of H.R. 
     4942 and the need for the legislation to move expeditiously. 
     Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over 
     this bill, I agree not to request a sequential referral. 
     This, of course, is conditional on our mutual understanding 
     that nothing in this legislation or my decision to forgo a 
     sequential referral waives, reduces or otherwise affects the 
     jurisdiction of the Science Committee, and that a copy of 
     this letter and of your response will be included in the 
     Committee report and in the Congressional Record when the 
     bill is considered on the House Floor.
       The Science Committee also expects that you will support 
     our request to be conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference on this legislation.
       Thank you for your attention to this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                Sherwood Boehlert,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 4942 and thank the 
cosponsors and sponsors of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). The question is 
on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4942, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof)

[[Page H7437]]

the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________