[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 133 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8819-H8823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        STOLEN VALOR ACT OF 2005

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the Senate bill (S. 1998) to amend title 18, United States Code, to 
enhance protections relating to the reputation and meaning of the Medal 
of Honor and other military decorations and awards, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1998

       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 ``Stolen Valor Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Fraudulent claims surrounding the receipt of the Medal 
     of Honor, the distinguished-service cross, the Navy cross, 
     the Air Force cross, the Purple Heart, and other decorations 
     and medals awarded by the President or the Armed Forces of 
     the United States damage the reputation and meaning of such 
     decorations and medals.
       (2) Federal law enforcement officers have limited ability 
     to prosecute fraudulent claims of receipt of military 
     decorations and medals.
       (3) Legislative action is necessary to permit law 
     enforcement officers to protect the reputation and meaning of 
     military decorations and medals.

     SEC. 3. ENHANCED PROTECTION OF MEANING OF MILITARY 
                   DECORATIONS AND MEDALS.

       (a) Expansion of General Criminal Offense.--Subsection (a) 
     of section 704 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``manufactures, or sells'' and inserting 
     ``purchases, attempts to purchase, solicits for purchase, 
     mails, ships, imports, exports,

[[Page H8820]]

     produces blank certificates of receipt for, manufactures, 
     sells, attempts to sell, advertises for sale, trades, 
     barters, or exchanges for anything of value''.
       (b) Establishment of Criminal Offense Relating to False 
     Claims About Receipt of Decorations and Medals.--Such section 
     704 is further amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);
       (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) False Claims About Receipt of Military Decorations or 
     Medals.--Whoever falsely represents himself or herself, 
     verbally or in writing, to have been awarded any decoration 
     or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces of the 
     United States, any of the service medals or badges awarded to 
     the members of such forces, the ribbon, button, or rosette of 
     any such badge, decoration, or medal, or any colorable 
     imitation of such item shall be fined under this title, 
     imprisoned not more than six months, or both.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (1) of subsection (c), as redesignated by 
     paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting ``or (b)'' 
     after ``subsection (a)''.
       (c) Enhanced Penalty for Offenses Involving Certain Other 
     Medals.--Such section 704 is further amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(d) Enhanced Penalty for Offenses Involving Certain Other 
     Medals.--If a decoration or medal involved in an offense 
     described in subsection (a) or (b) is a distinguished-service 
     cross awarded under section 3742 of title 10, a Navy cross 
     awarded under section 6242 of title 10, an Air Force cross 
     awarded under section 8742 of section 10, a silver star 
     awarded under section 3746, 6244, or 8746 of title 10, a 
     Purple Heart awarded under section 1129 of title 10, or any 
     replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized 
     by law, in lieu of the punishment provided in the applicable 
     subsection, the offender shall be fined under this title, 
     imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.''.
       (d) Conforming Amendments.--Subsection (c) of such section 
     704, as so redesignated, is further amended--
       (1) by inserting ``Enhanced Penalty for Offenses 
     Involving'' before ``Congressional Medal of Honor''; and
       (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
       ``(2) Congressional medal of honor defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term `Congressional Medal of Honor' means--
       ``(A) a medal of honor awarded under section 3741, 6241, or 
     8741 of title 10 or section 491 of title 14;
       ``(B) a duplicate medal of honor issued under section 3754, 
     6256, or 8754 of title 10 or section 504 of title 14; or
       ``(C) a replacement of a medal of honor provided under 
     section 3747, 6253, or 8747 of title 10 or section 501 of 
     title 14.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Conyers) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1998 currently 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1998, the Stolen Valor Act, 
which expands existing law prohibiting the fraudulent use of military 
decorations or medals.
  The men and women of our Armed Forces risk their lives every day to 
preserve America's freedom. They sacrifice for our liberties with 
courage, patriotism and humility. They do not seek fame or celebrity 
status when told that they are heroes, and they often respond, ``I am 
just doing my job.''
  While we can never fully pay our military heroes our debt of 
gratitude, America honors their service and sacrifice with military 
decorations and medals such as the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the 
Navy Cross, and our Nation's highest military decoration, the 
Congressional Medal of Honor.
  Unfortunately, the significance of these medals is being devalued by 
phony war heroes who fabricate their honors and military careers. They 
do so for greed and selfishness, and disrespect the service and 
sacrifice of our military heroes, as well as the honor they uniquely 
deserve. Federal law enforcement authorities have responded to these 
imposters by launching a dozen investigations currently underway.
  In Illinois, one man attended numerous Marine Corps functions, 
military funerals and fund-raisers, posing as a retired Marine Corps 
colonel. He claimed to have been awarded the Purple Heart eight times, 
the only marine to have obtained such a distinction, as well as the 
Navy Cross. It turns out he never served a single day as a Marine.
  In St. Louis, Federal authorities arrested a man at a local Marine 
Corps event who claimed to be a decorated officer. He had previously 
been spotted at the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball wearing a Navy 
Cross, two Silver Stars, four Bronze Stars and numerous other medals. 
He, too, never served a single day as a marine.
  Perhaps the most egregious example of this fraud was perpetrated by a 
10-year marine sergeant who secured $66 million in security contracts 
from the military based upon fictitious combat experience in Panama and 
Somalia, with fabricated Silver Stars, Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars and 
Air Medals. Upon learning of the man's fraudulent combat record, the 
military revoked the contracts, but by this time he had already fled 
the country.
  The FBI estimates that for every legitimate Navy SEAL team member, 
there are roughly 300 imposters. Moreover, there are roughly only 124 
living recipients of the Medal of Honor, yet more than twice as many 
falsely claim to have received it.
  The Stolen Valor Act enhances penalties for those who masquerade as 
decorated war heroes. It expands the existing prohibition against 
wearing, manufacturing or selling military decorations or medals 
without legal authorization. The bill also imposes penalties for 
falsely representing one's self as the recipient of any medal or honor 
authorized by Congress for the armed services, and increases penalties 
for violations involving a Distinguished Service Cross, an Air Force 
Cross, a Navy Cross, a Silver Star, a Purple Heart or the Congressional 
Medal of Honor.
  On September 7, the other body passed this bill by unanimous consent. 
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join Chairman Sensenbrenner in 
supporting this measure, the Stolen Valor Act, introduced in both this 
body and the other body, which enjoys the widespread support of a long 
list of bipartisan cosponsors. In fact, here in the House the measure 
has a total of 110 Democratic and Republican cosponsors.
  The legislation starts out by honoring the brave men and women who 
courageously serve our country. It also protects the precious medals 
that are awarded during the course of their service by establishing a 
new set of criminal penalties against anyone who fraudulently claims to 
be a medal recipient or displays a fake medal in his home or office.
  Recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished 
Service Award, the Silver Star and Purple Heart have made considerable 
sacrifices for our country and, as such, deserve a tremendous amount of 
our gratitude and respect. It can be said that this legislation 
represents just one of the many ways of saying thanks for a job well 
done.
  The bill is supported by several of our military groups, the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the FBI 
Agents Association. I, too, strongly urge my colleagues to lend their 
unanimous support to this commonsense proposal.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Kline).
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1998, the Stolen 
Valor Act. To many Americans, the collections of colored ribbons and 
bronze medals that adorn the uniforms of military personnel and 
veterans are difficult to comprehend. To those who have served, the 
rows of ribbons and medals serve as an unwritten resume. A quick glance 
can tell much: how many deployments at sea he has made, in what combat 
theaters she has served, or even the value placed upon his work by his 
superiors.
  But even for those who did not serve, these decorations and awards 
have a

[[Page H8821]]

deeper meaning and value that far outweigh their monetary worth. In 
many instances, they symbolize overcoming an instinctual desire for 
self-preservation found in all of us and summoning a level of courage 
rarely found but highly coveted.
  It is for this reason that some seek to bestow on themselves the 
symbols of honor and sacrifice earned by others. Regardless of their 
rationale, those that impersonate combat heroes dishonor the true 
recipients of such awards.
  By passing the Stolen Valor Act this afternoon, we have a unique 
opportunity to return to our veterans and military personnel the 
dignity and respect taken by those who have stolen it and dishonor 
them.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Salazar), the original 
author of this measure, who has worked on it with leaders in both the 
House and the other body for a considerable period of time.
  (Mr. SALAZAR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me thank Chairman 
Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member Conyers for allowing us to bring this 
important legislation forward. As you all know, Senator Conrad from the 
Senate side, both his staff and my staff worked in a bipartisan effort 
to bring this important act forward.
  This act would actually place a criminal penalty on those who falsely 
claim to have risked their lives for their country, and restoring honor 
to those who have truly earned it.
  Last year, in Pueblo, Colorado, I met with Pam Sterner of Pueblo, who 
was attending Colorado State University in Pueblo, and also with Medal 
of Honor recipient Peter Lemmon of Colorado Springs.
  Pam had recently completed a working paper on the issue of military 
medals fraud for a political science class at Colorado State 
University, Pueblo. With her research and with some of her language, we 
drafted the Stolen Valor Act of 2005.
  Current law basically allows Federal law enforcement to prosecute 
individuals who physically wear medals on their person. The problem has 
been occurring where individuals are claiming to have earned these 
medals and there is no way for authorities to be able to prosecute 
these individuals. These frauds and these phonies have diminished the 
meaning and the honor of the recognitions received by our military 
heroes.
  In addition to diminishing the meaning, on several occasions phonies 
have used their stature as a decorated war hero to gain credibility 
that allows them to commit more serious frauds.
  B.G. Burkett's award winning book, ``Stolen Valor,'' first exposed 
the problems of these medals fraud. The authors show that killers have 
fooled the most astute prosecutors and gotten away with murder. They 
show phony heroes who have become the object of national award-winning 
documentaries on national network television. They show liars and 
fabricators who have flooded major publishing houses with false tales 
of heroism which have become best-selling biographies.
  Not only do the authors show the price of the myth has been enormous 
for society, but they spotlight how it has severely denigrated the 
service, patriotism, and gallantry of the best warriors America's ever 
produced.
  The Stolen Valor Act, H.R. 3352, makes a language fix to the current 
Federal statute, to include making verbal and written claims to be the 
recipient of a military medal that they were not entitled to.
  This bill expands penalties currently in effect for the Medal of 
Honor to apply to the so-called valor medals, including but not limited 
to the Distinguished Service Crosses of the respective military 
branches and the Purple Heart.
  Our bill, H.R. 3352, a companion bill of Senate bill 1998, now has 
110 cosponsorships with, as Ranking member Conyers stated, 73 Democrats 
and 37 Republicans.
  H.R. 3352 has been endorsed by numerous veterans and law enforcement 
organizations, including the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the 
Military Order of the Purple Heart and the FBI Agents Association.
  The Stolen Valor Act may well be the most sweeping legislation 
affecting military awards since the Medal of Honor review of 1917, 
during which this criteria for awarding our Nation's highest military 
award was strengthened. During the 1917 review, Congress began 
establishing a series of lesser awards which has evolved to become the 
Pyramid of Honor. This is a series of medals awarded to members of the 
military in increasing levels of importance and prestige.
  Subsequent to this review of 1917, little had been legislated in 
regard to these awards beyond authorization of new awards or slight 
changes in the awards process. Additionally, the Stolen Valor Act of 
2005 restores a precedent established by General George Washington. 
This was when he first instituted our first individual military award 
in 1782.
  In his General Orders issued from his headquarters in Newburg, New 
York, on August 7, 1782, General Washington established the Badge for 
Military Merit, which in 1932 was revised as the Purple Heart. General 
Washington noted the following point with regard to military awards: 
``Should any who are not entitled to these honors have the insolence to 
assume the badges of them, they shall be severely punished.''
  The success of the Stolen Valor Act is notable because both Democrats 
and Republicans from both Houses have worked together in a unique 
display of teamwork on behalf of our brave men and women in uniform.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time to protect and honor those who have earned 
the right to wear these prestigious medals.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on Senate bill 
1998, the Stolen Valor Act of 2005.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Kentucky (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 
1998, the Stolen Valor Act. I commend my colleague from Colorado for 
introducing this, Ranking Member Conyers and Chairman Sensenbrenner for 
this important bill, because it will strengthen the penalties for the 
misuse and misrepresentation of our Nation's highest military honors. I 
am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 3352, the House version of this bill. I 
thank Congressman Salazar and Senator Conrad for working in a 
bipartisan spirit to make this legislation a reality.
  I have had the opportunity during my time in Congress to present 
medals of valor to many veterans in my district. Though their service 
was many years ago, it is an inspiring experience to hear these 
veterans talk about their service to our Nation with great pride and 
also reflecting the humility of the generation it served. For many of 
those who lay their lives on the line for our country, there is no 
greater honor than the receipt of a medal honoring their bravery and 
sacrifice, reflecting the sentiment of a grateful Nation.
  It is disturbing to me that people would illegitimately sell these 
medals or display them as a false symbol of their own valor. While our 
soldiers have valiantly defended our freedom on the battlefield, others 
have displayed false symbols of service, misleading our citizens, 
cheapening the symbol, and dishonoring the heritage, traditions and 
servicemembers who have had to live the reality of military service.
  When General George Washington instituted our Nation's first military 
award, he set forth a number of principles to follow, including one 
that stated, ``Should any who are not entitled to these honors have the 
insolence to assume the badges of them, they shall be severely 
punished.''
  Those who illegally wear, sell or produce decorations and medals 
should be punished. These actions are disrespectful to generations of 
our Nation's veterans and war heroes. The Stolen Valor Act will 
strengthen the punishment for those who falsely portray themselves as 
recipients of military decorations and medals.
  Military decorations and medals honor our Nation's brave service men 
and women and inspire future generations to military service. They 
remind us of the great price of freedom, the excruciating time of 
separation, of loss, of pain, of sadness, and the joys of camaraderie 
that few can understand.

[[Page H8822]]

  I urge my colleagues to support the Stolen Valor Act and help 
preserve the integrity of our Nation's military honors.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, since this is likely the last piece of legislation the 
House Judiciary Committee will control time on the floor, I would like 
to take this moment and opportunity to reflect back on the good and 
outstanding work of James Sensenbrenner during his tenure as chairman 
of the House Judiciary Committee.
  It has been my privilege to serve with Chairman Sensenbrenner in my 
role as ranking member of the Judiciary Committee over these last three 
Congresses.
  During that time, the Judiciary Committee has become one of the most 
active committees in the House, processing the second largest number of 
bills of any committee. It is rare a week goes by that this committee 
is not on the floor of the House considering frequently complex and 
significant legislation that impacts the lives of millions of 
Americans.
  There is no question that Mr. Sensenbrenner has led the committee 
firmly and fairly at all times during his chairmanship, but there are 
three things that I would like the record to reflect.
  The first is his tireless advocacy for the jurisdiction of the 
Committee on the Judiciary. Our rule X jurisdiction ranges far and 
wide, and Chairman Sensenbrenner has been a constant advocate in 
protecting our legislative prerogatives, and I can assure him that all 
the members of the Judiciary Committee are very grateful for the zeal 
in which he has conducted that part of his responsibility.
  Secondly, the chairman has been a strong advocate for antitrust laws 
and for the concept of competition. Time and time again, we worked 
together to see that the interests of the American public were put 
ahead of any special interests.
  Finally, I feel very personally affectionate toward the chairman for 
the critical role that he has played in the passage of voting rights 
legislation. It was the Voting Rights Act of 1965, why I initially 
joined the Judiciary Committee, that I participated in this vastly and 
hugely important piece of legislation. Mr. Sensenbrenner was not there 
then, but it was when we got around to some reauthorizations that his 
commitment to this constitutional concept was as strong as mine.
  In 1982, it was his role and commitment that helped get the extension 
of the bill through this body and the other body as well, but it was 
only last year that we were able to begin the work that got us through 
the current extension of legislation. The reason that this was 
important was that, first of all, we were able to have the work product 
of the Committee on the Judiciary not only pass the House without 
amendment but the exact bill was passed in the other body as well, 
eliminating, of course, the necessity for a committee to work out any 
differences.
  It was then that we realized that on this question of protecting the 
right of our citizens to vote, the cornerstone of our democracy, that 
Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member Conyers could not be more 
closely working together, not that there were not huge problems that 
had to be worked out and resolved, not just between ourselves but 
between other Members of the committee and some of our colleagues not 
even on the committee. We were able to do that with dispatch. I quickly 
add the names of the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt) and the 
Constitutional Subcommittee ranking member, Jerry Nadler, as well and 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), who worked with us all together 
on this matter.
  So I am pleased to make these remarks as his term expires. I look 
forward to him working on the Committee on the Judiciary in future 
sessions of Congress.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce there are no further 
requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I deeply appreciate the words of my friend and 
colleague, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers).
  This is kind of a tough act to follow, but I would like to state for 
the record that the Judiciary Committee, because it has such a vast 
jurisdiction and an awful lot of controversial legislation, that by 
working with Mr. Conyers and the members of the minority, and having 
the majority and minority staff work together, we knew that there were 
some philosophical differences on many of the pieces of legislation 
that could not be bridged without a vigorous debate and votes both in 
committee and on the floor of the House of Representatives. But the 
cooperation and the respect and the trust that we had across the aisle 
were able to narrow those differences so that what we did debate were 
true differences in approach and true differences in policy.
  I keep on telling the high school classes that I talk to about what 
really goes on here that 95 percent of the bills that we pass are 
worked out in committee, and the debate and votes on the floor merely 
ratify decisions that have been made earlier in committee. The problem 
is that compromise agreement, and I would even submit accomplishment, 
do not get any media attention. It is allegations of misconduct, actual 
knock out, drag down fights in those areas that we do have 
disagreements on that really monopolize the news media.

                              {time}  1615

  As a result, people get the wrong impression that all we do out here 
is fight and argue amongst ourselves. And while we do a lot of that, 
and I think the framers of the Constitution intended the Congress of 
the United States to do that, the tremendous work product of the 
committee over the last 6 years I think has been due in large part by 
the trust and respect and agreement that we have had in working across 
the aisle.
  And while I was sitting here listening to the debate, I was going 
through the calendars of the House of Representatives looking at the 
number of committee reports we filed, and I think it is somewhere in 
the 90 to 100 number range during this Congress. And a lot of these 
reports were really on controversial and complicated legislation where 
we needed to have a committee report to explain what the intent of 
Congress was, and that type of cooperation allowed us to have that 
tremendous output of work product.
  It has been my honor to chair this committee for the last 6 years, 
but I can say one of the things that I am most proud of is the fact 
that, where it has been possible, I have been able to reach across the 
aisle and work with my friend from Michigan, and I think that he and I 
have each directed our respective staffs to do the same thing, and we 
can be proud of what we have done not only in this Congress but in the 
previous two Congresses. And although our roles will be kind of 
reversed in the next Congress, I look forward to continuing to build on 
that cooperation so that the country knows that the Judiciary Committee 
not only is the place to be at, but it is the folks that get things 
done.
  So I thank you very much for your very, very good comments. You have 
been instrumental in putting together that record of accomplishment, 
and I think we can be proud of what the committee has done.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise in support of S. 1998, the 
Stolen Valor Act. I am extremely pleased that this body is able to 
consider this bill before we adjourn, because recent events in my 
district and across our nation have illustrated why Congress must act 
quickly to address the underlying issue of this bill.
  Under current law, it is illegal to wear, manufacture, or sell 
military decorations without legal authorization. However, it is legal, 
but not ethical, to falsely represent oneself as having been awarded a 
decoration or medal of the United States Military.
  This legislation will expand the prohibitions listed above to include 
conducting other transactions not already illegal without 
authorization, and falsely representing oneself as having been awarded 
any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces or 
any of the service medals or badges. It also increases penalties for 
violations involving a Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross, 
Navy Cross, Silver Star, or Purple Heart.
  Every year around Veterans Day--a day where we honor our Nation's 
heroes for their service and sacrifice--numerous individuals come out 
of the woodwork to claim military decorations that were not awarded to 
them.

[[Page H8823]]

This is wholly disrespectful to those who have been legitimately 
awarded these high honors in the line of duty, and dilutes the 
significance attached to each lawfully awarded decoration.
  This issue was brought to my attention by veterans in my district, 
upset about two recent cases of ``stolen valor'' in the state of 
Missouri. In this instance, a man spoke before a group at a Veterans 
Day event in Chillicothe, Missouri--in my district--and claimed a Navy 
Cross that he had not been awarded. A short while later, a man was 
arrested at a Marine Corps League meeting in Saint Louis, Missouri 
after claiming a number of decorations including the Navy Cross, which 
he was not awarded.
  Mr. Speaker, the Stolen Valor Act provides a solution to address this 
growing fraud. One of the great privileges I have had in Congress is 
presenting veterans in my district with their rightfully earned honors 
and decorations. Many decorated veterans, when asked about their heroic 
actions, respond that they were just doing their duty. Mr. Speaker, it 
is our duty to protect the integrity of these decorations reserved to 
honor the heroic service and sacrifice of our nation's servicemembers. 
We cannot allow imposters to cheapen the value of these honors, and we 
cannot allow imposters to seek fame and fortune from falsehood. I urge 
my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of S. 1998, the 
Stolen Valor Act.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kline). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1998.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the Senate 
bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________