[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H865-H869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ERIC WILLIAMS CORRECTIONAL OFFICER PROTECTION ACT OF 2015

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 238) to amend title 18, United States Code, to authorize the 
Director of the Bureau of Prisons to issue oleoresin capsicum spray to 
officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 238

       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 ``Eric Williams Correctional 
     Officer Protection Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE BUREAU OF PRISONS 
                   AUTHORIZED TO CARRY OLEORESIN CAPSICUM SPRAY.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 303 of part III of title 18, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``Sec. 4049. Officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons 
       authorized to carry oleoresin capsicum spray

       ``(a) In General.--The Director of the Bureau of Prisons 
     shall issue, on a routine basis, oleoresin capsicum spray 
     to--

[[Page H866]]

       ``(1) any officer or employee of the Bureau of Prisons 
     who--
       ``(A) is employed in a prison that is not a minimum or low 
     security prison; and
       ``(B) may respond to an emergency situation in such a 
     prison; and
       ``(2) to such additional officers and employees of prisons 
     as the Director determines appropriate, in accordance with 
     this section.
       ``(b) Training Requirement.--
       ``(1) In general.--In order for an officer or employee of 
     the Bureau of Prisons, including a correctional officer, to 
     be eligible to receive and carry oleoresin capsicum spray 
     pursuant to this section, the officer or employee shall 
     complete a training course before being issued such spray, 
     and annually thereafter, on the use of oleoresin capsicum 
     spray.
       ``(2) Transferability of training.--An officer or employee 
     of the Bureau of Prisons who completes a training course 
     pursuant to paragraph (1) and subsequently transfers to 
     employment at a different prison, shall not be required to 
     complete an additional training course solely due such 
     transfer.
       ``(3) Training conducted during regular employment.--An 
     officer or employee of the Bureau of Prisons who completes a 
     training course required under paragraph (1) shall do so 
     during the course of that officer or employee's regular 
     employment, and shall be compensated at the same rate that 
     the officer or employee would be compensated for conducting 
     the officer or employee's regular duties.
       ``(c) Use of Oleoresin Capsicum Spray.--Officers and 
     employees of the Bureau of Prisons issued oleoresin capsicum 
     spray pursuant to subsection (a) may use such spray to reduce 
     acts of violence--
       ``(1) committed by prisoners against themselves, other 
     prisoners, prison visitors, and officers and employees of the 
     Bureau of Prisons; and
       ``(2) committed by prison visitors against themselves, 
     prisoners, other visitors, and officers and employees of the 
     Bureau of Prisons.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
     303 of part III of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting after the item relating to section 4048 the 
     following:

``4049. Officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons authorized to 
              carry oleoresin capsicum spray.''.

     SEC. 3. GAO REPORT.

       Not later than the date that is 3 years after the date on 
     which the Director of the Bureau of Prisons begins to issue 
     oleoresin capsicum spray to officers and employees of the 
     Bureau of Prisons pursuant to section 4049 of title 18, 
     United States Code, as added by this Act, the Comptroller 
     General of the United States shall submit to Congress a 
     report that includes the following:
       (1) An evaluation of the effectiveness of issuing oleoresin 
     capsicum spray to officers and employees of the Bureau of 
     Prisons in prisons that are not minimum or low security 
     prisons on--
       (A) reducing crime in such prisons; and
       (B) reducing acts of violence committed by prisoners 
     against themselves, other prisoners, prison visitors, and 
     officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons in such 
     prisons.
       (2) An evaluation of the advisability of issuing oleoresin 
     capsicum spray to officers and employees of the Bureau of 
     Prisons in prisons that are minimum or low security prisons, 
     including--
       (A) the effectiveness that issuing such spray in such 
     prisons would have on reducing acts of violence committed by 
     prisoners against themselves, other prisoners, prison 
     visitors, and officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons 
     in such prisons; and
       (B) the cost of issuing such spray in such prisons.
       (3) Recommendations to improve the safety of officers and 
     employees of the Bureau of Prisons in prisons.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOODLATTE. 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 materials on S. 238, currently under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Today I rise in support of S. 238, the Eric Williams Correctional 
Officer Protection Act of 2015.
  Eric Williams was born on August 24, 1978, in Wilkes-Barre, 
Pennsylvania. He was the son of Donald and Jean Williams. Eric spent 
most of his life in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, where he attended the 
Nanticoke public schools and graduated from Greater Nanticoke Area High 
School in 1996.
  Eric was an avid soccer player. He played youth soccer, was a member 
of the high school team, and continued playing in adult leagues. In 
addition, to his love of soccer, Eric was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed 
hunting, fishing, and bowling.
  Eric graduated with a criminal justice degree from King's College in 
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and was a graduate of Lackawanna College's 
police program. He went on to become a security specialist and then a 
police officer with Jefferson Township, Pennsylvania.
  In September of 2011, Eric began his career as a corrections officer 
at the U.S. Penitentiary in Canaan. In his spare time, he volunteered 
by visiting jails, talking to inmates about health and spiritual 
issues.
  On the night of February 25, 2013--3 years ago tomorrow--Eric was 
supervising more than 100 high-security inmates at the USP in Canaan. 
While making his rounds for nightly lockdown just before 10 p.m., 
inmate and gang member Jesse Con-ui launched an unprovoked, brutal, and 
cowardly attack against Senior Officer Williams. Con-ui knocked Eric 
down a staircase, fracturing his skull. He proceeded to stab Eric more 
than 200 times with a homemade prison shank.
  When authorities found Eric's body, he had only a set of keys, a pair 
of handcuffs, and a handheld radio on him, clearly not enough to defend 
himself against such a brutal attack. Eric was 34 years old when he was 
murdered.
  The Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015 will 
ensure that our brave corrections officers have the necessary equipment 
to properly defend themselves from this type of attack in the future.
  S. 238 requires the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to issue pepper 
spray to any Bureau of Prisons officer or employee who may have to 
respond to an emergency situation to reduce acts of violence committed 
by prisoners.

                              {time}  1230

  This is a much-needed piece of legislation to ensure the safety and 
security of Bureau of Prisons employees as well as the inmates in their 
facilities. This bill passed the Senate 2 months ago and, if passed 
today, will be presented to the President.
  I want to particularly thank Congressman Marino, who represents the 
district where Eric lived and who has been a staunch advocate for 
making pepper spray available to Bureau of Prisons employees.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of 
legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the senior member of the House Judiciary Committee 
and as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, 
Homeland Security, and Investigations, as the Representative of 
Houston, I am privileged to be able to support this legislation, 
legislation that, I am very glad to say, had been included in our draft 
prison bill, a bipartisan bill. But because of the urgency of this 
matter, I am very glad to be on the floor of the House with the 
cosponsors, sponsors, and the chairman of the full committee, Mr. 
Goodlatte; and the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Conyers, 
as well, joins in the importance of this effort.
  My heart aches for Eric Williams' family, and it aches for the 
circumstance that caused him to lose his life. Obviously, this young 
man was committed to public safety, the criminal justice system, and, 
in fact, the rehabilitation of those who were incarcerated, even in 
high-risk circumstances.
  I rise to support S. 238, the Eric Williams Correctional Officer 
Protection Act of 2015, to make sure that this provision, providing a 
tool of safety for these brave corrections officers, does not go out of 
existence.
  I want to extend my thanks again to Judiciary Chairman Goodlatte and 
Ranking Member Conyers, as I indicated, for their ongoing, bipartisan 
leadership.
  But again, let me refer back to Eric Williams, the namesake of this 
legislation and the tragedy of his death. I want to offer my sympathy 
to the family members and to again say that this death did not have to 
happen.

[[Page H867]]

  As I discuss the bill, I want to make the point that we should not 
shortchange the resources needed for the men and women who are on the 
front lines of protecting us and securing a criminal justice system to 
make it work. In this instance, that is what happened.
  A death had occurred earlier, but the pilot program did not reach to 
Eric's facility, and that is inexcusable. But, fortunately, this 
permanent adding or expanding of this bill will make sure that every 
high-risk facility under the Bureau of Prisons will have this pepper 
spray.
  The Judiciary Committee unanimously passed the groundbreaking prison 
reform bill, as I said, 2 weeks ago. This measure was included.
  S. 238 codifies a pilot program that has increased Federal prison 
safety nationwide. It is crucial. However, it is set to expire in a few 
days, and I look forward to my colleagues bringing forth the criminal 
justice bill.
  It is important to move this bill now. Tomorrow marks 3 years since 
the death of Correctional Officer Eric Williams, who was stabbed by an 
inmate at a high-security facility. He was working alone, as I said, 
with 100 inmates, high risk. Armed with only a radio, keys, and 
handcuffs, he was unable to defend himself against the aggressive 
attack. If Officer Williams was equipped with pepper spray, then he 
might still be here with us today.
  Passing S. 238 will honor Officer Williams. The provisions of this 
bill require BOP to issue oleoresin capsicum spray, known as pepper 
spray, to certain staff at a higher security prison. This requirement 
is truly common sense and does not apply to minimum or low-security 
facilities. It only applies to staff that may respond to an emergency 
situation in the prison.
  S. 238 includes critical safeguards to ensure pepper spray is used 
appropriately and only when necessary to prevent acts of violence, it 
is determined that pepper spray is not dangerous, only in limited 
circumstances.
  The legislation requires the officer or employee to complete a pepper 
spray training course before being issued the spray, annually 
thereafter.
  It establishes parameters for using the spray, and it may only be 
used to reduce acts of violence. In doing so, S. 238 makes it clear 
that pepper spray may not be used to punish or coerce inmates, or in an 
excessive, inappropriate fashion.
  Finally, let me say that it is with sadness, but with pleasure, that 
we provide this legislation and move it quickly so that we can provide 
that permanent armor, if you will, to protect these officers who are 
dealing with high-risk inmates.
  I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.
  As a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee; as the Ranking 
Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and 
Investigations; as the representative from Houston and as a co-sponsor 
of legislation that includes this same measure, I rise in support of S. 
238, the ``Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015.''
  Let me extend my thanks to Judiciary Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking 
Member Conyers for their ongoing leadership on bipartisan criminal 
justice reform.
  When the Judiciary Committee unanimously passed a groundbreaking 
prison reform bill just two weeks ago, that bill included the measure 
before us today.
  S. 238 codifies a pilot program that has increased federal prison 
safety nationwide.
  This crucial program, however, is set to expire in just a few days.
  While I look forward to working with my colleagues to bring our 
bipartisan criminal justice reform bills before this Chamber soon, we 
must pass S. 238 now to avoid letting this important program expire.
  Tomorrow marks three years since the death of Correctional Officer 
Eric Williams, who was stabbed by an inmate at a high security facility 
in Waymart, PA.
  Officer Williams was working alone in a unit of more than loo 
inmates.
  Armed only with a radio, keys, and handcuffs, he was unable to defend 
himself against the aggressive attack.
  If Officer Williams was equipped with pepper spray, then he might 
still be here with us today.
  Passing S. 238 will honor Officer Williams.
  The Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015 
provides officers in higher security facilities with the means to 
protect themselves when necessary.
  S. 238 requires BOP to issue oleoresin capsicum spray, known as 
pepper spray, to certain staff at higher security prisons.
  This requirement is truly common sense: it does not apply to minimum 
or low security facilities; and it only applies to staff that ``may 
respond to an emergency situation'' in the prison.
  S. 238 includes critical safeguards to ensure pepper spray is used 
appropriately and only when necessary to prevent acts of violence.
  Specifically, this legislation: requires the officer or employee to 
complete a pepper spray training course before being issued the spray, 
and annually thereafter; and establishes perimeters for using the 
spray--it may only be used to reduce acts of violence committed by 
prisoners against themselves or others.
  In doing so, S. 238 makes it clear that pepper spray may not be used 
to punish or coerce inmates, or in an excessive and inappropriate 
fashion.
  The need to provide permanent protective equipment cannot be 
overstated.
  Mass incarceration has led to dangerously overcrowded federal 
prisons.
  Such conditions can frequently lead, or at least contribute to, 
unnecessary violence.
  High and medium security level facilities make up 42 percent of the 
total BOP population.
  In FY2013 these facilities were operating 52 percent and 45 percent 
over capacity, respectively.
  Officers in these facilities must be equipped to protect themselves 
and others.
  In 2010, there were almost 1,700 assaults on BOP staff--about 49 per 
5,000 inmates.
  BOP requires officers on regular duty to carry a radio, body alarm, 
and keys.
  Outside the pilot program and aside from emergency situations and 
special teams, officers do not carry pepper spray or batons.
  Officers must rely on communication skills and training to de-
escalate confrontations.
  These are critically important skills and we know that our well-
trained federal correctional officers are generally able to use these 
skills to avoid violence.
  In some instances, however, these skills may not be enough and, when 
they are not, these officers must not be defenseless.
  The issuance of pepper spray, alongside proper training, will go a 
long way to assisting these officers when all else fails.
  We ask a lot of federal correctional officers.
  We support these officers with training and skills, but that is not 
always enough.
  When faced with acts of violence against themselves and others, they 
must be well-positioned to cut that violence short.
  It is therefore vital that we pass S. 238 now.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to join me; the National 
Association of Police Organizations; Federal Law Enforcement Officers 
Association; American Federation of Government Employees, and Council 
of Prison Locals; in supporting the Eric Williams Correctional Officer 
Protection Act of 2015.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Marino), a member of the Judiciary Committee and a 
subcommittee chairman who has been an advocate on this issue and whose 
district was directly impacted by the murder of Eric Williams.
  Mr. MARINO. I thank Chairman Goodlatte for bringing this legislation 
to the floor, and I thank Mr. Conyers for supporting this as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Eric Williams 
Correctional Officer Protection Act.
  I was not fortunate enough to know Eric Williams while he lived, but, 
as I have met and worked with his parents, his coworkers and friends, I 
have come to grasp the depth of his loss to them all.
  As the chairman stated before me, on the night he was brutally 
murdered, Eric was alone and outnumbered, over 100 to 1, in a high-
security Federal penitentiary.
  USP Canaan, where Eric was murdered, is one of three such high-
security institutions in my congressional district. And I might add 
that Congressman Goodlatte and I toured the facilities at Lewisburg and 
at Allenwood several months ago and saw firsthand what takes place 
there. In each of them, corrections officers and other prison staff are 
constantly outnumbered while they work among the most violent criminals 
in the Federal prison system.
  Until the BOP implemented its OC spray pilot program, each of these 
correctional officers was also completely unarmed. Inmates, on the 
other hand, constantly find ingenious ways to fabricate weapons for use 
against BOP employees and other inmates.
  But, as I have visited and met with corrections officers at USP 
Canaan,

[[Page H868]]

FCC Allenwood, and USP Lewisburg, I have heard firsthand accounts why 
OC spray is a necessary tool for their job. It is a sign of why this 
proven pilot program must be permanently authorized.
  I want to thank Chairman Goodlatte for his support and assistance on 
this critical piece of legislation, and my colleagues sitting with me 
here today and on the other side of the aisle. Over many months now, he 
and the staff have worked with mine to ensure that we bring this to the 
floor.
  I also want to thank my colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Toomey, 
for his efforts to push the bill through the Senate.
  While straightforward and short, the bill means life and/or death for 
corrections officers and BOP employees across the Nation. The loss of 
Eric Williams and two other Federal corrections officers in recent 
years is tragic and absolutely preventable.
  Tomorrow, February 25, marks 3 years since Eric's death. To honor his 
service and his memory, I urge my colleagues to do right for those who 
protect us and support this bill.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta).
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Eric Williams 
Correctional Officer Protection Act.
  First, let me explain the title of the bill.
  Eric Williams was a constituent of mine from Nanticoke, a senior 
correctional officer at the U.S. Prison at Canaan in Waymart, 
Pennsylvania, which is just outside of my district. On February 25, 
2013, that is 3 years ago tomorrow, Eric Williams was working in the 
prison when he was suddenly attacked by an inmate. The inmate knocked 
Officer Williams down a flight of steps. He then stabbed him more than 
200 times with a homemade shank. That inmate is now charged with first 
degree murder, first degree murder of a United States corrections 
officer, and possessing contraband in prison. Prosecutors are seeking 
the death penalty.
  Needless to say, at the time of the attack, Officer Williams was 
unarmed. Now, it makes sense that officers don't carry firearms into 
areas where inmates could gain access to them, but this bill tells the 
Bureau of Prisons to supply pepper spray to prison officers or other 
employees who could be involved in emergency situations with inmates.
  If Officer Williams had been equipped with pepper spray 3 years ago, 
he might have been able to defend himself against that cowardly, 
ambush-style attack, and perhaps he would be alive today. This will 
give correctional officers that fighting chance that Officer Williams 
did not have.
  I have had the privilege of meeting with Eric Williams' parents, Don 
and Jean. They are now part of an organization called Voices of JOE. 
The letters of J-O-E stand for Jose Rivera, Osvaldo Albarati, and Eric 
Williams. They were killed because of their jobs in the correctional 
system.
  For them, Mr. Speaker, and all of our correctional officers who risk 
their lives every day, I urge support of the bill.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
West Virginia (Mr. McKinley), who is the chief sponsor of the House 
version of this bill.
  Mr. McKINLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 238, the Eric 
Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act, and urge its immediate 
adoption.
  Two years ago, our office met with the family of Eric Williams. We 
heard the tragic story of how he was brutally murdered in the line of 
duty at the penitentiary at Canaan.
  In coordination with Senator Toomey's office, we then introduced the 
bill, in concert with Congressmen Barletta and Marino, the companion 
bill in the House. We reintroduced it again this past year and are 
thrilled that the Toomey bill has passed the Senate and has come before 
the House today. This bill will permanently authorize Federal 
correction officers to routinely carry pepper spray in medium-, high-, 
and maximum-security prisons.
  Think about what we heard a minute ago. At the time of his death, 
Officer Williams was only equipped with a radio, a set of keys, and 
some handcuffs.
  Any worker should feel safe and secure when they go to work, but that 
is not the case in our Federal correctional institutions. These men and 
women have no line of defense against conflicts within the prison 
walls. This bill will go far in providing Federal correctional workers 
a much-needed tool so that they may defend themselves and others if 
attacked by violent prison inmates.
  I thank the Judiciary Committee and leadership for their quick action 
in bringing this issue to the floor, and I urge all my colleagues to 
honor the memory of Officer Eric Williams by voting ``yes'' and sending 
this bill to the President's desk.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time to close.

                              {time}  1245

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time 
to close.
  Mr. Speaker, let me state the obvious. All of us are appalled and 
saddened by the loss of this correctional officer. We express again our 
sadness and sympathy to his family although 3 years later. Eric 
Williams did not deserve to die.
  Our Federal prisons across America are dangerously overcrowded. Such 
conditions can frequently lead or at least contribute to unnecessary 
violence. High- and medium-level security facilities make up 42 percent 
of the total Bureau of Prisons population.
  In FY 2013, these facilities were operating 52 percent and 45 percent 
over capacity, respectively. Officers in these facilities must be 
equipped to protect themselves.
  In 2010, there were almost 1,700 assaults on BOP staff and about 49 
per 5,000 inmates. BOP requires officers of regular duty to carry a 
radio, body alarm, and keys.
  Outside the pilot program and aside from the emergency situation and 
special teams, officers do not carry pepper spray all the time. 
Officers must rely on communication skills and training to deescalate 
confrontations. Sometimes that is not enough. These are important 
skills.
  We know that well-trained Federal correctional officers are generally 
able to use these skills to avoid violence, but not all the time. We 
must not have one single time where we have an officer at the risk of 
losing their life and they have no protection.
  In some instances, however, these skills may not be enough. When they 
are not, these officers must not be defenseless. Issuance of pepper 
spray alongside proper training will go a long way to assist these 
officers.
  We ask a lot of Federal correctional officers. In the comments made 
about Mr. Williams, he was engaged in counseling and rehabilitation 
discussions.
  We support these officers with training and skills. We do expect for 
them to interact. When faced with acts of violence against themselves 
and others, they must be well positioned to cut that violence short.
  So I ask my colleges to join in passing S. 238. I thank the author of 
the bill who persisted in introducing it on many occasions, my 
colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, including Mr. Marino, and 
others, our chairman and ranking member.
  I urge my colleagues to join me, the National Association of Police 
Organizations, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the 
American Federation of Government Employees, and the Council of Prison 
Locals in supporting the Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection 
Act of 2015.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to close.
  Very simply, a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet Mr. and 
Mrs. Williams, Eric's parents. They came to the House Judiciary 
Committee on the day that we marked up our prison reform legislation 
and included matters related to protecting the security officers in 
that legislation.
  They came after Eric had been brutally murdered. So they knew that

[[Page H869]]

nothing they did there that day would save him, that he had already 
been lost. But they came for one important reason. They don't want to 
see that happen to any other Federal prison security guards anywhere 
anytime. They strongly support this legislation.
  I ask my colleagues to pass this legislation in Eric Williams' name 
and out of respect for the concern his parents have that officers who 
serve their country in our Federal prisons are kept safe.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 238.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________