[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 74 (Tuesday, May 8, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3812-H3815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SMALL BUSINESS 7(A) LENDING OVERSIGHT REFORM ACT OF 2018

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4743) to amend the Small Business Act to strengthen the 
Office of Credit Risk Management within the Small Business 
Administration, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4743

       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 ``Small Business 7(a) Lending 
     Oversight Reform Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act, the terms ``Administration'' and 
     ``Administrator'' mean the Small Business Administration and 
     the Administrator thereof, respectively.

     SEC. 3. CODIFICATION OF THE OFFICE OF CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT 
                   AND THE LENDER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

       (a) In General.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et 
     seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 47 as section 49; and
       (2) by inserting after section 46 the following new 
     sections:

     ``SEC. 47. OFFICE OF CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the 
     Administration the Office of Credit Risk Management (in this 
     section referred to as the `Office').
       ``(b) Duties.--The Office shall be responsible for 
     supervising--
       ``(1) any lender making loans under section 7(a) (in this 
     section referred to as a `7(a) lender');
       ``(2) any Lending Partner or Intermediary participant of 
     the Administration in a lending program of the Office of 
     Capital Access of the Administration; and
       ``(3) any small business lending company or a non-Federally 
     regulated lender without regard to the requirements of 
     section 23.
       ``(c) Director.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Office shall be headed by the 
     Director of the Office of Credit Risk Management (in this 
     section referred to as the `Director'), who shall be a career 
     appointee in the Senior Executive Service (as defined in 
     section 3132 of title 5, United States Code).
       ``(2) Duties.--The Director shall be responsible for 
     oversight of the lenders and participants described in 
     subsection (b), including by conducting periodic reviews of 
     the compliance and performance of such lenders and 
     participants.
       ``(d) Supervision Duties for 7(a) Lenders.--With respect to 
     7(a) lenders, an employee of the Office shall--
       ``(1) be present for and supervise any such review that is 
     conducted by a contractor of the Office on the premise of the 
     7(a) lender; and
       ``(2) supervise any such review that is not conducted on 
     the premise of the 7(a) lender.
       ``(e) Enforcement Authority Against 7(a) Lenders.--
       ``(1) Informal enforcement authority.--The Director may 
     take an informal enforcement action against a 7(a) lender if 
     the Director finds that the 7(a) lender has violated a 
     statutory or regulatory requirement under section 7(a) or any 
     requirement in a Standard Operating Procedures Manual or 
     Policy Notice related to a program or function of the Office 
     of Capital Access.
       ``(2) Formal enforcement authority.--
       ``(A) In general.--With the approval of the Lender 
     Oversight Committee established under section 48, the 
     Director may take a formal enforcement action against any 
     7(a) lender if the Director finds that the 7(a) lender has 
     violated--
       ``(i) a statutory or regulatory requirement under section 
     7(a), including a requirement relating to credit elsewhere; 
     or
       ``(ii) any requirement described in a Standard Operating 
     Procedures Manual or Policy Notice, related to a program or 
     function of the Office of Capital Access.
       ``(B) Enforcement actions.--An enforcement action imposed 
     on a 7(a) lender by the Director under subparagraph (A) shall 
     be based on the severity or frequency of the violation and 
     may include assessing a civil monetary penalty against the 
     7(a) lender in an amount that is not greater than $250,000.
       ``(3) Appeal by lender.--A 7(a) lender may appeal an 
     enforcement action imposed by the Director described in this 
     subsection to the Office of Hearings and Appeals established 
     under section 5(i) or to an appropriate district court of the 
     United States.
       ``(f) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this section, the Administrator shall issue 
     regulations, after opportunity for notice and comment, to 
     carry out subsection (e).
       ``(g) Servicing and Liquidation Responsibilities.--During 
     any period during which a 7(a) lender is suspended or 
     otherwise prohibited from making loans under section 7(a), 
     the 7(a) lender shall remain obligated to maintain all 
     servicing and liquidation activities delegated to the lender 
     by the Administrator, unless otherwise specified by the 
     Director.
       ``(h) Portfolio Risk Analysis of 7(a) Loans.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Director shall annually conduct a 
     risk analysis of the portfolio of the Administration with 
     respect to all loans guaranteed under section 7(a).
       ``(2) Report to congress.--On December 1, 2018, and every 
     December 1 thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress 
     a report containing the results of each portfolio risk 
     analysis conducted under paragraph (1) during the fiscal year 
     preceding the submission of the report, which shall include--
       ``(A) an analysis of the overall program risk of loans 
     guaranteed under section 7(a);
       ``(B) an analysis of the program risk, set forth separately 
     by industry concentration;
       ``(C) without identifying individual 7(a) lenders by name, 
     a consolidated analysis of the risk created by the individual 
     7(a) lenders responsible for not less than 1 percent of the 
     gross loan approvals set forth separately for the year 
     covered by the report by--
       ``(i) the dollar value of the loans made by such 7(a) 
     lenders; and
       ``(ii) the number of loans made by such 7(a) lenders;
       ``(D) steps taken by the Administrator to mitigate the 
     risks identified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C);
       ``(E) the number of 7(a) lenders, the number of loans made, 
     and the gross and net dollar amount of loans made;
       ``(F) the number and dollar amount of total losses, the 
     number and dollar amount of total purchases, and the 
     percentage and dollar amount of recoveries at the 
     Administration;
       ``(G) the number and type of enforcement actions 
     recommended by the Director;
       ``(H) the number and type of enforcement actions approved 
     by the Lender Oversight Committee established under section 
     48;

[[Page H3813]]

       ``(I) the number and type of enforcement actions 
     disapproved by the Lender Oversight Committee; and
       ``(J) the number and dollar amount of civil monetary 
     penalties assessed.
       ``(i) Budget Submission and Justification.--The Director 
     shall annually provide, in writing, a fiscal year budget 
     submission for the Office and a justification for such 
     submission to the Administrator. Such submission and 
     justification shall--
       ``(1) include salaries and expenses of the Office and the 
     charge for the lender oversight fees;
       ``(2) be submitted at or about the time of the budget 
     submission by the President under section 1105(a) of title 
     31; and
       ``(3) be maintained in an indexed form and made available 
     for public review for a period of not less than 5 years 
     beginning on the date of submission and justification.

     ``SEC. 48. LENDER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the 
     Administration the Lender Oversight Committee (in this 
     section referred to as the `Committee').
       ``(b) Membership.--The Committee shall consist of at least 
     8 members selected by the Administrator, of which--
       ``(1) 3 members shall be voting members, 2 of whom shall be 
     career appointees in the Senior Executive Service (as defined 
     in section 3132 of title 5, United States Code); and
       ``(2) the remaining members shall be nonvoting members who 
     shall serve in an advisory capacity on the Committee.
       ``(c) Duties.--The Committee shall--
       ``(1) review reports on lender oversight activities;
       ``(2) review formal enforcement action recommendations of 
     the Director of the Office of Credit Risk Management with 
     respect to any lender making loans under section 7(a) and any 
     Lending Partner or Intermediary participant of the 
     Administration in a lending program of the Office of Capital 
     Access of the Administration;
       ``(3) in carrying out paragraph (2) with respect to formal 
     enforcement actions taken under subsection (d) or (e) of 
     section 23, vote to recommend or not recommend action to the 
     Administrator or a designee of the Administrator;
       ``(4) in carrying out paragraph (2) with respect to any 
     formal enforcement action not specified under subsection (d) 
     or (e) of section 23, vote to approve, disapprove, or modify 
     the action;
       ``(5) review, in an advisory capacity, any lender 
     oversight, portfolio risk management, or program integrity 
     matters brought by the Director; and
       ``(6) take such other actions and perform such other 
     functions as may be delegated to the Committee by the 
     Administrator.
       ``(d) Meetings.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Committee shall meet as necessary, 
     but not less frequently than on a quarterly basis.
       ``(2) Reports.--The Committee shall submit to the 
     Administrator a report detailing each meeting of the 
     Committee, including if the Committee does or does not vote 
     to approve a formal enforcement action of the Director of the 
     Office of Credit Risk Management with respect to a lender.''.
       (b) Supervision Duties for 7(a) Lenders.--Effective January 
     1, 2019, subsection (d) of section 47 (as added by subsection 
     (a)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) Supervision Duties for 7(a) Lenders.--
       ``(1) Reviews.--With respect to 7(a) lenders, an employee 
     of the Office shall--
       ``(A) be present for and supervise any such review that is 
     conducted by a contractor of the Office on the premise of the 
     7(a) lender; and
       ``(B) supervise any such review that is not conducted on 
     the premise of the 7(a) lender.
       ``(2) Review report timeline.--
       ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other requirements 
     of the Office or the Administrator, the Administrator shall 
     develop and implement a review report timeline which shall--
       ``(i) require the Administrator to--

       ``(I) deliver a written report of the review to the 7(a) 
     lender not later than 60 business days after the date on 
     which the review is concluded; or
       ``(II) if the Administrator expects to submit the report 
     after the end of the 60-day period described in clause (i), 
     notify the 7(a) lender of the expected date of submission of 
     the report and the reason for the delay; and

       ``(ii) if a response by the 7(a) lender is requested in a 
     report submitted under subparagraph (A), require the 7(a) 
     lender to submit responses to the Administrator not later 
     than 45 business days after the date on which the 7(a) lender 
     receives the report.
       ``(B) Extension.--The Administrator may extend the time 
     frame described in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) with respect to a 
     7(a) lender as the Administrator determines necessary.''.
       (c) Transfer of Functions.--
       (1) Office of credit risk management.--All functions of the 
     Office of Credit Risk Management of the Small Business 
     Administration, including the personnel, assets, and 
     obligation of the Office of Credit Risk Management, as in 
     existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, shall be transferred to the Office of Credit Risk 
     Management established under section 47 of the Small Business 
     Act, as added by subsection (a).
       (2) Lender oversight committee.--All functions of the 
     Lender Oversight Committee of the Small Business 
     Administration, including the personnel, assets, and 
     obligations of the Lender Oversight Committee, as in 
     existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, shall be transferred to the Lender Oversight Committee 
     established under section 48 of the Small Business Act, as 
     added by subsection (a).
       (d) Deeming of Name.--
       (1) Office of credit risk management.--Any reference in a 
     law, regulation, guidance, document, paper, or other record 
     of the United States to the Office of Credit Risk Management 
     of the Small Business Administration shall be deemed a 
     reference to the Office of Credit Risk Management, 
     established under section 47 of the Small Business Act, as 
     added by subsection (a).
       (2) Lender oversight committee.--Any reference in a law, 
     regulation, guidance, document, paper, or other record of the 
     United States to the Lender Oversight Committee of the Small 
     Business Administration shall be deemed a reference to the 
     Lender Oversight Committee, established under section 48 of 
     the Small Business Act, as added by subsection (a).
       (e) Technical Amendment.--Section 3(r)(2) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(r)(2)) is amended by striking 
     ``regulated SBA lender'' each place it appears in heading and 
     text and inserting ``regulated lender''.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITION OF CREDIT ELSEWHERE.

       (a) In General.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et 
     seq.) is amended--
       (1) by striking section 3(h) (15 U.S.C. 632(h)) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(h) The term `credit elsewhere' means--
       ``(1) for the purposes of this Act (except as used in 
     section 7(b)), the availability of credit on reasonable terms 
     and conditions to the individual loan applicant from non-
     Federal, non-State, or non-local government sources, 
     considering factors associated with conventional lending 
     practices, including--
       ``(A) the business industry in which the loan applicant 
     operates;
       ``(B) whether the loan applicant is an enterprise that has 
     been in operation for a period of not more than 2 years;
       ``(C) the adequacy of the collateral available to secure 
     the requested loan;
       ``(D) the loan term necessary to reasonably assure the 
     ability of the loan applicant to repay the debt from the 
     actual or projected cash flow of the business; and
       ``(E) any other factor relating to the particular credit 
     application, as documented in detail by the lender, that 
     cannot be overcome except through obtaining a Federal loan 
     guarantee under prudent lending standards; and
       ``(2) for the purposes of section 7(b), the availability of 
     credit on reasonable terms and conditions from non-Federal 
     sources taking into consideration the prevailing rates and 
     terms in the community in or near where the applicant 
     business concern transacts business, or the applicant 
     homeowner resides, for similar purposes and periods of 
     time.''; and
       (2) in section 7(a)(1)(A)(i) (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(1)(A)(i)), 
     by inserting ``The Administrator has the authority to direct, 
     and conduct oversight for, the methods by which lenders 
     determine whether a borrower is able to obtain credit 
     elsewhere.'' before ``No financial assistance''.
       (b) Technical Amendment.--Section 18(b) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 647(b)) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(b) As used in this Act, the term `agricultural 
     enterprises' means those small business concerns engaged in 
     the production of food and fiber, ranching, and raising of 
     livestock, aquaculture, and all other farming and 
     agricultural-related industries.''.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORITY FOR ADMINISTRATOR TO INCREASE AMOUNT FOR 
                   GENERAL BUSINESS LOANS.

       Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note) 
     is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (f); and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(g) Authority To Increase Amount of General Business 
     Loans.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) and 
     with respect to fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year 
     thereafter, if the Administrator determines that the amount 
     of commitments by the Administrator for general business 
     loans authorized under section 7(a) for a fiscal year could 
     exceed the limit on the total amount of commitments the 
     Administrator may make for those loans under this Act, an 
     appropriations Act, or any other provision of law, the 
     Administrator may make commitments for those loans for that 
     fiscal year in an aggregate amount equal to not more than 115 
     percent of that limit.
       ``(2) Notice required before exercising authority.--Not 
     later than 30 days before the date on which the Administrator 
     intends to exercise the authority under paragraph (1), the 
     Administrator shall submit notice of intent to exercise the 
     authority to--
       ``(A) the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 
     and the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General 
     Government of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
     and
       ``(B) the Committee on Small Business and the Subcommittee 
     on Financial Services and General Government of the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
       ``(3) Limitation.--The Administrator shall not exercise the 
     authority under paragraph (1) more than once during any 
     fiscal year.''.

[[Page H3814]]

  


     SEC. 6. ESTABLISHING A PROCESS FOR WAIVERS.

       (a) In General.--If the Administrator exercises statutory 
     or regulatory authority to waive a regulation or a 
     requirement in the Standard Operating Procedures Manual or 
     Policy Notice related to a program or function of the Office 
     of Capital Access of the Administration, the waiver shall be 
     in writing and be maintained in an indexed form.
       (b) No New Waiver Authority.--Nothing in subsection (a) 
     shall be construed as creating new authority for the 
     Administrator to waive regulations of the Administration.

     SEC. 7. REPEAL OF SMALL BUSINESS LOAN LOSS REPORT.

       Subsection (b) of section 10 of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 639(b)) is repealed.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hill). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. 
Velazquez) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CHABOT. 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 the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, although the economy is starting to recover, small 
businesses continue to face a rigid lending environment that challenges 
growth and job creation. With options limited, small businesses 
regularly turn to the SBA, the Small Business Administration, for 
assistance.
  With nearly 70,000 loans made in fiscal year 2017, the 7(a) Loan 
Program is the SBA's largest capital access tool and is reserved for 
creditworthy small businesses that cannot access traditional or 
conventional bank lending.

                              {time}  1500

  In recent years, the program has experienced rapid growth, which 
spiked congressional interest and resulted in numerous hearings and 
meetings to evaluate the SBA's oversight of lenders.
  After careful consideration, I, along with the ranking member, Ms. 
Velazquez, determined legislation was needed to ensure the integrity of 
the program and to safeguard the American taxpayers' dollars. As a 
result, in January of this year, we introduced H.R. 4743, the Small 
Business 7(a) Lending Oversight Reform Act of 2018, this bill.
  H.R. 4743 contains important oversight reforms that strengthen the 
SBA's Office of Credit Risk Management and the SBA's Lender Oversight 
Committee. H.R. 4743 also bolsters the credit elsewhere test which acts 
as a gatekeeper into this government guarantee program.
  With the reforms outlined in this provision, the credit elsewhere 
test will be clarified and refocused on a borrower's ability to access 
the program. The changes to the credit elsewhere test will ensure the 
program is being used by eligible and deserving small businesses.
  Additionally, H.R. 4743 outlines a portfolio risk analysis that the 
SBA must perform. With any program that has a government role, healthy 
and vigorous oversight is required to protect the taxpayers. H.R. 4743 
provides this for the 7(a) Loan Program and for the Nation's small 
businesses.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member, Ms. Velazquez, for 
all of her hard work and interest in this topic, and I also want to 
thank all of the members of the committee who have had a role in 
exploring this issue.
  The bill has broad, bipartisan support--as many of our bills often 
do. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4743, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4743, a bipartisan, bicameral 
bill that will improve oversight of the 7(a) Loan Program, the SBA's 
flagship lending product.
  At the beginning of this Congress, our committee held a series of 
hearings to take the temperature of the 7(a) program. We actively 
investigated how it is being utilized, and we worked with stakeholders 
to address the deficiencies that were identified.
  Both lenders and the agency have said oversight could be improved and 
transparency increased with legislative action. This bill is the 
product of that feedback and will make long overdue reforms to the 
program.
  The legislation increases transparency and uniformity for both 
lenders and the agency by codifying the Office of Credit Risk 
Management and Lender Oversight Committee. It also requires the Office 
to internally submit a budget to ensure there is justification of the 
fees, salaries, and expenses used to carry out oversight functions.
  We also heard that the credit elsewhere test--a bedrock of the 
program--was not clear and lacked a verification component. This bill 
better clarifies the credit elsewhere test and bolsters substantiation 
of how it is fulfilled.
  Finally, we all remember 2015, when the program ran out of authority 
to lend before the end of the year. This created an artificial run on 
the lenders to get loans approved, unfairly harmed small businesses 
that needed credit, and ultimately required congressional intervention.
  Today's bill incorporates provisions from legislation I introduced 
earlier this year, empowering the Administrator to request additional 
lending capacity from Congress to meet unexpected demands late in the 
fiscal year.
  H.R. 4743 strikes a meaningful balance between strong oversight and 
protecting the interests of small businesses that need loans.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Kelly), chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Investigations, Oversight and Regulations.
  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for 
yielding. In my district, the Small Business Administration has made 
tremendous and direct impact with the 7(a) Loan Program by helping 
small businesses that are not able to find or obtain capital through 
traditional or conventional markets.
  To acquire a 7(a) loan, participating lenders must determine that a 
small business cannot receive credit elsewhere. In practice, this is 
called the credit elsewhere test. The test became the focus of my 
subcommittee hearing in March of 2017, when the Committee reviewed the 
7(a) Loan Program.
  As conservatives, we must safeguard American taxpayer dollars. A 
government guarantee program needs strong oversight to make sure 
adequate safeguards are in place. That is why 7(a) oversight must begin 
with the credit elsewhere test.
  This is exactly what H.R. 4743 proposes. It strengthens the credit 
elsewhere test and provides transparency to factors most commonly used 
by lenders as they move small businesses through the 7(a) loan process. 
Additionally, H.R. 4743 increases the oversight capabilities of the 
Office of Credit Risk Management and the Lender Oversight Committee. 
These reforms will support the program while protecting American 
taxpayer dollars.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for 
taking up this issue and working with all Members to ensure oversight 
is paramount, and I urge my colleagues to support this much-needed 
legislation.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in crafting H.R. 4743, the chairman and I worked closely 
with our Senate counterparts, the SBA, and the lending industry. 
Everyone had a seat at the table, and through debate and compromise, we 
arrived at a legislative product we can all be proud of, and that, most 
importantly, will help deserving small businesses access loans.

  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chairman 
Chabot and Senators Risch and Cardin for their bipartisanship. And, 
finally, I would like to thank our staff for working diligently on this 
important bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to 
close.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on 
this

[[Page H3815]]

issue. I would also like to thank the staffs on both sides of the 
aisle, and I would also like to thank the chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee, Rodney Frelinghuysen, for his assistance in a 
bump that we ran into at the eleventh hour there.
  He was a classmate of mine. We both came in in the historic class of 
1994, and he will be leaving at the end of this term. He is going to be 
greatly missed, but, in any event, I want to thank Chairman 
Frelinghuysen.
  Mr. Speaker, to conclude, the 7(a) Loan Program is an important 
capital access resource for the Nation's small businesses. However, 
with any government guarantee program, strong oversight is mandatory to 
safeguard American taxpayer dollars. H.R. 4743 institutes strong and 
critical reforms to make sure oversight is front and center as this 
program is administered by the SBA.
  H.R. 4743 ensures the program will only be utilized by small 
businesses that truly require its services, and I urge my colleagues to 
support the bipartisan reforms instituted in H.R. 4743.
  Finally, I want to again thank the gentlewoman from New York and the 
staffs and everyone else involved in this. I understand it might not be 
the norm everywhere these days, but, in our committee, it is business--
and I should say--it is small business as usual. The gentlewoman was 
really a pleasure to work with on this and many other issues, so I 
thank the gentlewoman very much for her work.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McClintock). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4743, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________