[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 10, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H6007-H6010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE STANDARDS ACT OF 2018

  Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4537) to preserve the State-based system of insurance 
regulation and provide greater oversight of and transparency on 
international insurance standards setting processes, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4537

       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 ``International Insurance 
     Standards Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The State-based system for insurance regulation in the 
     United States has served American consumers well for more 
     than 150 years and has fostered an open and competitive 
     marketplace with a diversity of insurance products to the 
     benefit of policyholders and consumers.
       (2) Protecting policyholders by regulating to ensure an 
     insurer's ability to pay claims has been the hallmark of the 
     successful United States system and should be the paramount 
     objective of domestic prudential regulation and emerging 
     international standards.
       (3) The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
     Protection Act (Public Law 111-203) reaffirmed the State-
     based insurance regulatory system.

     SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT THAT INSURANCE STANDARDS REFLECT UNITED 
                   STATES POLICY.

       (a) Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--Parties representing the Federal 
     Government in any international regulatory, standard-setting, 
     or supervisory forum or in any negotiations of any 
     international agreements relating to the prudential aspects 
     of insurance shall not agree to, accede to, accept, or 
     establish any proposed agreement or standard if the proposed 
     agreement or standard fails to recognize the United States 
     system of insurance regulation as satisfying such proposals.
       (2) Inapplicability.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any 
     forum or negotiations relating to a covered agreement (as 
     such term is defined in section 313(r) of title 31, United 
     States Code).
       (b) Federal Insurance Office Functions.--Subparagraph (E) 
     of section 313(c)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting ``Federal Government'' after ``United 
     States''.
       (c) Negotiations.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to prevent participation in negotiations of any 
     proposed agreement or standard.

     SEC. 4. STATE INSURANCE REGULATOR INVOLVEMENT IN 
                   INTERNATIONAL STANDARD SETTING.

       In developing international insurance standards pursuant to 
     section 3, and throughout the negotiations of such standards, 
     parties representing the Federal Government shall, on matters 
     related to insurance, closely consult, coordinate with, and 
     seek to include in such meetings State insurance 
     commissioners or, at the option of the State insurance 
     commissioners, designees of the insurance commissioners 
     acting at their direction.

     SEC. 5. CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS.

       (a) Requirement.--Parties representing the Federal 
     Government with respect to any agreement under section 3 
     shall provide written notice to and consult with the 
     Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs of the Senate, and any other relevant 
     committees of jurisdiction--
       (1) before initiating negotiations to enter into the 
     agreement, regarding--
       (A) the intention of the United States to participate in or 
     enter into such negotiations; and
       (B) the nature and objectives of the negotiations; and
       (2) during negotiations to enter into the agreement, 
     regarding--
       (A) the nature and objectives of the negotiations
       (B) the implementation of the agreement, including how it 
     is consistent with and does not materially differ from or 
     otherwise affect Federal or State laws or regulations;
       (C) the impact on the competitiveness of United States 
     insurers; and
       (D) the impact on United States consumers.
       (b) Consultation With Federal Advisory Committee on 
     Insurance.--Before entering into an agreement under section 
     3, the Secretary of the Treasury shall seek to consult with 
     the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance formed pursuant 
     to section 313(h) of title 31, United States Code.

     SEC. 6. REPORT TO CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE 
                   AGREEMENTS.

       Before entering into an agreement under section 3, parties 
     representing the Federal Government shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees and leadership a report 
     that describes --
       (1) the implementation of the agreement, including how it 
     is consistent with and does not materially differ from or 
     otherwise affect Federal or State laws or regulations;
       (2) the impact on the competitiveness of United States 
     insurers; and
       (3) the impact on United States consumers.

     SEC. 7. COVERED AGREEMENTS.

       (a) Preemption of State Insurance Measures.--Subsection (f) 
     of section 313 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``Director'' each place such term appears and 
     inserting ``Secretary''.
       (b) Definition.--Paragraph (2) of section 313(r) of title 
     31, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

[[Page H6008]]

       ``(C) applies only on a prospective basis.''.
       (c) Consultation; Submission and Layover; Congressional 
     Review.--Section 314 of title 31, United States Code is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``laws'' and inserting 
     the following: ``and Federal law, and the nature of any 
     changes in the laws of the United States or the 
     administration of such laws that would be required to carry 
     out a covered agreement''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) Access to negotiating texts and other documents.--
     Appropriate congressional committees and staff with proper 
     security clearances shall be given timely access to United 
     States negotiating proposals, consolidated draft texts, and 
     other pertinent documents related to the negotiations, 
     including classified materials.'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
       (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(c) Requirements for Consultations With State Insurance 
     Commissioners.--Throughout the negotiations of a covered 
     agreement, parties representing the Federal Government shall 
     closely consult and coordinate with State insurance 
     commissioners.'';
       (4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated by paragraph 
     (2)--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``only if--'' and inserting the following: ``only if, before 
     signing the final legal text or otherwise entering into the 
     agreement--'';
       (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``congressional 
     committees specified in subsection (b)(1)'' and inserting 
     ``appropriate congressional committees and leadership and to 
     congressional committee staff with proper security 
     clearances''; and
       (C) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(2)(A) the 90-day period beginning on the date on which 
     the copy of the final legal text of the agreement is 
     submitted under paragraph (1) to the congressional 
     committees, leadership, and staff has expired; and
       ``(B) the covered agreement has not been prevented from 
     taking effect pursuant to subsection (e).''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(e) Period for Review by Congress.--
       ``(1) In general.--During the layover period referred to in 
     subsection (d)(2)(A), the Committees on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs and Finance of the Senate and the Committees on 
     Financial Services and Ways of Means of the House of 
     Representatives should, as appropriate, exercise their full 
     oversight responsibility.
       ``(2) Effect of enactment of a joint resolution of 
     disapproval.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if 
     a joint resolution of disapproval relating to a covered 
     agreement submitted under subsection (d)(1) is enacted in 
     accordance with subsection (f), the covered agreement shall 
     not enter into force with respect to the United States.
       ``(f) Joint Resolutions of Disapproval.--
       ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `joint 
     resolution of disapproval' means, with respect to proposed 
     covered agreement, only a joint resolution of either House of 
     Congress--
       ``(A) that is introduced during the 90-day period referred 
     to in subsection (d)(2)(A) relating to such proposed covered 
     agreement;
       ``(B) which does not have a preamble;
       ``(C) the title of which is as follows: `A joint resolution 
     disapproving a certain proposed covered agreement under 
     section 314 of title 31, United States Code.'; and
       ``(D) the sole matter after the resolving clause of which 
     is the following: `Congress disapproves of the proposed 
     covered agreement submitted to Congress under section 314 
     (c)(1) of title 31, United States Code, on _______ relating 
     to ________.', with the first blank space being filled with 
     the appropriate date and the second blank space being filled 
     with a short description of the proposed covered agreement.
       ``(2) Introduction.--During the layover period referred to 
     in subsection (d)(2)(A), a joint resolution of disapproval 
     may be introduced--
       ``(A) in the House of Representatives, by any Member of the 
     House, and
       ``(B) in the Senate, by any Senator,
     and shall be referred to the appropriate committees.
       ``(3) Rules of house of representatives and senate.--This 
     subsection is enacted by Congress--
       ``(A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 
     and the House of Representatives, respectively, and as such 
     is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, 
     and supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is 
     inconsistent with such rules; and
       ``(B) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
     either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the 
     procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and 
     to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that 
     House.
       ``(g) Appropriate Congressional Committees and Leadership 
     Defined.--In this section, the term `appropriate 
     congressional committees and leadership' means--
       ``(1) the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 
     and Finance, and the majority and minority leaders, of the 
     Senate; and
       ``(2) the Committees on Financial Services and Ways and 
     Means, and the Speaker, the majority leader, and the minority 
     leader, of the House of Representatives.''.

     SEC. 8. INAPPLICABILITY TO TRADE AGREEMENTS.

       This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall not 
     apply to any forum or negotiations related to a trade 
     agreement.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Maxine 
Waters) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include any extraneous material on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first I would like to commend my friends, Mr. Duffy and 
Mr. Heck, for their work on this very important issue. For over 150 
years, U.S. insurance companies of every kind--including property-
casualty, life, reinsurance, health, and auto--have all been regulated 
primarily by the States.
  Congress and the States have occasionally reviewed the effectiveness 
of the State-based regulation of insurance and coordinated efforts that 
they have to achieve greater regulatory uniformity. In fact, in 1945, 
Congress passed the McCarran-Ferguson Act, which confirmed the States' 
regulatory authority over insurance except where a Federal law 
expressly provides otherwise.
  As a former State representative in the Michigan Legislature, I know 
firsthand that Michigan does a better job of protecting policyholders 
within their borders than the Federal Government can do. I have seen it 
in action. Even more, Michigan certainly knows how to maintain a robust 
insurance marketplace that works for Michigan consumers. I would assume 
the exact same thing in Wisconsin and in Washington and in California 
and all throughout the States.
  However, there are those who believe Washington knows best. In fact, 
title V of the Dodd-Frank Act enlarged the Federal Government's role in 
the insurance industry by creating a Federal office specifically tasked 
with insurance matters. The Dodd-Frank Act established FIO, or the 
Federal Insurance Office, at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and 
charged the FIO Director with the responsibility to both represent the 
interests of U.S. insurers during the negotiation of international 
agreements and then advise the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative during trade negotiations.
  At the same time, the Dodd-Frank Act changed domestic insurance 
regulation. Dodd-Frank led to changes in the U.S. participation at the 
International Association of Insurance Supervisors, also known as IAIS, 
which develops international insurance regulations for its 190 
jurisdictions in more than 140 countries.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that I am not the only one who is concerned that 
this could influence the Federal Government to look at replacing our 
State-based regulatory insurance model with some sort of international 
standards that were created, frankly, by unelected European 
bureaucrats. The outcomes of these discussions could have significant 
impact on the U.S. insurance markets, consumers, and the companies that 
provide those products.
  Therefore, the U.S. needs to maintain a strong, unified voice that 
will ensure our successful State-based, policyholder-centric system of 
insurance regulation is the model for the discussions and the basis of 
the official United States position abroad.
  H.R. 4537, the International Insurance Standards Act, introduced by 
my friend and colleague, Representative Duffy, would require the United 
States to recognize the primacy of the U.S. State-based insurance 
regulatory regime when entering into and agreeing to international 
insurance negotiations. Additionally, this bill would provide needed 
transparency throughout the negotiation process and provide Congress 
with final approval authorization.
  As the IAIS works on topics like global capital standards, 
governance,

[[Page H6009]]

and market conduct, H.R. 4537 would position the U.S. to participate in 
the discussions, while also protecting itself from European standards 
that could be detrimental to U.S. consumers, insurers, and markets.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend, again, Representative Duffy and 
Representative Heck for their bipartisan work on this important bill, 
which passed the Financial Services Committee on a vote of 56-4. I urge 
my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect an insurance 
regulatory model that has worked well for over 150 years and vote in 
favor of H.R. 4537.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                      Committee on Ways and Means,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, June 22, 2018.
     Hon. Jeb Hensarling,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Hensarling: I am writing with respect to the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Ways and Means in 
     matters being considered in H.R. 4537, the International 
     Insurance Standards Act of 2018.
       As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions 
     in H.R. 4537 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Ways and Means, I agree to waive formal 
     consideration of this bill so that it may move expeditiously 
     to the floor. The Committee on Ways and Means takes this 
     action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or 
     similar legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately 
     consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation 
     moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues 
     that fall within our jurisdiction. The Committee also 
     reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate 
     number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving 
     this or similar legislation, and requests your support for 
     such request.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding, and would ask that a copy of 
     our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 4537.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Kevin Brady,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                          House of Representative,


                              Committee on Financial Services,

                                    Washington, DC, June 25, 2018.
     Hon. Kevin Brady,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Brady: Thank you for your June 22, 2018 
     letter regarding H.R. 4537, the ``International Insurance 
     Standards Act of 2017''.
       I am most appreciative of your decision to forego action on 
     H.R. 4537 so that it may move expeditiously to the House 
     floor, I acknowledge that although you are waiving action on 
     the bill, the Committee on Ways and Means is in no way 
     waiving its jurisdictional interest in this or similar 
     legislation. In addition, if a conference is necessary on 
     this legislation, I will support any request that your 
     committee be represented therein.
       Finally, I shall be pleased to include your letter and this 
     letter in our committee's report on H.R. 4537 and in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the same.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jeb Hensarling,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                               Committee on Rules,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, June 25, 2018.
     Hon. Jeb Hensarling,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: On December 13, 2017, the Committee on 
     Financial Services favorably ordered H.R. 4537, the 
     ``International Insurance Standards Act of 2017,'' reported 
     to the House. As you know, the Committee on Rules was granted 
     an additional referral upon the bill's introduction pursuant 
     to the Committee's jurisdiction under rule X of the Rules of 
     the House of Representatives over the rules of the House and 
     special orders of business.
       Because of your willingness to make the necessary changes 
     to provisions that fall within Rules Committee jurisdiction 
     prior to floor consideration of the bill. I will waive 
     consideration of the bill by the Rules Committee. By agreeing 
     to waive consideration of the bill, the Rules Committee does 
     not waive its jurisdiction over H.R. 4537. In addition, the 
     Committee reserves its authority to seek conferees on any 
     provisions of the bill that are within its jurisdiction 
     during any House-Senate conference that may be convened on 
     this legislation. I ask your commitment to support any 
     request by the Rules Committee for conferees on H.R. 4537 or 
     related legislation.
       I also request that you include our exchange of letters on 
     this matter in the committee report to accompany H.R. 4537 
     and in the Congressional Record during consideration of this 
     legislation on the House floor. Thank you for your attention 
     to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Pete Sessions,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                              Committee on Financial Services,

                                    Washington, DC, June 26, 2018.
     Hon. Pete Sessions,
     Chairman, Committee on Rules,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Sessions: Thank you for your June 25, 2018 
     letter regarding H.R. 4537, the ``International Insurance 
     Standards Act of 2017''.
       I am most appreciative of your decision to forego action on 
     H.R. 4537 so that it may move expeditiously to the House 
     floor I acknowledge that although you are waiving action on 
     the bill, the Committee on Rules is in no way waiving its 
     jurisdictional interest in this or similar legislation. In 
     addition, if a conference is necessary on this legislation, I 
     will support any request that your committee be represented 
     therein.
       Finally, I shall be pleased to include your letter and this 
     letter in our committee's report on H.R. 4537 and in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the same.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jeb Hensarling,
                                                         Chairman.

  Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  H.R. 4537, as amended, would ensure that international insurance 
standards or agreements are consistent with our domestic insurance 
system. The bill also encourages greater transparency, accountability, 
and congressional involvement in the development of international 
insurance standards and covered agreements.

                              {time}  1600

  H.R. 4537, the International Insurance Standards Act of 2018, is a 
product of months of bipartisan negotiations. I am pleased to be able 
to support the final compromise bill that is before us today.
  Today's bill is a reflection of the work of the bill's sponsors, Mr. 
Duffy and Mr. Heck, and many others, including myself, to narrow and 
streamline the bill so that we do not intentionally weaken the United 
States' ability to negotiate strong rules internationally.
  This is important. We cannot forget that, during 2007 and 2009, the 
United States faced the most severe financial crisis since the Great 
Depression. One of the most notable events during the crisis was the 
near collapse of insurance giant AIG, which threatened the stability of 
the entire U.S. financial system.
  AIG's rapid demise and need for a Federal bailout underscored the 
importance of consolidated supervision and appropriate prudential 
standards for certain types of nonbank financial institutions, 
including large, global insurance companies.
  The Dodd-Frank Act helped us fill in these gaps. I would like to note 
that the core Dodd-Frank reforms, in this respect, remain intact in 
this bill.
  Again, I would like to thank Mr. Duffy, Mr. Heck, and their staffs 
for working with me and my staff to improve the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Duffy). My friend and colleague is a 
leader of this effort.
  Mr. DUFFY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan, 
who is also a very good friend of mine, for yielding.
  I rise in support of H.R. 4537, the International Insurance Standards 
Act. I first want to start with thanking the gentleman from Washington 
(Mr. Heck) for the countless hours and effort that he put in, in a 
bipartisan effort, crafting this bill that would allow us to get an 
incredibly wonderful bipartisan vote.
  On top of that, we had some jurisdictional issues, so we had two 
chairmen from Texas, of the Ways and Means and Rules Committees, 
Chairman Brady and Chairman Sessions, who also worked with us to 
navigate those jurisdictional issues.
  I also want to thank the ranking member, Ms. Waters, for working with 
both Mr. Heck and me to navigate some of the issues that she had with 
this bill to allow us to craft a piece of legislation that could get 
bipartisan support. I know at a time when a lot of people don't think 
that bipartisanship necessarily happens in this Chamber or in this 
town, because it doesn't make great news, it happens. People work 
together; they compromise; and they find a pathway forward. I think 
this is a

[[Page H6010]]

great example of that, and I want to thank the ranking member for her 
help in this effort and for her support. Again, it passed out of 
committee 56-4.
  In essence, what we are doing here is saying that we have had a 
State-based model in America that has served this country very well for 
150 years. We have been focusing on policyholder protection and 
solvency protection. Our insurance industry has been pretty resilient, 
and we are proud of it.
  But we also recognize that the world is changing. It has become a far 
smaller world. We have different standards in different countries, and 
we have to be able to navigate those differences. As Americans, we have 
to be able to engage with the rest of the world. That is a good thing. 
But as we engage, we also want to make sure that we don't sell our 
State-based American model for some other model in some other country.
  If we want to change an insurance model of regulation in America, 
that is our job in this Chamber. We shouldn't have some executive 
appointee negotiate a trade deal that undermines our State-based model. 
So that was the vision of what we are trying to accomplish.
  In essence, we provide parameters to U.S. negotiators to prevent 
Federal U.S. negotiators from entering into an international insurance 
agreement unless it is consistent and reflective of the existing U.S. 
system of insurance regulation. So, again, it has to be consistent and 
reflective of our model.
  It creates more transparency in the international insurance 
negotiation process, as U.S. negotiators have to regularly inform 
Congress as to the state and content of the negotiations that are being 
undertaken. It also ensures that our State insurance regulators are 
closely consulted in a process of the international insurance standards 
setting.
  So this is a well-crafted bill that took in concerns that both sides 
of the aisle had.
  I would like to note, as a Member of this body, and I think both 
sides feel this way, and whether it was President Clinton or President 
Bush or President Obama or now President Trump, we have a role in this 
Chamber, and, oftentimes, we cede power to the executive. I think it is 
important for us to exert some authority here to say that, if we are 
going to change the rules, then you just can't do it without us and 
through international negotiations.
  I think this is a look to that point that, again, we have a great 
model. If we are going to change it, we need to be a part of it. We 
need to be consulted.
  So with that, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member, and I 
want to thank Mr. Heck and the gentleman from Michigan.
  Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a special moment to thank Mr. Duffy 
and Mr. Heck. They worked very hard to resolve the concerns and the 
differences that arose in trying to put together this legislation.
  As Mr. Duffy has said, the world has changed, and we cannot be 
isolated in any way, just thinking about regulations that absolutely 
are impacted by what is going on internationally. I think, with all the 
hard work that was done by these two Members, we were able to figure 
out how to protect the work of the States and the laws that we have, 
but, at the same time, recognize that we are working in an 
international atmosphere. We must understand that gaps must be closed; 
I think we have done that sufficiently.

  Again, I would like to thank them. Mr. Heck is just getting off the 
plane. He wanted to be here, because he has worked so hard on this 
legislation. He is not able to make it, but I want everybody to 
recognize that he did a tremendous job in helping us work through the 
difficulties of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to the ranking 
member that that could, too, be a unifying part of the House of 
Representatives, our collective frustration with the airlines and 
delays in getting us all here in a timely fashion for important things 
like this.
  But that little bipartisan sentiment aside, I, too, want to commend 
Mr. Heck and Mr. Duffy for their work on this, and I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this underlying bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Francis Rooney of Florida). The question 
is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) 
that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4537, 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.

                          ____________________