[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 212 (Wednesday, December 8, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H7492-H7495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT ACT

  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 5608) to support research and state management 
efforts on chronic wasting disease.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5608

       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 ``Chronic Wasting Disease 
     Research and Management Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Chronic wasting disease, the fatal neurological disease 
     found in cervids, is a fundamental threat to the health and 
     vibrancy of deer, elk, and moose populations, and the 
     increased occurrence of chronic wasting disease in regionally 
     diverse locations necessitates an escalation in research, 
     surveillance, monitoring, and management activities focused 
     on containing and managing chronic wasting disease.
       (2) A focus on research into the transmission of, 
     resistance to, diagnosis of, and epidemiology of chronic 
     wasting disease is needed to inform future policies to combat 
     the disease and ensure the health of cervid populations.
       (3) Because States and Tribes have diverse policies for 
     addressing chronic wasting disease, the Federal Government, 
     in consultation with the Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force 
     established by section 104 of America's Conservation 
     Enhancement Act (Public Law 116-188), should coordinate 
     financial and technical support to States and Tribes, State 
     and Tribal departments of agriculture, State and Tribal 
     wildlife agencies, institutions of higher education, and 
     research centers conducting scientific research on chronic 
     wasting disease.
       (4) Pursuant to State and Federal law, the States retain 
     primacy and policymaking authority with regard to wildlife 
     management.
       (5) Under current policies, chronic wasting disease remains 
     a systemic threat to cervids.
       (6) Scientific advances that lead to the ability to stop 
     transmission of chronic wasting disease are needed to ensure 
     the long-term viability of cervids.

     SEC. 3. CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Research Program.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this section, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program under 
     which the Secretary shall offer to enter into cooperative 
     agreements or other legal instruments, as authorized under 
     10413 of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8312), 
     with eligible entities to conduct research on the 
     transmission of, resistance to, and diagnosis of chronic 
     wasting disease.
       (2) Criteria for selection.--In entering into cooperative 
     agreements or other legal instruments pursuant to paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities 
     that shall conduct research relating to--
       (A)(i) methods and products to effectively detect 
     infectious chronic wasting disease prions in live cervids, 
     cervid excreta, the environment, and inorganic surfaces, and 
     to decontaminate such infectious prions; or
       (ii) testing methods that significantly improve sensitivity 
     and accelerate timelines for test results on non-live 
     cervids;
       (B) the long-term suppression or eradication of chronic 
     wasting disease; or
       (C) determination markers for genetic resistance to chronic 
     wasting disease and strategies for using genetic resistance 
     to combat the spread of the disease;
       (D) sustainable cervid harvest management practices to 
     reduce chronic wasting disease occurrence and to prevent or 
     limit spatial spread of chronic wasting disease; or
       (E) factors contributing to local emergence of chronic 
     wasting disease, increased prevalence of chronic wasting 
     disease, and distribution of chronic wasting disease, 
     including mechanisms of disease transmission and effective 
     barriers to transmission.
       (3) Size of awards.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
     individual cooperative agreements or other legal instruments 
     entered into under paragraph (1) shall be not less than two 
     percent and not more than 10 percent of the funds 
     appropriated to carry out this section.
       (4) Administrative costs by eligible entities.--Of the 
     amount of a cooperative agreement or other legal instrument 
     entered into with an eligible entity under paragraph (1), the 
     eligible entity may use not more than 10 percent of such 
     amounts for administrative costs incurred by the eligible 
     entity in carrying out the research described in such 
     paragraph.
       (b) Support for State Efforts to Manage and Control Chronic 
     Wasting Disease.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, the Secretary shall offer to enter into 
     cooperative agreements or other legal instruments, as 
     authorized under section 10413 of the Animal Health 
     Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8312), with State or Tribal wildlife 
     agencies and departments of agriculture to provide direct 
     financial assistance to support the efforts of such State or 
     Tribal wildlife agencies and departments of agriculture to 
     develop and implement management strategies to address 
     chronic wasting disease within their respective jurisdiction.
       (2) Application.--A State or Tribal wildlife agency or 
     department of agriculture seeking direct financial assistance 
     under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an 
     application at such time and manner, and containing such 
     information as the Secretary may require.
       (3) Funding priorities.--In allocating funds made available 
     to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year among State 
     and Tribal wildlife agencies or departments of agriculture 
     that submit an application for direct financial assistance 
     under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to 
     States and Indian tribes that have--
       (A) within their respective jurisdictions, the highest 
     incidence of chronic wasting disease;
       (B) shown the greatest financial commitment to managing, 
     monitoring, surveying, and researching chronic wasting 
     disease;
       (C) comprehensive policies and programs focused on chronic 
     wasting disease management that have integrated the programs 
     and policies of all involved agencies related to chronic 
     wasting disease management;
       (D) the greatest risk of an initial occurrence of chronic 
     wasting disease originating from surrounding areas; or

[[Page H7493]]

       (E) the greatest need for response to new outbreaks of 
     chronic wasting disease occurring in--
       (i) areas in which chronic wasting disease is already 
     found; or
       (ii) areas with first infections, with the intent of 
     containing chronic wasting disease in any new area of 
     infection.
       (4) Rapid response.--If a State or Indian tribe detects 
     chronic wasting disease in a cervid population within its 
     jurisdiction that was not previously infected, the Secretary 
     may, notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3), immediately 
     issue funds made available under subsection (e), in an amount 
     to be determined by the Secretary, to support State and 
     Tribal efforts to immediately control the spread of chronic 
     wasting disease within that population.
       (5) Public education on chronic wasting disease.--The 
     Secretary, in consultation with State and Tribal departments 
     of agriculture and wildlife agencies, organizations 
     representing the farmed cervid industry, and organizations 
     representing deer hunters, shall develop and maintain 
     materials based on the latest scientific knowledge to be used 
     to educate the public on chronic wasting disease and 
     techniques to help prevent the spread of the disease.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Chronic wasting disease.--The term ``chronic wasting 
     disease'' means the animal disease afflicting deer, elk, and 
     moose populations that--
       (A) is a transmissible disease of the nervous system 
     resulting in distinctive lesions in the brain; and
       (B) belongs to the group of diseases known as transmissible 
     spongiform encephalopathies, which includes scrapie, bovine 
     spongiform encephalopathy, and Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease.
       (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
       (A) a State or Tribal department of agriculture;
       (B) a State or Tribal wildlife agency;
       (C) a Tribal research facility;
       (D) an institution of higher education (as defined in 
     section 101 of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1001)); 
     and
       (E) a research center conducting or qualified to conduct 
     scientific research on chronic wasting disease.
       (d) Review of Herd Certification Program Standards.--Not 
     later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal 
     Register soliciting public feedback on potential updates and 
     improvements to the chronic wasting disease herd 
     certification program standards with special consideration 
     given to--
       (1) minimizing or eliminating the interaction of captive 
     and wild deer;
       (2) reviewing and updating indemnity practices, including 
     the use of live testing, to ensure the timely and targeted 
     removal of chronic wasting disease positive deer from the 
     landscape; and
       (3) increasing participation in the herd certification 
     program.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretary to carry out this section $70,000,000 for each 
     of fiscal years 2022 through fiscal year 2028, to remain 
     available until expended.
       (2) Allocation among programs.--To the extent practicable, 
     the Secretary shall allocate the funds made available under 
     paragraph (1) evenly between the research program under 
     subsection (a) and the management program under subsection 
     (b).
       (3) Set-aside for wildlife agencies.--The Secretary shall 
     ensure that, of the funds made available and allocated to 
     carry out subsection (b), not less than 75 percent of such 
     funds are made available to State or Tribal wildlife 
     agencies.
       (f) Administrative Costs.--Of the funds made available 
     under subsection (e) for a fiscal year to carry out this 
     section, the Secretary may use not more than 10 percent of 
     such funds for administrative costs incurred by the Secretary 
     in carrying out this section.
       (g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed as interfering with, or otherwise affecting, the 
     authority of the Federal Government or States to manage 
     wildlife and livestock on land within their respective 
     jurisdictions, including managing, surveying, and monitoring 
     the incidence of chronic wasting disease.

     SEC. 4. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.

       Section 10403(8) of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 
     U.S.C. 8302(8)) is amended by striking ``(25 U.S.C. 450b)'' 
     and inserting ``(25 U.S.C. 5304)''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr.   David Scott) and the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. 
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days 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 Georgia?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1300

  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5608. 
Chronic wasting disease is a devastating illness and has had 
significant impacts on deer and other cervid populations around our 
great Nation. And improving management of chronic wasting disease is 
vital to containing the disease and preventing further spread of the 
disease.
  Currently, there is no cure for the disease, and passage of this bill 
will also provide important research funding so that scientists can 
better understand the disease and their transmission.
  Mr. Speaker, it gives me a real special honor to recognize and say a 
word about the great sponsor of this bill--two great sponsors, I might 
add--Mr. Ron Kind, and Ranking Member G.T. Thompson, for their longtime 
dedication on this important issue. Both of these gentlemen have been 
working on this bill feverishly for quite some time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is also special because of Mr. Ron Kind, one of our 
stalwart leaders and tremendous contributors to the Congress and this 
Nation, and most certainly to his great State of Wisconsin. But we all 
have heard the news that our good friend, Mr. Kind, this will be his 
last year here with us, and he has dedicated so much of his time to 
this specific bill. He is a good man and a good friend, and he is also 
a good friend of my own brother-in-law, Hank Aaron. And he, in 
Wisconsin, who represents Eau Claire, played a very big role in getting 
that statue up there for my brother-in-law, Hank Aaron. He sent me a 
message when the Braves won the World Series. He said: David, Hank is 
up in heaven smiling now.
  I say to my friend: We are going to miss you. Great work here.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope the body will forgive me a digression before we 
talk about chronic wasting disease, which is, as the chairman says, 
critically important. I do also want to talk about Mr. Kind.
  So many Americans believe that every Member of Congress is a kind of 
villain with scales and fangs and horns, and that they are all just 
despicable people, or at the very least somebody who belongs to the 
opposite tribe is a despicable person. I just don't know anybody in 
Congress who believes that is true of Ron Kind.
  I will recount a story about a dinner where I had my two oldest boys 
with me. One of them was seated next to Mr. Kind. My son stole Mr. 
Kind's dessert, and rather than erupt in anger or an accusatory finger 
wag, he handled it with great grace and friendship. My boys remind me 
still of that evening spent with Mr. Kind.
  Mr. Speaker, as he seeks, certainly, a less stressful and perhaps a 
better and more rewarding future, let us remark on the type of impact 
that a decent person can still have in these Halls, and this bill 
before us today is ample evidence of that.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the distinguished gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind), who 
is the sponsor of this bill.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, as the original sponsor of H.R. 5608, the 
Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act, I rise in strong 
support of this legislation, which did pass unanimously out of the 
Agriculture Committee. I do thank and commend my good friend and 
colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for being one of the 
original sponsors of this legislation with me; of course, my dear 
friend, the chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Mr. Scott, for his 
support and leadership.
  Throughout the years, I have been involved in a lot of debates and 
discussions on the House floor. I don't think I have ever been brought 
to blushing, and I thank the chairman for his kind introductory remarks 
and, of course, I thank my dear friend from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson) 
for those remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, but to the task at hand, this legislation does authorize 
$70 million for research and management of

[[Page H7494]]

CWD, or chronic wasting disease, through USDA grants. Chronic wasting 
disease is a contagious neurological disease affecting cervid animals--
deer, elk, moose--and it is 100 percent fatal. And it is caused by 
misfolded proteins, or prions, as they are known, that ravages the 
animal's brain.
  The legislation also authorizes USDA and State and Tribal agencies to 
develop educational materials to inform the public on CWD and directs 
USDA to review its certification program within 18 months.
  CWD has been reported in over 25 States and is spreading. It not only 
is devastating to these animals and their herds but also to the outdoor 
recreation economy; namely, hunting, that depends on these animals.
  Fortunately, the CDC has not found any jump from these animals to 
humans, and that is one of the reasons why we need further research to 
ensure that that does not happen. CWD presents one of the greatest 
threats to deer and other wild cervids in the United States and it has 
no known cure.
  We have been battling this disease in Wisconsin for many years out of 
concern for the wildlife population and the adverse economic impact 
that it has, which is substantial. Hunters in Wisconsin have about $2.5 
billion yearly economic impact, supports directly or indirectly over 
35,000 jobs, and generates billions in salaries and wages.
  Last year, 131 out-of-State hunters came into the State of Wisconsin 
just to participate in the 9-day deer gun hunt season, which always 
takes place during the week of Thanksgiving. They spent about $3.4 
million. Nationwide, according to the International Association of Fish 
and Wildlife Agencies, hunting in America is big business, generating 
more than $67 billion in economic output and over 1 million jobs.
  Now, we can stand here and throw more facts and figures about the 
economic toll the CWD is having, but as a kid who grew up loving to 
hunt in Wisconsin with my dad and my brothers--deer hunting, turkey 
hunting, duck hunting on the Mississippi, now we do most of our deer 
and turkey hunting on the family farm, a little bit north of La Crosse. 
It is much more than just economics and jobs and the amount being spent 
by hunters and the amount of revenue that we raise through the 
Robinson-Patman Act, which is collected and then reinvested in vital 
conservation programs throughout the country. It is part of our DNA, 
our heritage, our culture.

  One of the most alluring aspects of the 9-day deer gun hunt season 
isn't the actual hunt itself, it is deer camp. It is being able to 
spend some time with your family, brothers, families, cousin, play some 
poker, razz each other for the weekend. And then that next morning, 
opening morning, you have over 800,000 hunters flooding the fields and 
forests of Wisconsin. Sometimes it feels like the third day of the 
Battle of Gettysburg, the number of shots going off. I perhaps 
overstate that, but it is a real communal activity that brings people 
together and still one of the bonding elements, I think, that 
transcends the politics and the tribal nature of politics today. So it 
is important in that regard as well.
  We have tried some self-help measures in Wisconsin to try to battle 
the spread of CWD, from free, clear firing zones, increase prohibition 
on baiting and feeding deer, to an earn a buck program, where you have 
to shoot a doe first before you can shoot a buck. All these are wildly 
unpopular with hunters because they are meant to try to reduce the deer 
herds and prevent the congregation and the spread of the disease from 
animal to animal.
  That is why, again, I think this research is important. And there has 
been some good research taking place on prion disease generally in CWD, 
places like UW-Wisconsin and Washington and other areas. This 
legislation will enable that type of open-source research and 
collaboration to take place with increased vigor and focus, which again 
is long overdue before it spreads even further into more States 
adversely affecting the wildlife herds and the economy of those States.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is necessary to expand the basic and 
applied research that we see taking place that can be further enhanced, 
and also to better detect the spread of this disease, find out better 
management and containment strategies, and ultimately lead to a cure of 
the disease.
  I do thank the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Jeff Crane, and 
his team over there, for his support and help with this legislation. 
They have been terrific to work with, as a former chair of the 
Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus here in Congress.
  I thank Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the National 
Wildlife Federation, the Boone & Crockett National Deer Association, 
North American Deer Farmers Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 
Mule Deer Foundation, Wildlife Management Institute, Backcountry 
Hunters and Anglers--many people, many groups, many members that have a 
vested interest in making sure we do this research right.
  Mr. Speaker, I think the legislation is self-evident of the need. I 
encourage my colleagues to support it. And I conclude by thanking 
Olivia Kirchberg on my office staff who has been instrumental in 
helping us get the bipartisan, unanimous support for this legislation 
that it has enjoyed, and we look forward to working with the Senate for 
its passage there.
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he 
would consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), one of 
this body's leading voices in policing, in mining, in infrastructure.
  Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, Congressman Kind talked about the deer 
camps and the stories. I remember the very first time at 16 years old 
when my father brought me up to the hunting shack with my uncles. It is 
a special time for those of us who recreate and deer hunt. I am proud 
to cosponsor this legislation with him, and I thank him and others for 
their work.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation I proudly 
cosponsored, the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act. 
CWD threatens Minnesota's legendary whitetail deer herd and, therefore, 
our hunting way of life up North.
  Whitetail season is an annual tradition for hundreds of thousands of 
Minnesotans. Every year, we meet at our respective deer camps, 
reconnecting with family and old friends. We retell stories from 
previous years, and maybe embellishing a little bit, as we pass on the 
traditions and culture to our children.
  However, deer harvests were down 8 percent throughout Minnesota this 
last year due to a myriad of issues. And if deer harvests keep trending 
downwards, it means fewer stories to share at camp around the fire, 
fewer deer for new hunters and kids to see and experience. Therefore, 
our hunting traditions trending down directly correlated with those 
harvest numbers. And in Minnesota, this trend will only be exasperated 
by further spread of CWD.
  In my district we have CWD hotspots cropping up seemingly every other 
week. Whether it be in Brainerd, the Bemidji area, or in other corners 
of the State, these troublesome reports are evidence of CWD creeping 
across our hunting lands. And that is why this legislation is so 
important right now. This CWD Research and Management Act authorizes 
needed funding for State agencies doing crucial on-the-ground work, 
like our DNR.
  Funding from this bill will help drive the research and testing 
needed to wrap our arms around the problem by letting the experts get 
in the field and the laboratory. It will also empower our State fish 
and game industries to partner with grassroots organizations that can 
reach and educate hunters across the State.
  The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association has a statewide reach with a 
finger on the pulse of their membership. Helping the DNR help them is a 
true partnership that is necessary to combat the spread of CWD.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge passage of this legislation in both 
the House and the Senate, and I look forward to it becoming law.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thought Mr. Kind, Mr. Stauber, and Mr. Scott said it 
all very well. This is important because chronic

[[Page H7495]]

wasting disease can wreak such havoc upon our herds.
  I want to start by thanking Chairman Scott for facilitating the 
timely consideration of this bill, and not just this bill, sir, but 
also livestock mandatory reporting, the cattle contract library, and 
Ms. Schrier's forestry bill.
  These came together, sir, and I want to thank you for that. I want to 
recognize Mr. Kind, as well as Mr. Thompson, for the work that they put 
into this important bipartisan solution.
  I also want to express my appreciation for the coalition that Mr. 
Kind mentioned, such a broad coalition of stakeholders from the farmed 
and wild deer stakeholder groups and the sportsmen community at large. 
They provided a tremendous amount of insight so we could get this 
legislation right, and they were relentless in working with all of us 
to find common ground to craft this legislation and make sure that it 
was able to pass out of committee unanimously, and, hopefully, we can 
get a similar vote off the House floor.
  As it has been said, but as it bears repeating, chronic wasting 
disease is a contagious, neurological disease that affects deer and elk 
and moose. It is always fatal. Unfortunately, it is not a highly 
localized disease particular to a particular State or region of the 
country. CWD has been detected in 27 States. Given the lack of any 
known cure, I fear that that number of States will only continue to 
grow.
  H.R. 5608 authorizes up $70 million of much-needed appropriations 
each year with the funding split evenly between CWD research and 
management efforts, all of this with the hope of one day eradicating 
this disease altogether.
  The funding would support high-priority research to improve CWD 
detection methods and to continue invaluable research on genetic 
resistance. It would support the use of the latest and most effective 
on-the-ground management tools and strategies at the State and Tribal 
levels.
  The bill would also help improve public awareness of the disease by 
requiring the development and dispersal of educational materials which 
would be based, obviously, on the latest available science.
  Mr. Speaker, I know combatting this devastating disease would be a 
slow and challenging process, but I think we should all acknowledge 
that passage of this bill would be a critically important step in that 
journey and can help us protect those vulnerable deer populations.
  I appreciate my colleagues' attention to this matter, and I urge the 
entire House in casting a resounding ``yes'' vote on the bill. I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, this is indeed a very proud day and a proud moment for 
us here in the House of Representatives. This bill is going to help our 
agriculture industry, our deer, and a lot of our other animals.
  This chronic wasting disease has been so devastating. Ron Kind has 
been working on this for several years. He has not just jumped on this, 
he has dedicated a lot of his time to this, and it is a great monument 
to him as he leaves his service here in the Congress. Job well done, my 
friend. Job well done.
  Mr. Speaker, we have no more speakers. As we are concluding our four 
bills today, I am so proud of the great work that our House Agriculture 
Committee has done. We have them all moving over to the Senate, and so 
our work, again, begins anew as it goes over.
  We have good friends over there working. As I mentioned before, we 
are working with my colleague, Ms. Stabenow from Michigan, who is 
chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee; and as I mentioned 
before, my friend, Senator Grassley. We are all going to come together 
and improve these four bills even more so.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Johnson. I want to thank Kim 
Schrier. I want to thank our entire committee. This has been a great 
day, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr.   David Scott) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5608.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________