[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 83 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4979-H4982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BOMBING PREVENTION ACT OF 2022

  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6873) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
establish the Office for Bombing Prevention to address terrorist 
explosive threats, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6873

       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 ``Bombing Prevention Act of 
     2022''.

     SEC. 2. OFFICE FOR BOMBING PREVENTION.

       (a) In General.--Title XXII of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subtitle:

                    ``Subtitle D--Bombing Prevention

     ``SEC. 2241. OFFICE FOR BOMBING PREVENTION.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the 
     Department an Office for Bombing Prevention (in this section 
     referred to as the `Office').
       ``(b) Activities.--The Office shall have the primary 
     responsibility within the Department for enhancing the 
     ability and coordinating the efforts of the United States to 
     deter, detect, prevent, protect against, mitigate, and 
     respond to terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the 
     United States, including by carrying out the following:
       ``(1) Advising the Secretary on matters related to 
     terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the United States.
       ``(2) Coordinating the efforts of the Department to counter 
     terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the United States, 
     including by carrying out the following:
       ``(A) Developing, in coordination with the Under Secretary 
     for Strategy, Policy, and Plans, the Department's strategy 
     against terrorist explosives threats and attacks, including 
     efforts to support the security and preparedness of critical 
     infrastructure and the public sector and private sector.
       ``(B) Leading the prioritization of the Department's 
     efforts against terrorist explosive threats and attacks, 
     including preparedness and operational requirements.
       ``(C) Ensuring, in coordination with the Under Secretary 
     for Science and Technology and the Administrator of the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency, the identification, 
     evaluation, and availability of effective technology 
     applications through field pilot testing and acquisition of 
     such technology applications by the public sector to deter, 
     detect, prevent, protect against, mitigate, and respond to 
     terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the United States.
       ``(D) Providing advice and recommendations to the 
     Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
     regarding the effective use of grants authorized under 
     section 2002.
       ``(E) In coordination with the Assistant Secretary for 
     Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, aligning Department 
     efforts related to terrorist explosive threats and attacks in 
     the United States and weapons of mass destruction.
       ``(3) Engaging other Federal departments and agencies, 
     including Sector Risk Management Agencies, regarding 
     terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the United States.
       ``(4) Facilitating information sharing and decision support 
     of the public and private sector involved in deterrence, 
     detection, prevention, protection against, mitigation of, and 
     response to terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the 
     United States. Such sharing and support may include the 
     following:
       ``(A) Operating and maintaining a secure information 
     sharing system that allows the sharing of critical 
     information and data relating to terrorist explosive attack 
     tactics, techniques, procedures, and security capabilities, 
     including information and data described in paragraph (6) and 
     section 2242.
       ``(B) Working with international partners, in coordination 
     with the Office for International Affairs of the Department, 
     to develop and share effective practices to deter, prevent, 
     detect, protect against, mitigate, and respond to terrorist 
     explosive threats and attacks in the United States.
       ``(5) Promoting security awareness among the public and 
     private sector and the general public regarding the risks 
     posed by the misuse of explosive precursor chemicals and 
     other bomb-making materials.
       ``(6) Providing training, guidance, assessments, and 
     planning assistance to the public and private sector, as 
     appropriate, to help counter the risk of terrorist explosive 
     threats and attacks in the United States.
       ``(7) Conducting analysis and planning for the capabilities 
     and requirements necessary for the public and private sector, 
     as appropriate, to deter, detect, prevent, protect against, 
     mitigate, and respond to terrorist explosive threats and 
     attacks in the United States by carrying out the following:
       ``(A) Maintaining a database on capabilities and 
     requirements, including capabilities and requirements of 
     public safety bomb squads, explosive detection canine teams, 
     special tactics teams, public safety dive teams, and 
     recipients of services described in section 2242.
       ``(B) Applying the analysis derived from the database 
     described in subparagraph (A) with respect to the following:
       ``(i) Evaluating progress toward closing identified gaps 
     relating to national strategic goals and standards related to 
     deterring, detecting, preventing, protecting against, 
     mitigating, and responding to terrorist explosive threats and 
     attacks in the United States.
       ``(ii) Informing decisions relating to homeland security 
     policy, assistance, training, research, development efforts, 
     testing and evaluation, and related requirements regarding 
     deterring, detecting, preventing, protecting against, 
     mitigating, and responding to terrorist explosive threats and 
     attacks in the United States.
       ``(8) Promoting secure information sharing of sensitive 
     material and promoting security awareness, including by 
     carrying out the following:
       ``(A) Operating and maintaining a secure information 
     sharing system that allows the sharing among and between the 
     public and private sector of critical information relating to 
     explosive attack tactics, techniques, and procedures.
       ``(B) Educating the public and private sectors about 
     explosive precursor chemicals.
       ``(C) Working with international partners, in coordination 
     with the Office for International Affairs of the Department, 
     to develop and share effective practices to deter, detect, 
     prevent, protect against, mitigate, and respond to terrorist 
     explosive threats and attacks in the United States.
       ``(D) Executing national public awareness and vigilance 
     campaigns relating to terrorist explosive threats and attacks 
     in the United States, preventing explosive attacks, and 
     activities and measures underway to safeguard the United 
     States.
       ``(E) Working with relevant stakeholder organizations.
       ``(9) Providing any other assistance the Secretary 
     determines necessary.

[[Page H4980]]

  


     ``SEC. 2242. COUNTERING EXPLOSIVE DEVICES TECHNICAL 
                   ASSISTANCE.

       ``(a) Establishment.--Upon request, the Secretary shall, to 
     the extent practicable, provide to the public and private 
     sector technical assistance services to support the security 
     and preparedness of such sectors, as appropriate, to counter 
     terrorist explosive threats and attacks that pose a risk in 
     certain jurisdictions, including vulnerable and disadvantaged 
     communities, to critical infrastructure facilities, or to 
     special events, as appropriate.
       ``(b) Elements.--Technical assistance services provided 
     pursuant to subsection (a) shall--
       ``(1) support the planning and implementation of effective 
     measures to deter, detect, prevent, protect against, 
     mitigate, and respond to terrorist explosive threats and 
     attacks in the United States, including effective strategic 
     risk management and emergency operations plans;
       ``(2) support the security of explosive precursor chemicals 
     and other bomb-making materials outside of regulatory 
     control;
       ``(3) support efforts to prepare for and respond to bomb 
     threats or other acts involving the malicious conveyance of 
     false information concerning terrorist explosive threats and 
     attacks in the United States;
       ``(4) make available resources to enhance deterrence, 
     prevention, detection, protection, mitigation, and response 
     capabilities for terrorist explosive threats and attacks in 
     the United States, including coordination and communication, 
     to better integrate State, local, Tribal, and territorial and 
     private sector capabilities and assets, as appropriate, with 
     Federal operations;
       ``(5) make available augmenting resources, as appropriate, 
     to enable State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments 
     to sustain and refresh their capabilities;
       ``(6) track performance in meeting the goals and associated 
     plans of the provision of such technical assistance; and
       ``(7) include any other assistance the Secretary determines 
     necessary.

     ``SEC. 2243. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER DEPARTMENT COMPONENTS AND 
                   FEDERAL AGENCIES.

       ``(a) In General.--The authority of the Secretary under 
     this subtitle shall not affect or diminish the authority or 
     the responsibility of any officer of any other Federal agency 
     with respect to the command, control, or direction of the 
     functions, personnel, funds, assets, or liabilities of any 
     other such Federal agency.
       ``(b) Department Components.--Nothing in this subtitle or 
     any other provision of law may be construed to affect or 
     reduce the responsibilities of--
       ``(1) the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office or 
     the Assistant Secretary of the Office, including with respect 
     to any asset, function, or mission of the Office or the 
     Assistant Secretary, as the case may be;
       ``(2) the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the 
     Administrator of the Agency, including the diversion of any 
     asset, function, or mission of the Agency or the 
     Administrator as the case may be; or
       ``(3) the Transportation Security Administration or the 
     Administrator of the Administration, including the diversion 
     of any asset, function, or mission of the Administration or 
     the Administrator, as the case may be.''.
       (b) Strategy and Reports.--
       (1) Strategy.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the head of the Office for Bombing 
     Prevention of the Department of Homeland Security 
     (established pursuant to section 2241 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a)), in 
     consultation with the heads of other components of the 
     Department and the heads of other Federal agencies, as 
     appropriate, shall develop a strategy to align the Office's 
     activities with the threat environment and stakeholder needs, 
     and make the public and private sector aware of the Office's 
     capabilities. Such strategy shall include the following 
     elements:
       (A) Information on terrorist explosive threats, tactics, 
     and attacks in the United States.
       (B) Information, by region of the United States, regarding 
     public and private sector entities likely to be targeted by 
     terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the United States, 
     including historically black colleges and universities and 
     minority serving institutions, places of worship, health care 
     facilities, transportation systems, commercial facilities, 
     and government facilities.
       (C) Guidance on how outreach to owners and operators of 
     critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 
     1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))) in a 
     region should be prioritized.
       (D) A catalogue of the services and training currently 
     offered by the Office, and a description of how such services 
     and trainings assist the public and private sector to deter, 
     detect, prevent, protect against, mitigate, and respond to 
     terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the United States.
       (E) Long-term objectives of the Office, including future 
     service and training offerings.
       (F) Metrics for measuring the effectiveness of services and 
     trainings offered by the Office.
       (G) An assessment of resource requirements necessary to 
     implement such strategy.
       (H) A description of how the Office partners with other 
     components of the Department and other Federal agencies to 
     carry out its mission.
       (2) Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
     the Senate a report describing the activities of the Office 
     for Bombing Prevention of the Department of Homeland Security 
     (established pursuant to section 2241 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a)). Each such 
     report shall include information on the following:
       (A) Changes to terrorist explosive threats, tactics, and 
     attacks in the United States.
       (B) Changes to the types of public and private sector 
     entities likely to be targeted by terrorist explosive threats 
     and attacks in the United States.
       (C) The number of trainings, assessments, and other 
     engagements carried out by the Office within each region of 
     the United States, including a description of the critical 
     infrastructure sector or stakeholder served.
       (D) The number of trainings, assessments, or other 
     engagements the Office was asked to conduct but did not, and 
     an explanation relating thereto.
       (E) The effectiveness of the trainings, assessments, or 
     other engagements provided by the Office based on the metrics 
     described in paragraph (1)(F).
       (F) Any changes or anticipated changes in the trainings, 
     assessments, and other engagements, or any other services, 
     offered by the Office, and an explanation relating thereto.
       (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 2238 the 
     following new items:

                    ``Subtitle D--Bombing Prevention

``Sec. 2241. Office for Bombing Prevention.
``Sec. 2242. Countering explosive devices technical assistance.
``Sec. 2243. Relationship to other Department components and Federal 
              agencies.''.

     SEC. 3. EXPLOSIVES TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``SEC. 323. EXPLOSIVES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Under 
     Secretary for Science and Technology, and in coordination 
     with the head of the Office for Bombing Prevention and the 
     Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass 
     Destruction Office, and in consultation with the Attorney 
     General, the Secretary of Defense, and the head of any other 
     relevant Federal department or agency, including Sector Risk 
     Management Agencies, shall ensure coordination and 
     information sharing regarding nonmilitary research, 
     development, testing, and evaluation activities of the 
     Federal Government relating to the deterrence, detection, 
     prevention, protection against, mitigation of, and response 
     to terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the United 
     States.
       ``(b) Leveraging Military Research.--The Secretary, acting 
     through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, and 
     in coordination with the head of the Office for Bombing 
     Prevention and the Assistant Secretary for the Countering of 
     Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, shall consult with the 
     Secretary of Defense and the head of any other relevant 
     Federal department or agency, including Sector Risk 
     Management Agencies, to ensure that, to the maximum extent 
     possible, military policies and procedures, and research, 
     development, testing, and evaluation activities relating to 
     the deterrence, detection, prevention, protection against, 
     mitigation of, and response to terrorist explosive threats 
     and attacks in the United States are adapted to nonmilitary 
     uses.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 322 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 323. Explosives research and development.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. LaTurner) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, between January 4 and February 16 of this year, there 
were over 50 bomb threats that disproportionately targeted historically 
Black colleges and universities, Black churches, mosques, and 
synagogues across our country.
  These racially and ethnically targeted bomb threats have continued 
through the spring. They have sowed fear, disrupted academic 
instruction, and interfered with the ability of Americans to worship 
safely.
  They have also brought into focus the diversity of the current 
homeland security threat picture and reminded us that conventional 
threats, like

[[Page H4981]]

bombings, deserve sustained attention, even as efforts to counter mass 
shootings and cyber threats have to be intensified.
  I introduced H.R. 6873, the Bombing Prevention Act of 2022, for the 
first time to authorize the Office for Bombing Prevention.
  For the past 15 years, the Office for Bombing Prevention has been 
responsible for coordinating DHS' efforts at preventing, protecting 
against, mitigating the effects of, and responding to improvised 
explosive devices here domestically, and helping our partners and 
allies around the world do the same.
  The Office for Bombing Prevention is squarely focused on protecting 
critical infrastructure, working with private sector partners, and 
supporting our Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial entities 
to mitigate explosive effects on critical infrastructure.
  To that end, it regularly engages with stakeholders, including 
educational stakeholders, about accessing the office's training and 
tools, such as its counter-IED capability.
  H.R. 6873 would bring needed permanence and predictability to the 
operations of this office and position it to build capacity to meet 
growing demands for its services.
  Importantly, my bill directs the office to develop a strategy that 
aligns its operations with the threat environment and stakeholder 
needs; improves the sharing of information about explosive threats; and 
enhances awareness of the office's capabilities to those around the 
country who are most at risk.
  The bill also directs the Secretary of the DHS to provide to public- 
and private-sector entities technical assistance services related to 
countering these explosive threats.
  Finally, to keep the office accountable, H.R. 6873 requires an annual 
report to Congress.
  This bipartisan legislation, which I was pleased to introduce with my 
colleague from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford), will better position the Office 
for Bombing Prevention to provide counter-explosives resources to 
stakeholders as the threat environment changes, making communities 
across America more secure and helping to ensure that in this country, 
no person should have to work, study, or worship while living in fear 
of a terrorist bombing.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6873, the Bombing 
Prevention Act of 2022. Between just January 4 and February 16 of this 
year, the FBI reported more than 50 bomb threats against domestic 
targets.
  The DHS Office of Bombing Protection, or OBP, has a mission to 
protect life and critical infrastructure by building capabilities 
within the general public and across public and private sectors to 
prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate bombing incidents.
  To that end, this bill will more aptly enable OBP to conduct its 
mission by requiring: a strategy for securing critical infrastructure 
against terrorist explosives; promoting awareness of risks posed by the 
misuse of explosive chemicals and bomb-making materials; and a database 
of capabilities and requirements to track public and private terrorist 
explosive threats.
  This legislation is a critical step toward ensuring that threats to 
our domestic security posed by bombings and malicious use of explosives 
is mitigated to the best of our ability.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6873, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Crawford).
  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my cosponsor for his work on this, 
and I can't tell you how thrilled I am to see this bill come to the 
House floor for consideration.
  As a former Army bomb tech, I know how critical it is for our 
military to be adequately equipped on the front lines to dispose of 
explosive threats. This is all the more true on our home front, where 
the public safety continues to be threatened by terrorists and other 
bad actors who consistently use bombs and explosive hazards to advance 
their agenda.
  But it should not take a tragedy to enact sensible change and to 
continue to equip our homeland security officials with the tools they 
need to mitigate bombing incidents and to protect the critical 
infrastructure of our Nation and the lives of our citizens.
  The Office for Bombing Prevention, or OBP, was created in response to 
terrorism events, both at home and abroad, including the bombing of a 
Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988; the World Trade Center 
in 1993; Oklahoma City in 1995; a Madrid train in 2004; London in 2005; 
the Boston Marathon in 2013; and Nashville on Christmas Day in 2020.

  OBP leads the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to implement 
the National Policy for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices and 
enhances the Nation's ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, 
and mitigate the use of explosives against critical infrastructure, the 
private sector, and Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial 
entities.
  Currently, the OBP sits underneath the jurisdiction of the 
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA. However, our 
recent history has proven that OBP needs a bit of promotion in order to 
adequately inform the Secretary of Homeland Security on ongoing threats 
and to keep the general public out of harm's way.
  I say recent history because, unfortunately, our Nation has not been 
safe from threats, most of which, thankfully, never led to serious 
injury, destruction, or death. The 2010 Times Square car bombing 
attempt, the IEDs left outside the RNC and DCCC on January 6, 2021, and 
over 50 reported bomb threats between January and February of this year 
targeted disproportionately at HBCUs, Black churches, mosques, and 
synagogues.
  It is our responsibility as Members of Congress to lead and address 
these unacceptable threats while simultaneously reducing the amount of 
threats designed to instill fear in the public. I applaud my colleagues 
for responding to these events seriously and appropriately, and I have 
full confidence the OBP will have the tools necessary to carry out this 
mission.
  Our bill authorizes OBP and directs the office to develop a strategy 
for further securing critical infrastructure against terrorist 
explosive threats and attacks and to evaluate effective technologies to 
defend against them. Further, OBP will be required to promote security 
awareness of risks posed by the misuse of explosive precursor 
chemicals, bomb-making materials, providing technical assistance to the 
public and private sectors to support security preparedness, assist 
other agencies with information sharing and responding to various 
threats, and working with relevant stakeholder interests in bettering 
this overall effort.
  It has come to my attention that in response to the bomb threats at 
our HBCUs, the OBP led a briefing with 150 leaders on training 
opportunities and engaged with educational stakeholders about accessing 
OBP's counter-IED capability development programs, information, 
training, and tools. This kind of responsiveness to a dire situation 
only strengthens my confidence that the men and women at OBP are ready 
and informed to respond to ongoing bomb threats and prevent further 
incidents and potential devastation.
  We should be proud, as Americans, to feel a sense of security each 
and every day. Security and strength are what brings us together and 
the foundation for what we fight for. Unfortunately, we live the 
reality that anyone can be a threat to this security and strength, even 
when we least expect it, from our grocery stores, to our places of 
worship, to our schools. We must continue to fight and ensure that 
Americans live free from fear of the malicious use of explosives and 
from the threat of a terrorist's agenda. Our citizens should feel and 
remain secure at their jobs, their schools, and, most importantly, 
around their families. That is my mission as a Member of Congress; that 
will be the mission of the Office for Bombing Prevention, and that is 
why I support H.R. 6873.
  I thank my co-lead, Representative Malinowski, one more time, as well 
as

[[Page H4982]]

Representative Katko for his leadership on the Homeland Security 
Committee, and for meeting with me to discuss my priorities for bombing 
prevention from our service branches to the domestic front.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, in my home State of New Jersey, there have been more 
than 25 bomb scares since 2020, threatening public schools, 
universities, community centers, and religious institutions.
  Just last fall in my district, the Roxbury Township school system 
received a bomb threat that led to panic and K9 sweeps on school 
property during teaching hours, and nearby Hopewell Valley Central High 
School encountered an explosive threat that forced the school to 
evacuate and shut down early for the day.
  In addition, 7 years ago this September, over a 2-day period, 
communities in Seaside Park and Elizabeth, New Jersey, as well as the 
Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan were rocked by three bombings that 
wounded 31 people.
  Subsequent analysis done by the Office for Bombing Prevention at DHS 
determined that each of the devices planted by the assailant was 
completely different from the others.
  Two of the bombs were pipe bombs, two were homemade pressure cooker 
bombs, some used modified Christmas tree lights and cellphones, and one 
of the pressure cooker bombs used two different chemicals that alone 
are not dangerous but ignite when combined.

                              {time}  1445

  The office concluded that while each of the bombs was different, all 
included elements detailed in several issues of al-Qaida's Inspire 
magazine.
  The invaluable analysis carried out by the office in the wake of the 
September 2016 New Jersey-area attacks was shared with first responders 
and homeland security stakeholders all across the country, underscoring 
the expertise of the Office for Bombing Prevention and the important 
role it plays in equipping our communities with the best information 
available to keep the public safe.
  Today, the office provides critical support to help defend 
communities across America from the threats posed by explosives, but we 
need to empower it to do more. The Bombing Prevention Act does just 
that. It has been endorsed by the Anti-Defamation League and by the 
Jewish Federations of North America.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6873, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6873, as amended.
  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. BISHOP of North Carolina. 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.

                          ____________________