[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18259]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT EXTENSION

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1715) to extend the expiration date of the Defense 
Production Act of 1950, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1715

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION AND REAUTHORIZATION OF THE DEFENSE 
                   PRODUCTION ACT OF 1950.

       (a) Extension of Termination Date.--Section 717(a) of the 
     Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2166(a)) is 
     amended by striking ``September 30, 2000'' and inserting 
     ``September 30, 2001''.
       (b) Extension of Authorization.--Section 711(b) of the 
     Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2161(b)) is 
     amended by striking ``2000'' and inserting ``2001''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Bachus) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus).
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I will say that we intend to take only a very few 
minutes on this bill. This bill, as amended, is simply a 1-year 
extension of the Defense Production Act. I am not sure that any other 
explanation other than that is needed. I think all Members of this 
House know what that act is. We normally extend it for 3 years, but the 
reason we are doing it for 1 year is that Chairman Gramm in the Senate 
wishes to take up reform of the legislation and has not had an 
opportunity to do that. It is a very worthy effort on his part.
  The House, as soon as we pass this 1-year extension, we expect the 
Senate to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our subcommittee chair for seeing 
to it again that this bill is on the floor today. The reason 
reauthorization of this act is necessary is that it contains the basic 
emergency authorities of the President to obtain needed emergency 
products for national defense. Annual renewals of this legislation have 
become quite routine in recent years and there is every expectation the 
other body will act with speed on this measure due to this tradition.
  At some point, a review of some of the details of this legislation 
may become advisable, such as those permitting minor long-term 
production of various goods. However, there has been no outstanding 
complaints about abuse of these powers in many, many years. 
Consequently, this side of the aisle supports this measure to renew the 
act for 1 year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1715, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read:

       ``A bill to extend and reauthorize the Defense Production 
     Act of 1950.''.

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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