[House Report 105-744]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 2d Session                                                     105-744
_______________________________________________________________________


 
   PROVIDING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4578, THE PROTECT SOCIAL 
    SECURITY ACCOUNT, AND H.R. 4579, THE TAXPAYER RELIEF ACT OF 1998

                                _______
                                

 September 24, 1998.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

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   Mr. Solomon, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 552]

    The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration 
House Resolution 552, by a non-record vote, report the same to 
the House with the recommendation that the resolution be 
adopted.

               brief summary of provisions of resolution

    The resolution provides for the consideration of H.R. 4578, 
the ``Protect Social Security Account'' in the House without 
intervention of any point of order. The rule provides that the 
bill be considered as read and that the Committee on Ways and 
Means amendment in the nature of a substitute now printed in 
the bill shall be considered as adopted.
    The rule provides for one hour of debate equally divided 
and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
the Committee on Ways and Means.
    The rule provides for consideration, without intervention 
of any point of order, of an amendment printed in the 
Congressional Record and numbered 1, if offered by 
Representative Rangel or his designee, which shall be 
considered as read and shall be debatable for one hour equally 
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. In 
addition, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions.
    After disposition of H.R. 4578, the rule then provides for 
consideration of H.R. 4579, the ``Taxpayer Relief Act of 
1998'', without intervention of any point of order. The rule 
provides that the bill be considered as read and that the 
Committee on Ways and Means amendment in the nature of a 
substitute now printed in the bill, as modified by the 
amendment printed in this report, shall be considered as 
adopted.
    The rule provides for one hour of debate equally divided 
and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule further provides for 
consideration, without intervention of any point of order, of 
an amendment printed in the Congressional Record and numbered 
1, if offered by Representative Rangel or his designee, which 
shall be considered as read and shall be debatable for one hour 
equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an 
opponent. Also, the rule provides one motion to recommit with 
or without instructions.
    Finally, the rule provides that in the engrossment of H.R. 
4579, the Clerk shall add the text of H.R. 4578, as passed by 
the House, and that upon the addition of the text, H.R. 4578 
shall be laid on the table.

                            committee votes

    Pursuant to clause 2(l)(2)(B) of the House rule XI the 
results of each rollcall vote on an amendment or motion to 
report, together with the names of those voting for and 
against, are printed below:

Rules Committee Rollcall No. 103

    Date: September 24, 1998.
    Measure: H.R. 4578, the Protect Social Security Account, 
and H.R. 4579, the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1998.
    Motion By: Mr. Moakley.
    Summary of Motion: Make in order an amendment in the nature 
of a substitute by Representative Stenholm to H.R. 4579 which 
would make certain tax cuts contingent on an on-budget surplus 
(excluding the Social Security Trust Funds surplus).
    Vote by Member: Dreier--nay; Diaz-Balart--nay; McInnis--
nay; Hastings--nay; Myrick--nay; Moakley--yea; Frost--yea; 
Solomon--nay.

 summary of amendments made in order under the rule for H.R. 4578, the 
   ``protect social security account'' and H.R. 4579, ``the taxpayer 
                          relief act of 1998''

Amendment No. 1, printed in the Congressional Record, to H.R. 4578, the 
        protect Social Security account

    Rangel--60 minutes: Amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. Transfers 100 percent of the Social Security Trust 
Fund surplus to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to be held 
in trust for the Social Security system. Under the substitute, 
the Congress would have to default on publicly traded debt 
obligations before it could default on its obligations to the 
Social Security system.

Amendments to be considered as adopted to H.R. 4579, the Taxpayer 
        Relief Act of 1998

    Archer: Directs the Treasury Department to conduct a 
comprehensive study of recovery periods and depreciation 
methods under section 168 of the Code for purposes of the 
deduction for depreciation and to provide recommendations as to 
the determination of such periods and methods in a more 
rational manner.
    Kasich: Waives PAYGO requirements with respect to the bill 
making the revenue loss not counted under PAYGO.

Amendment No. 1, Printed in the Congressional Record, to H.R. 4579, the 
        Taxpayer Relief Act of 1998

    Rangel--60 minutes: An amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. Contains all of the tax cuts that are in the 
committee reported bill, but the substitute contains a trigger 
mechanism under which most of the tax cuts would not take 
effect until Congress enacts legislation to ensure the long-
term solvency of the Social Security system. The trigger 
provision would not apply to the extension of the expiring 
provisions; the increase in the earnings limitation on Social 
Security benefits, both of which are financed separately; and 
time-sensitive, revenue-neutral provisions. Those provisions 
would take effect immediately.
    Amendments to be Considered as adopted to H.R. 4579;
    At the end of section 201, insert the following new 
subsection:
    (c) Study.--The Secretary of the Treasury (or the 
Secretary's delegate)--
          (1) shall conduct a comprehensive study of the 
        recovery periods and depreciation methods under section 
        168 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and
          (2) shall submit the results of such study, together 
        with recommendations for determining such periods and 
        methods in a more rational manner, to the Committee on 
        Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Finance of the Senate.
                              ----------                              

    At the appropriate place add the following new section:

SEC.   . EXCLUSION OF EFFECTS OF THIS ACT FROM PAYGO SCORECARD.

    Upon the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office 
of Management and Budget shall not make any estimates of 
changes in receipts under section 252(d) of the Balanced Budget 
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 resulting from the 
enactment of this Act.

                                
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