The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3662, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6518-H6528 on June 19, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3662, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 455 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 455
Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule XXIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3662) making appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. Points of order against consideration of the bill for failure to comply with clause 2(l)(6) of rule XI or clause 7 of rule XXI are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. Points of order against provisions in the bill (other than section 117 and the first two provisos under the heading ``Strategic Petroleum Reserve'') for failure to comply with clause 2 or 6 of rule XXI are waived. Where points of order are waived against part of a paragraph, points of order against a provision in another part of such paragraph may be made only against such provision and not against the entire paragraph. An amendment striking the last proviso under the heading
``Strategic Petroleum Reserve'' shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. During further consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recognition on the basis of whether the Member offering an amendment has caused it to be printed in the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 6 of rule XXIII. Amendments so printed shall be considered as read. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone until a time during further consideration in the Committee of the Whole a request for a recorded vote on any amendment. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may reduce to not less than five minutes the time for voting by electronic device on any postponed question that immediately follows another vote by electronic device without intervening business, provided that the time for voting by electronic device on the first in any series of questions shall be not less than fifteen minutes. After the reading of the final lines of the bill, a motion that the Committee of the Whole rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted shall, if offered by the majority leader or his designee, have precedence over a motion to amend. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
{time} 1045
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. Pryce] is recognized for 1 hour.
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from California
[Mr. Beilenson]. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
general leave
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 455, and that I be permitted to submit extraneous materials into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 455 is an open rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 3662, the Interior and Related Agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 1997.
The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations, after which time the bill will be open to amendment under 5-minute rule.
Under this open rule, any Member can be heard on any germane amendment to the bill at the appropriate time, as long as it is consistent with the normal rules of the House. It is important to note that of the four previous appropriations bills that have been reported to the House this year, all have been considered under an open amendment process.
As we have done in the past, the rule empowers the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to give priority in recognition of Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Record prior to their consideration.
The Committee on Rules continues to believe that the option of making amendments available for our colleagues to read in advance of floor action is a very useful tool for improving the quality of debate in the House.
Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides a limit but necessary number of waivers to facilitate the orderly consideration of the bill. For example, the rule waives clause 2(l)(6) of rule XI, regarding the 3-day availability of the committee report, and clause 7 of rule XXI, regarding the 3-day availability of printed hearings and reports on general appropriations bills.
Since authorizing legislation for several programs within the scope of the bill has not yet been approved by the House, the rule provides the necessary waiver of clause 2 of rule XXI, which prohibits unauthorized and legislative provisions in appropriations bills. However, Members should be aware that the waiver of unauthorized provisions does not extend to that section of the bill regarding the collection of States sales taxes on tribal businesses, or to the first two provisos under the heading of ``Strategic Petroleum Reserve.''
In addition, at the recommendation of the Budget Committee, the rule provides for the automatic adoption of an amendment striking the final proviso under the heading of ``Strategic Petroleum Reserve'' from the bill. It is the Rules Committee's understanding that the provision, if it were not removed from the bill, would constitute a significant violation of the Budget Act.
Furthermore, the rule allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone and shorten votes during further consideration of the bill. After the reading of the final lines of the bill, a motion to rise, if offered by the majority leader or his designee, will have precedence over a motion to amend. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions, as is the right of the minority.
Mr. Speaker, the focus of this year's Interior appropriations bill has been to make good government choices, and I congratulate my colleague from Ohio, the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, for his leadership in balancing the need for meaningful deficit reduction with the need to enhance and protect our Nation's natural and cultural resources.
Although the bill appropriates $500 million less than last year's enacted level, the committee has provided reasonable increases for the national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests. Special increases are provided for Everglades restoration, the earthquake program, and for two new initiatives--the new Southern California Natural Communities Conservation Planning Program and the Appalachian Clean Stream Program. Funds have also been added to address important Indian health and education needs.
As I am sure my colleagues know, summer is the time when many of our constituents travel to the Nation's Capital to visit the city's treasured landmarks, and I am pleased to note that in the bill priority was given to funding increases in both operations and relieving critical maintenance backlogs for some of our Nation's major cultural institutions. These include such popular sites as the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the National Holocaust Memorial Museum.
While the committee was able to provide modest funding increases for these programs, I should also point out that the bill responds to the American people's call for smaller, less costly, and more effective government. In order to fund these and other priorities, the committee has taken responsible steps to eliminate duplication and layers of management, and to do away with functions that the committee believes are not inherent Federal responsibility.
By continuing to reduce unnecessary spending and focusing reasonable funding increases on the core programs contained in the bill, Chairman Regula and members of the Appropriations Committee have been able to save the American taxpayers $500 million, and at the same time fulfill the commitment to preserve and enhance our national treasures.
Mr. Speaker, in closing I would emphasize again that the rule before us is both fair and open. Any remaining areas of concern or disagreement can be addressed through the normal amendment process. House Resolution 455 was reported unanimously by the Rules Committee yesterday and it will allow our Members to participate most fully in the deliberative process. I urge my colleagues to vote
``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the underlying legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I include the following information for the Record.
THE AMENDMENT PROCESS UNDER SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE,\1\ 103D CONGRESS V. 104TH CONGRESS
[As of June 18, 1996]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
103d Congress 104th Congress
Rule type ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of rules Percent of total Number of rules Percent of total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open/Modified-Open \2\.............. 46 44 74 59
Structured/Modified Closed \3\...... 49 47 33 27
Closed \4\.......................... 9 9 17 14
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 104 124 124 100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This table applies only to rules which provide for the original consideration of bills, joint resolutions or
budget resolutions and which provide for an amendment process. It does not apply to special rules which only waive points of order against appropriations bills which are already privileged and are considered under an open amendment process under House rules.
\2\ An open rule is one under which any Member may offer a germane amendment under the five-minute rule. A modified open rule is one under which any Member may offer a germane amendment under the five-minute rule subject only to an overall time limit on the amendment process and/or a requirement that the amendment be preprinted in the Congressional Record.
\3\ A structured or modified closed rule is one under which the Rules Committee limits the amendments that may be offered only to those amendments designated in the special rule or the Rules Committee report to accompany it, or which preclude amendments to a particular portion of a bill, even though the rest of the bill may be completely open to amendment.
\4\ A closed rule is one under which no amendments may be offered (other than amendments recommended by the committee in reporting the bill).
SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE, 104TH CONGRESS
[As of June 18, 1996]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disposition of
H. Res. No. (Date rept.) Rule type Bill No. Subject rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Res. 38 (1/18/95)........... O................ H.R. 5........... Unfunded Mandate A: 350-71 (1/19/
Reform. 95). H. Res. 44 (1/24/95)........... MC............... H. Con. Res. 17.. Social Security....... A: 255-172 (1/25/
H.J. Res. 1...... Balanced Budget Amdt.. 95). H. Res. 51 (1/31/95)........... O................ H.R. 101......... Land Transfer, Taos A: voice vote (2/
Pueblo Indians. 1/95). H. Res. 52 (1/31/95)........... O................ H.R. 400......... Land Exchange, Arctic A: voice vote (2/
Nat'l. Park and 1/95).
Preserve. H. Res. 53 (1/31/95)........... O................ H.R. 440......... Land Conveyance, Butte A: voice vote (2/
County, Calif. 1/95). H. Res. 55 (2/1/95)............ O................ H.R. 2........... Line Item Veto........ A: voice vote (2/
2/95). H. Res. 60 (2/6/95)............ O................ H.R. 665......... Victim Restitution.... A: voice vote (2/
7/95). H. Res. 61 (2/6/95)............ O................ H.R. 666......... Exclusionary Rule A: voice vote (2/
Reform. 7/95). H. Res. 63 (2/8/95)............ MO............... H.R. 667......... Violent Criminal A: voice vote (2/
Incarceration. 9/95). H. Res. 69 (2/9/95)............ O................ H.R. 668......... Criminal Alien A: voice vote (2/
Deportation. 10/95). H. Res. 79 (2/10/95)........... MO............... H.R. 728......... Law Enforcement Block A: voice vote (2/
Grants. 13/95). H. Res. 83 (2/13/95)........... MO............... H.R. 7........... National Security PQ: 229-199; A:
Revitalization. 227-197 (2/15/
95). H. Res. 88 (2/16/95)........... MC............... H.R. 831......... Health Insurance PQ: 230-191; A:
Deductibility. 229-188 (2/21/
95). H. Res. 91 (2/21/95)........... O................ H.R. 830......... Paperwork Reduction A: voice vote (2/
Act. 22/95). H. Res. 92 (2/21/95)........... MC............... H.R. 889......... Defense Supplemental.. A: 282-144 (2/22/
95). H. Res. 93 (2/22/95)........... MO............... H.R. 450......... Regulatory Transition A: 252-175 (2/23/
Act. 95). H. Res. 96 (2/24/95)........... MO............... H.R. 1022........ Risk Assessment....... A: 253-165 (2/27/
95). H. Res. 100 (2/27/95).......... O................ H.R. 926......... Regulatory Reform and A: voice vote (2/
Relief Act. 28/95). H. Res. 101 (2/28/95).......... MO............... H.R. 925......... Private Property A: 271-151 (3/2/
Protection Act. 95). H. Res. 103 (3/3/95)........... MO............... H.R. 1058........ Securities Litigation .................
Reform. H. Res. 104 (3/3/95)........... MO............... H.R. 988......... Attorney A: voice vote (3/
Accountability Act. 6/95). H. Res. 105 (3/6/95)........... MO............... ................. ...................... A: 257-155 (3/7/
95). H. Res. 108 (3/7/95)........... Debate........... H.R. 956......... Product Liability A: voice vote (3/
Reform. 8/95). H. Res. 109 (3/8/95)........... MC............... ................. ...................... PQ: 234-191 A:
247-181 (3/9/
95). H. Res. 115 (3/14/95).......... MO............... H.R. 1159........ Making Emergency Supp. A: 242-190 (3/15/
Approps. 95). H. Res. 116 (3/15/95).......... MC............... H.J. Res. 73..... Term Limits Const. A: voice vote (3/
Amdt. 28/95). H. Res. 117 (3/16/95).......... Debate........... H.R. 4........... Personal A: voice vote (3/
Responsibility Act of 21/95).
1995. H. Res. 119 (3/21/95).......... MC............... ................. ...................... A: 217-211 (3/22/
95). H. Res. 125 (4/3/95)........... O................ H.R. 1271........ Family Privacy A: 423-1 (4/4/
Protection Act. 95). H. Res. 126 (4/3/95)........... O................ H.R. 660......... Older Persons Housing A: voice vote (4/
Act. 6/95). H. Res. 128 (4/4/95)........... MC............... H.R. 1215........ Contract With America A: 228-204 (4/5/
Tax Relief Act of 95).
1995. H. Res. 130 (4/5/95)........... MC............... H.R. 483......... Medicare Select A: 253-172 (4/6/
Expansion. 95). H. Res. 136 (5/1/95)........... O................ H.R. 655......... Hydrogen Future Act of A: voice vote (5/
1995. 2/95). H. Res. 139 (5/3/95)........... O................ H.R. 1361........ Coast Guard Auth. FY A: voice vote (5/
1996. 9/95). H. Res. 140 (5/9/95)........... O................ H.R. 961......... Clean Water Amendments A: 414-4 (5/10/
95). H. Res. 144 (5/11/95).......... O................ H.R. 535......... Fish Hatchery-- A: voice vote (5/
Arkansas. 15/95). H. Res. 145 (5/11/95).......... O................ H.R. 584......... Fish Hatchery--Iowa... A: voice vote (5/
15/95). H. Res. 146 (5/11/95).......... O................ H.R. 614......... Fish Hatchery-- A: voice vote (5/
Minnesota. 15/95). H. Res. 149 (5/16/95).......... MC............... H. Con. Res. 67.. Budget Resolution FY PQ: 252-170 A:
1996. 255-168 (5/17/
95). H. Res. 155 (5/22/95).......... MO............... H.R. 1561........ American Overseas A: 233-176 (5/23/
Interests Act. 95). H. Res. 164 (6/8/95)........... MC............... H.R. 1530........ Nat. Defense Auth. FY PQ: 225-191 A:
1996. 233-183 (6/13/
95). H. Res. 167 (6/15/95).......... O................ H.R. 1817........ MilCon Appropriations PQ: 223-180 A:
FY 1996. 245-155 (6/16/
95). H. Res. 169 (6/19/95).......... MC............... H.R. 1854........ Leg. Branch Approps. PQ: 232-196 A:
FY 1996. 236-191 (6/20/
95). H. Res. 170 (6/20/95).......... O................ H.R. 1868........ For. Ops. Approps. FY PQ: 221-178 A:
1996. 217-175 (6/22/
95). H. Res. 171 (6/22/95).......... O................ H.R. 1905........ Energy & Water A: voice vote (7/
Approps. FY 1996. 12/95). H. Res. 173 (6/27/95).......... C................ H.J. Res. 79..... Flag Constitutional PQ: 258-170 A:
Amendment. 271-152 (6/28/
95). H. Res. 176 (6/28/95).......... MC............... H.R. 1944........ Emer. Supp. Approps... PQ: 236-194 A:
234-192 (6/29/
95). H. Res. 185 (7/11/95).......... O................ H.R. 1977........ Interior Approps. FY PQ: 235-193 D:
1996. 192-238 (7/12/
95). H. Res. 187 (7/12/95).......... O................ H.R. 1977........ Interior Approps. FY PQ: 230-194 A:
1996 #2. 229-195 (7/13/
95). H. Res. 188 (7/12/95).......... O................ H.R. 1976........ Agriculture Approps. PQ: 242-185 A:
FY 1996. voice vote (7/18/
95). H. Res. 190 (7/17/95).......... O................ H.R. 2020........ Treasury/Postal PQ: 232-192 A:
Approps. FY 1996. voice vote (7/18/
95). H. Res. 193 (7/19/95).......... C................ H.J. Res. 96..... Disapproval of MFN to A: voice vote (7/
China. 20/95). H. Res. 194 (7/19/95).......... O................ H.R. 2002........ Transportation PQ: 217-202 (7/21/
Approps. FY 1996. 95). H. Res. 197 (7/21/95).......... O................ H.R. 70.......... Exports of Alaskan A: voice vote (7/
Crude Oil. 24/95). H. Res. 198 (7/21/95).......... O................ H.R. 2076........ Commerce, State A: voice vote (7/
Approps. FY 1996. 25/95). H. Res. 201 (7/25/95).......... O................ H.R. 2099........ VA/HUD Approps. FY A: 230-189 (7/25/
1996. 95). H. Res. 204 (7/28/95).......... MC............... S. 21............ Terminating U.S. Arms A: voice vote (8/
Embargo on Bosnia. 1/95). H. Res. 205 (7/28/95).......... O................ H.R. 2126........ Defense Approps. FY A: 409-1 (7/31/
1996. 95). H. Res. 207 (8/1/95)........... MC............... H.R. 1555........ Communications Act of A: 255-156 (8/2/
1995. 95). H. Res. 208 (8/1/95)........... O................ H.R. 2127........ Labor, HHS Approps. FY A: 323-104 (8/2/
1996. 95). H. Res. 215 (9/7/95)........... O................ H.R. 1594........ Economically Targeted A: voice vote (9/
Investments. 12/95). H. Res. 216 (9/7/95)........... MO............... H.R. 1655........ Intelligence A: voice vote (9/
Authorization FY 1996. 12/95). H. Res. 218 (9/12/95).......... O................ H.R. 1162........ Deficit Reduction A: voice vote (9/
Lockbox. 13/95). H. Res. 219 (9/12/95).......... O................ H.R. 1670........ Federal Acquisition A: 414-0 (9/13/
Reform Act. 95). H. Res. 222 (9/18/95).......... O................ H.R. 1617........ CAREERS Act........... A: 388-2 (9/19/
95). H. Res. 224 (9/19/95).......... O................ H.R. 2274........ Natl. Highway System.. PQ: 241-173 A:
375-39-1 (9/20/
95). H. Res. 225 (9/19/95).......... MC............... H.R. 927......... Cuban Liberty & Dem. A: 304-118 (9/20/
Solidarity. 95). H. Res. 226 (9/21/95).......... O................ H.R. 743......... Team Act.............. A: 344-66-1 (9/27/
95). H. Res. 227 (9/21/95).......... O................ H.R. 1170........ 3-Judge Court......... A: voice vote (9/
28/95). H. Res. 228 (9/21/95).......... O................ H.R. 1601........ Internatl. Space A: voice vote (9/
Station. 27/95). H. Res. 230 (9/27/95).......... C................ H.J. Res. 108.... Continuing Resolution A: voice vote (9/
FY 1996. 28/95). H. Res. 234 (9/29/95).......... O................ H.R. 2405........ Omnibus Science Auth.. A: voice vote (10/
11/95). H. Res. 237 (10/17/95)......... MC............... H.R. 2259........ Disapprove Sentencing A: voice vote (10/
Guidelines. 18/95). H. Res. 238 (10/18/95)......... MC............... H.R. 2425........ Medicare Preservation PQ: 231-194 A:
Act. 227-192 (10/19/
95). H. Res. 239 (10/19/95)......... C................ H.R. 2492........ Leg. Branch Approps... PQ: 235-184 A: voice vote (10/
31/95). H. Res. 245 (10/25/95)......... MC............... H. Con. Res. 109. Social Security PQ: 228-191 A:
H.R. 2491........ Earnings Reform. 235-185 (10/26/
Seven-Year Balanced 95).
Budget. H. Res. 251 (10/31/95)......... C................ H.R. 1833........ Partial Birth Abortion A: 237-190 (11/1/
Ban. 95). H. Res. 252 (10/31/95)......... MO............... H.R. 2546........ D.C. Approps.......... A: 241-181 (11/1/
95). H. Res. 257 (11/7/95).......... C................ H.J. Res. 115.... Cont. Res. FY 1996.... A: 216-210 (11/8/
95). H. Res. 258 (11/8/95).......... MC............... H.R. 2586........ Debt Limit............ A: 220-200 (11/10/
95). H. Res. 259 (11/9/95).......... O................ H.R. 2539........ ICC Termination Act... A: voice vote (11/
14/95).
H. Res. 262 (11/9/95).......... C................ H.R. 2586........ Increase Debt Limit... A: 220-185 (11/10/
95). H. Res. 269 (11/15/95)......... O................ H.R. 2564........ Lobbying Reform....... A: voice vote (11/
16/95). H. Res. 270 (11/15/95)......... C................ H.J. Res. 122.... Further Cont. A: 249-176 (11/15/
Resolution. 95). H. Res. 273 (11/16/95)......... MC............... H.R. 2606........ Prohibition on Funds A: 239-181 (11/17/
for Bosnia. 95). H. Res. 284 (11/29/95)......... O................ H.R. 1788........ Amtrak Reform......... A: voice vote (11/
30/95). H. Res. 287 (11/30/95)......... O................ H.R. 1350........ Maritime Security Act. A: voice vote (12/
6/95). H. Res. 293 (12/7/95).......... C................ H.R. 2621........ Protect Federal Trust PQ: 223-183 A:
Funds. 228-184 (12/14/
95). H. Res. 303 (12/13/95)......... O................ H.R. 1745........ Utah Public Lands..... PQ: 221-197 A: voice vote (5/15/
96). H. Res. 309 (12/18/95)......... C................ H. Con. Res. 122. Budget Res. W/ PQ: 230-188 A:
President. 229-189 (12/19/
95). H. Res. 313 (12/19/95)......... O................ H.R. 558......... Texas Low-Level A: voice vote (12/
Radioactive. 20/95). H. Res. 323 (12/21/95)......... C................ H.R. 2677........ Natl. Parks & Wildlife Tabled (2/28/96).
Refuge. H. Res. 366 (2/27/96).......... MC............... H.R. 2854........ Farm Bill............. PQ: 228-182 A:
244-168 (2/28/
96). H. Res. 368 (2/28/96).......... O................ H.R. 994......... Small Business Growth. Tabled (4/17/96).
H. Res. 371 (3/6/96)........... C................ H.R. 3021........ Debt Limit Increase... A: voice vote (3/
7/96). H. Res. 372 (3/6/96)........... MC............... H.R. 3019........ Cont. Approps. FY 1996 PQ: voice vote A:
235-175 (3/7/
96). H. Res. 380 (3/12/96).......... C................ H.R. 2703........ Effective Death A: 251-157 (3/13/
Penalty. 96). H. Res. 384 (3/14/96).......... MC............... H.R. 2202........ Immigration........... PQ: 233-152 A: voice vote (3/19/
96). H. Res. 386 (3/20/96).......... C................ H.J. Res. 165.... Further Cont. Approps. PQ: 234-187 A:
237-183 (3/21/
96). H. Res. 388 (3/21/96).......... C................ H.R. 125......... Gun Crime Enforcement. A: 244-166 (3/22/
96). H. Res. 391 (3/27/96).......... C................ H.R. 3136........ Contract w/America PQ: 232-180 A:
Advancement. 232-177, (3/28/
96). H. Res. 392 (3/27/96).......... MC............... H.R. 3103........ Health Coverage PQ: 229-186 A:
Affordability. Voice Vote (3/29/
96). H. Res. 395 (3/29/96).......... MC............... H.J. Res. 159.... Tax Limitation Const. PQ: 232-168 A:
Amdmt.. 234-162 (4/15/
96). H. Res. 396 (3/29/96).......... O................ H.R. 842......... Truth in Budgeting Act A: voice vote (4/
17/96). H. Res. 409 (4/23/96).......... O................ H.R. 2715........ Paperwork Elimination A: voice vote (4/
Act. 24/96). H. Res. 410 (4/23/96).......... O................ H.R. 1675........ Natl. Wildlife Refuge. A: voice vote (4/
24/96). H. Res. 411 (4/23/96).......... C................ H.J. Res. 175.... Further Cont. Approps. A: voice vote (4/
FY 1996. 24/96). H. Res. 418 (4/30/96).......... O................ H.R. 2641........ U.S. Marshals Service. PQ: 219-203 A: voice vote (5/1/
96). H. Res. 419 (4/30/96).......... O................ H.R. 2149........ Ocean Shipping Reform. A: 422-0 (5/1/
96). H. Res. 421 (5/2/96)........... O................ H.R. 2974........ Crimes Against A: voice vote (5/
Children & Elderly. 7/96). H. Res. 422 (5/2/96)........... O................ H.R. 3120........ Witness & Jury A: voice vote (5/
Tampering. 7/96). H. Res. 426 (5/7/96)........... O................ H.R. 2406........ U.S. Housing Act of PQ: 218-208 A:
1996. voice vote (5/8/
96). H. Res. 427 (5/7/96)........... O................ H.R. 3322........ Omnibus Civilian A: voice vote (5/
Science Auth. 9/96). H. Res. 428 (5/7/96)........... MC............... H.R. 3286........ Adoption Promotion & A: voice vote (5/
Stability. 9/96). H. Res. 430 (5/9/96)........... S................ H.R. 3230........ DoD Auth. FY 1997..... A: 235-149 (5/10/
96). H. Res. 435 (5/15/96).......... MC............... H. Con. Res. 178. Con. Res. on the PQ: 227-196 A:
Budget, 1997. voice vote (5/16/
96). H. Res. 436 (5/16/96).......... C................ H.R. 3415........ Repeal 4.3 cent fuel PQ: 221-181 A: tax. voice vote (5/21/
96). H. Res. 437 (5/16/96).......... MO............... H.R. 3259........ Intell. Auth. FY 1997. A: voice vote (5/
21/96). H. Res. 438 (5/16/96).......... MC............... H.R. 3144........ Defend America Act.... .................
H. Res. 440 (5/21/96).......... MC............... H.R. 3448........ Small Bus. Job A: 219-211 (5/22/
Protection. 96).
MC............... H.R. 1227........ Employee Commuting .................
Flexibility. H. Res. 442 (5/29/96).......... O................ H.R. 3517........ Mil. Const. Approps. A: voice vote (5/
FY 1997. 30/96). H. Res. 445 (5/30/96).......... O................ H.R. 3540........ For. Ops. Approps. FY A: voice vote (6/
1997. 5/96). H. Res. 446 (6/5/96)........... MC............... H.R. 3562........ WI Works Waiver A: 363-59 (6/6/
Approval. 96). H. Res. 448 (6/6/96)........... MC............... H.R. 2754........ Shipbuilding Trade A: voice vote (6/
Agreement. 12/96). H. Res. 451 (6/10/96).......... O................ H.R. 3603........ Agriculture A: voice vote (6/
Appropriations, FY 11/96).
1997. H. Res. 453 (6/12/96).......... O................ H.R. 3610........ Defense A: voice vote (6/
Appropriations, FY 13/96).
1997. H. Res. 455 (6/18/96).......... O................ H.R. 3662........ Interior Approps, FY .................
1997.
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Codes: O-open rule; MO-modified open rule; MC-modified closed rule; S/C-structured/closed rule; A-adoption vote;
D-defeated; PQ-previous question vote. Source: Notices of Action Taken, Committee on Rules, 104th Congress.
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio, my good friend, Ms. Pryce, for yielding the customary 30 minutes of debate time to me.
Mr. Speaker, this rule permits Members to offer any amendment which is in order under the standing rules of the House, and we are pleased that the majority has provided again such a rule for the Interior appropriations bill. We are also pleased that the rule continues a practice established several years ago when Democrats controlled the House, of respecting the prerogatives of authorizing committees by not protecting against points of order legislative language in an appropriations bill that the authorizing committee with jurisdiction over the matter objects to.
In that regard, the rule allows two controversial legislative riders in the bill to be struck by raising a point of order. One is a provision mandating the sale of over $200 million worth of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve. The other is a provision concerning the collection of State and local taxes by native American retail establishments located on native American lands.
However, there is one aspect of this rule, Mr. Speaker, that we object to, and that is the absence of a rule XXI waiver, a waiver against legislating on an appropriations bill for an amendment that the gentlewoman from Oregon [Ms. Furse] and the gentleman from Illinois
[Mr. Porter] hoped to offer to repeal the salvage timber program enacted by the Congress last year.
The enactment of that program, which is causing serious environmental damage in the Pacific Northwest, was possible only because the Committee on Rules last year waived rule XXI to permit the salvage timber program to be added as a legislative rider to an appropriations bill. Because the destructiveness of this program has become a growing concern to an increasing number of Members, it seems only fair and reasonable to allow the House to consider terminating the program through the same means by which it was originally enacted. We feel that we should have had that opportunity.
Beyond the rule itself, many of us have serious concerns about the bill that the rule makes in order. While the bill does not contain the many antienvironmental riders that last year's Interior bill contained, it is not entirely devoid of controversy stemming from legislative provisions that do not belong on an appropriations bill.
One rider that this year's bill contains would prohibit the enforcement of the critical habitat designation for the marbled murrelet on private lands in California. Over 37,000 acres of critical habitat is affected, most of which is in the Headwaters Forest area, the last unprotected ancient redwood wilderness in the world. Fortunately, we anticipate an amendment striking this provision will be offered. We urge Members to support that amendment.
But even without containing a large number of antienvironmental legislative riders, this bill would cause great harm to our Nation's valuable natural and cultural resources by falling far short of providing the funds needed to protect those resources. The bill would reduce funding by half a billion dollars, as the gentlewoman from Ohio
[Ms. Pryce] stated, below last year's level. When combined with the deep cuts in the Interior bill enacted for fiscal year 1996, this bill would provide about 12 percent less for Interior programs than we were spending in fiscal year 1995.
Under this bill, funding for the National Park Service would be 18 percent below the President's request. That shortfall will prevent the Park Service from meeting the growing demand at our great national parks for visitor services, maintenance and resource protection.
The bill also contains large reductions from the President's request in other programs critical to effective resources management, including a 20-percent cut in endangered species programs and a 24-percent cut in funds requested for the Pacific Northwest forest plan, designed to protect our Nation's remaining old growth forests.
Funding for land acquisition, which is critical to protecting threatened areas in and around our national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges, would be reduced to just $100 million, which is less than one-third the amount we spent for that purpose in 1992 when Mr. Bush was President and only one-ninth of the amount of money we are collecting in the land and water conservation fund for the purpose specifically of purchasing critical lands.
This bill also imposes a deep cut in energy conservation programs. It is 33 percent below the President's request in that area. These programs not only increase our Nation's energy efficiency, they also prevent pollution and save businesses and individuals large sums of money in energy costs. A particularly shortsighted provision is the 50-
percent cut in the President's request for the Federal Energy Management Program, which saves taxpayers money by reducing the Federal Government's energy costs.
Furthermore, the bill's low level of funding for fire suppression,
$83 million below the President's request, is inadequate to meet the rising costs of the Forest Service's efforts to fight and prevent wildfires.
In addition, this bill would severely impair programs serving native Americans by cutting funding for them by 14 percent below the President's request. Particularly hard hit would be the critically important health and educational services we currently provide for native Americans.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, the bill would reduce funding for the arts and humanities by 40 percent from the levels provided in fiscal year 1995. In doing so, it would severely jeopardize important cultural, educational and artistic programs in hundreds upon hundreds of communities throughout the United States.
I do not fault the chairman of the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula], for these shortfalls in funding. He is an eminently fair and thoughtful gentleman, who has done a very good job with this bill in light of the very limited spending allocation his subcommittee was granted.
The fault lies, if I may say so, Mr. Speaker, with the Republican leadership's spending priorities, which, simply stated, are wrong. It makes no sense to shortchange the many relatively modest programs contained in this bill, programs that protect our Nation's resources for our children and our grandchildren in order, for example, to help pay for a defense spending bill that provides $11 billion in excess of what the Pentagon itself requested.
Mr. Speaker, the bill this rule makes in order does not serve our Nation's best interests. It denies future generations the legacy we believe we would all like to leave behind: abundant natural resources, a clean and well-protected environment, and a cultural richness that all Americans can enjoy. When the House considers the bill itself, we urge Members to oppose it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon], the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules, my friend from the great Empire State.
Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Columbus, OH, a member of the Committee on Rules that does such a great job, for yielding me time. She is going to do a great job on this one here today, too.
Mr. Speaker, this is a rule that is open, it is fair, it allows cutting amendments, it allows offsetting amendments, it allows limitation amendments, and there is no time limit on the bill itself.
I have to forewarn the Members that after today there will be 29 legislative days left. That means that we have approximately 13 appropriation bills and their conference reports to deal with. We have three reconciliation bills that must be dealt with. We have the Safe Drinking Water Act. We have welfare reform. We have all of these issues that have to come to the floor. Each one of them, there are about 85 of them, are going to take the best part of a day. When you consider there are 29 days left and we have 85 major issues to deal with, a lot is going to get left by the boards, because it is imperative we get out of here by October 4 and go back home and be where we should be, with our constituents.
So, having said that, let me just say that I hope that the Members, if they are going to offer amendments, will work together. We do not want to have duplicative amendments. If some of us are interested in cutting this particular program or adding to that program, we ought to work together so that we do not have 40 or 50 or 60 amendments. Let us keep it to as few as we can and still accomplish what we want to do.
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Having said that, let me just say to the gentleman from Ohio, Congressman Ralph Regula, and the gentleman from Illinois, Sid Yates, what a great job they have done. It is absolutely imperative that this Congress stay on the glidepath to a balanced budget. This is the second consecutive year that we are doing that, and we have 5 more years to go. Every year gets more difficult because the cuts come even deeper, but we must absolutely stay on that glidepath to a balanced budget.
That is why today I am supporting this bill, because it is a part of that glidepath, it is $500 million less than last year, and the projection for next year is going to be even deeper cuts in this bill and all of the other appropriation bills that are coming down the line. So, I want to really commend Ralph Regula and Sid Yates, because their job was very, very difficult.
We have very important issues in this Interior bill. They deal with our national parks, which are so important to the past and the future of this country, and to be able to develop this bill while still cutting the overall budget, I think is a great accomplishment. I want to commend them for it and hope that this rule and this bill is going to pass today so that we can get on and get to welfare reform and immigration reform and all of these other important bills that we have to deal with in the next 29 days.
So, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time, and good luck.
Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 8 minutes to the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Dicks].
(Mr. DICKS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend from California yielding time to me. I want to talk today about a rather complicated issue, and I am pleased that the rule allows us to consider this amendment.
This is an issue that involves the continued existence of California's marbled murrelet. The marbled murrelet is a rare sea bird that nests in forests along the Pacific coast. It is a small bird that spends much of its time at sea feeding on fish. However, during certain crucial months each year it nests in California's coniferous forests.
The marbled murrelet is listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act and threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act. My colleague and member of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from California [Mr. Riggs], has a rider on the Interior bill attached in committee last week which could lead to the extinction, unfortunately, of the California marbled murrelet.
The Riggs amendment prohibits implementation of critical habitat designation under the Federal Endangered Species Act for the marbled murrelet. The rider would apply to most of the private lands in the northern coastal area of California that has been identified as critical habitat for the marbled murrelet.
If critical habitat in this California area does not continue to be designated, there is strong likelihood of the marbled murrelet extinction in northern California, which will most likely affect the bird throughout its Pacific Northwest range.
The Riggs amendment excludes from its coverage 3,000 acres commonly called the ``Headquarters Grove,'' but this exception does not include headwaters areas that are crucial for survival of the bird in California. For example, the exception does not include the Owl Creek Forest, a 440-acre stand of old growth coastal coniferous forest that contains a key 137-acre marbled murrelet nesting area.
The Riggs amendment does not provide needed protection for private property because critical habitat designation does not stop private activities. Critical habitat designation on private land does not stop activities, but it results in more careful consideration before Federal agencies carry out, approve, or fund activities.
Critical habitat designation impacts only Federal, not private, actions. For private land, critical habitat will come into consideration when the landowner seeks some Federal permit or approval, such as an incidental take permit. Moreover, while critical habitat designation may change the Fish and Wildlife Service's calculus in granting a take permit, it does not trigger the incidental take process. If marbled murrelets will not be injured or killed by logging or designating habitat, the logging can proceed without a permit.
The marbled murrelet is dependent on little areas that remain. In California, over the past 150 years, we have taken and harvested much of the marbled murrelet's nesting habitat. The number of birds in California has dropped from an estimated historic population of 60,000 to only about 6,000. Because of the marbled murrelet's precarious situation, further destruction of its significant habitat makes extinction of the northern California population probable.
The marbled murrelet has special nesting requirements. Every year the species loses a majority of its chicks to predation; therefore, it can nest successfully only where foliage is thick enough for the chicks to hide from predators. In addition, marbled murrelets do not build typical nests; instead, they lay eggs in natural depressions on tree limbs, so they require large limb structures.
Critical habitat designation has focused on Federal land. In May 1996 critical habitat was designated for the marbled murrelet along the Pacific coast. Slightly over 1 percent of the designation occurred on private land, because the Fish and Wildlife Service worked to designate non-Federal lands as critical habitat only ``where Federal lands are limited or nonexistent and where non-Federal lands are essential for maintaining marbled murrelet populations and nesting habitats.'' A total of about 48,000 private acres were designated as critical habitat for the bird.
The Riggs amendment applies to almost all this area, most of which is owned by the Pacific Lumber Co.
The marbled murrelet draft recovery plan emphasizes the importance of these acres for marbled murrelet recovery. Suitable nesting habitat on Pacific Lumber Co. lands in Humboldt County, CA, is the only, and I underline that word, only, available nesting habitat for the southern portion of zone 4. This area is situated in a key area close to the coast with no Federal lands in the immediate area that are able to provide similar recovery distributions.
That is why I am offering my amendment today, to strike this provision. I wanted to emphasize to my colleagues that there are remedies here. If we want to get around the designation of critical habitat, I should not say get around, but if we want to deal with it, what we should do is what I have asked the companies in my State and in the Northwest and in Washington State to do, and that is to enter into a multispecies habitat conservation plan with the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Through doing a multispecies habitat conservation plan, a person can achieve 100 years of certainty on his lands. Now, yes, there is a negotiation and certain areas have to be protected on these private lands, but that is the way to proceed.
If one gets a multispecies habitat conservation plan, then they are entitled to an incidental take permit, so that if there is a take on private lands there will be no Federal sanction.
The companies in the State of Washington are entering into these agreements. Now, if my friend from California can walk in here into the Congress and overturn a Federal court decision which directed that critical habitat be designated and get relief for his individual company, then how am I to ask all of my companies to do the right thing, and that is to negotiate a multispecies HCP with the Federal Government? So if we do this, the administration has stated in their letter to all of us up here on this bill that they will veto the bill.
Last year we got ourselves into trouble by giving in to these substantive riders on this bill. So I urge my colleagues to support my amendment today to strike this out. It is the right thing to do for the ESA. It is the right thing, I think, to do for the private companies because then it will force Pacific Lumber Co., which has not negotiated in good faith with the Fish and Wildlife Service, to establish a habitat conservation plan; that they cannot come here and get around this provision.
My judgment is that they should go back, sit down with the Fish and Wildlife Service, and do what Murray Pacific, Weyerhaeuser, Plum Creek, and the major companies in my part of the world are doing, and that is negotiating a multispecies habitat conservation plan. So let us defeat the Riggs amendment and stand behind the Endangered Species Act.
I might say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Speaker, that this will be one of the most important environmental votes of this Congress.
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from the great State of Florida, [Mr. Goss], from the Committee on Rules.
(Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Columbus, OH, the distinguished Judge Pryce, for yielding me this time, and, Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this open rule, yet another open rule from the Committee on Rules.
Members will recall that last year a simple open rule proved to be not enough for the Interior bill, so I am especially pleased that we seem to have achieved broad bipartisan agreement on how we will consider this legislation before us today.
There were some tough choices this year, including how to treat the legislative language in the bill dealing with issues like the strategic petroleum reserve and the sale of commercial goods on Indian reservation lands. I think we made the right choices upstairs in deferring to the authorizing committees on this issue, and I hope that those panels will, and I encourage those panels to, look into these issues in the very near future because there is a lot of Member interest in them.
Mr. Speaker, the Interior appropriations bill is an important bill for the country and it is particularly important for the State of Florida, which I am privileged to represent part of. It is the vehicle for crucial Everglades restoration funds to meet the Federal commitment in our ongoing effort to restore and preserve for future generations the unique ``River of Grass,'' as we call the Everglades. It is a national treasure. It is a global treasure.
Although we will have some discussion later in this debate about the need to boost and guarantee that commitment in this bill, I wish to commend the gentleman from Ohio, Chairman Regula, and the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Yates, for their attention to this unique national treasure and for their commitment to helping us have the Federal Government meet its commitment to the State of Florida; and the polluters, who have agreed to help pay and clean up the Everglades; and the taxpayers of Florida who are involved, and there are a great number of them.
It is an important Federal commitment and there is no reason at this point to relinquish it because the job is not done yet.
Also vital to Florida's economy and our national commitment to wise stewardship of the natural resources is the annual outer continental shelf oil and gas exploration moratorium, which protects our fragile coastline in Florida from oil slicks and pollution. We are grateful for the attention we have received.
Of course, this year's Interior bill is not without some controversy. Several programs have been scaled back to achieve budget targets so we stay on our glidepath. The Land and Water Conservation Fund, for instance, which is used to fund land acquisition in our national parks, wildlife refuges, and elsewhere, has been reduced again this year. I personally believe that is a false saving, but while I may not agree entirely with all the choices made in the bill, I certainly applaud Chairman Regula and the members of the Committee on Appropriations for their hard work in getting to this point.
I ask my colleagues to support this rule and support the bill when it comes to the floor. I believe we have some amendments that will make it even better than it is now.
Mr. BEILENSION. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from California [Mr. Brown].
(Mr. BROWN of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from California for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to rise in support of this rule. I think it is a very reasonable rule and will allow the House to work its will on the bill. I want to take advantage of this opportunity to make a few brief statements about the bill itself, which I think would be appropriate to make at this time, and I am going to confine myself to those parts of the bill which would fall within the authorizing jurisdiction of the Committee on Science.
I want to applaud the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula] for his tireless and farsighted support of the fossil energy R&D programs, and I enthusiastically commend him for his recognition of the importance of academic research in the earthquake hazards program at the U.S. Geological Survey, with which I have had a long-time association.
I understand how difficult it was to fund these programs at the desired levels, and I praise the work that he has done on these provisions in the bill.
Although I understand that it was also difficult to fund energy conservation R&D at even 10 percent below last year, I cannot support the drastic cuts made in this overall program. The gentleman from Ohio last year, in connection with the fiscal year 1996 appropriations bill, made a commitment to spread reductions in energy conservation over 5 years and to cut only 10 percent per year, and obviously, it has been difficult to do that this year.
I want to say that energy conservation R&D efforts have produced a host of success stories in the past. For example, R&D has developed a new window coating that now captures 36 percent of the $4 billion per year new window market and has saved taxpayers nearly $2 billion in energy savings. Further advances in the laboratory have produced windows that lose less heat than the wall within which they are embedded.
Other energy conservation R&D successes include the energy-saving compressors that most Americans have in their home refrigerators and better and more powerful fluorescent lights.
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These examples show that R&D provides incredible returns to the taxpayers in the form of lower energy bills. I might say that this is applied R&D, which some Members have criticized as being corporate subsidies. It has also produced returns in increased energy security, high-technology jobs, environmental protection. The Clinton budget recognizes the value of energy research and development for the future prosperity of the American economy and seeks to increase these efforts by 30 percent within a balanced budget.
I might say that this is possible within a balanced budget, and the so-called blue dog budget provides for this kind of an increase within a balanced budget.
I know that the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula], is well acquainted with the accomplishments of these programs and would not cut them if the budget constraints put upon him by the budget resolution were not so dire. I also believe that in the coming months, if funds become available, he will seek higher levels of funding. I commend him for this attitude. I will also fight for these programs and support any effort to enhance research and development in the energy efficiency area.
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Weller], a valued new Member of this Congress.
(Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for the opportunity to speak on this rule. I rise in support of the rule and I also rise in support of this interior appropriations bill.
This legislation provides a real opportunity to invest in the children and also the future of my home State of Illinois.
I want to point out the extraordinary efforts of my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois, Sid Yates, the ranking member, and also the leadership of the chairman of this subcommittee, that this appropriations legislation invests in an important conservation program important to the State of Illinois and, in fact, provides $3.35 million to the U.S. Forest Service for continued development and operations of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Park, what has already been nicknamed the Yellowstone of the Midwest by many conservationist groups. This appropriation legislation also continues an investment which the subcommittee and this House last year made of a $400,000 appropriation.
The point is that establishment of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is a key part of our efforts, a bipartisan effort in the State of Illinois, to redevelop the Joliet Arsenal, the largest single of piece of property in northern Illinois. In fact, this effort is considered a national model for redevelopment of former surplus military facilities and something anyone who has a base closing in their district should look at. The President signed into law legislation to redevelop the Joliet Arsenal in February of this year. It was a bipartisan bill, a bipartisan effort.
This legislation took the almost 24,000 acres of the Joliet Arsenal, set aside 19,000 acres for establishment and development of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, almost 1,000 acres, what will be the second largest national veterans cemetery in the country, and 3,000 acres for job creation.
Clearly, this is an important project. In fact, the people of Illinois consider development of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and its funding and continued operation the No. 1 environmental and conservation priority for the State of Illinois.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Yates and thank Mr. Regula for their leadership. It is a win, win, win and deserves bipartisan support.
Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado [Mrs. Schroeder].
Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise as one who was born in Portland, OR, loves the forests of the Northwest and am very saddened by the fact that we are not going to be able to do anything to reverse the clear-
cutting provisions, that are taking them down so much faster than they grew up.
There are many other problems with this bill that saddens me. We gut the National Park Service, 18 percent below the President's budget. We gut Fish and Wildlife, 20 percent below the administration's request. We reduce forest plan funding for $19 million less than the President's request. And we do not fund the Everglades as the administration had requested.
I find these all national treasures, national treasures that we cannot restore again. Once these are gone, they are gone. I now live in Colorado, where we think of ourselves as the lungs of the Nation, and we treasure our national parks. So, there is going to be some voting today that is going to be very, very key. I hope Members vote on the issue.
I was saddened today to read in the paper that the Speaker was saying that he could get Members on that side of the aisle to vote any way he wanted just by showing my face. Apparently they have my face on a stick over there. I just wanted to show Members that, if they see this, please vote the environmental vote. Let us not use this kind of thing to stampede Members.
The Speaker was bragging that he was able to get four Members on that side of the aisle to change their vote on the budget to lift the deficit from this year to next year just by showing my face. It must have been because I was not here.
So, I want to make sure, if that trick is used on these votes, my colleagues have now seen the trick. My colleagues better have a better excuse for voting against these really wonderful treasures that we should be holding in stewardship and trusteeship for our children and for the future.
Let us listen and let us think and remember, those who voted to increase the President's defense budget by $13 billion more than he asked for, how can we possibly take away these national treasures that our forefathers and foremothers had the vision to put away? If we do not fund them and if we do not maintain them, we are going to lose them.
Just remember, many in this body voted to increase the defense funding, and they have now got to gash and cut away at the environmental funding. They have even raised the deficit from this year to next year. Please do not do it with my face. Please do it on the merits.
I cannot really believe that the Speaker meant folks on that side were that afraid of me. I am being made the big, bad wolf, I guess. Well, do not be afraid of me. I am a 55-year-old woman. This face is not going to kill you. Do not run from this face and do not run from the vote. I want no more excuses.
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Farr].
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.
I rise on this rule, and I think it is a good rule and am going to support it, but to point out that the rule also allows for this bill to be amended. I want to offer an amendment, an amendment that is consistent with the purpose for which this fund was created, the land and water conservation fund.
The Congress back in the 1960's enacted this bill and said that we are going to allow for offshore oil drilling of Federal lands and the revenues from those Federal lands, from public lands will be put into a fund and then that fund will be used to help all the States, not just those coastal States that have offshore oil drilling but all the States for all the people of the United States. My amendment shows that we have not been doing that. In essence we have taken, that account now has about $900 million a year income, and reappropriated about $400 million out of that.
Of that $400 million, $300 million goes back to the oil companies to essentially do research for multinational corporations to do research. The problem I have with that is, oil is also being drilled on State lands. It is being drilled on private lands, and there is no requirement that in those types of drilling operations that money goes back for that purpose.
Then we have shortchanged the money that goes back to the Department of the Interior and to our States and from our States to our counties and to our cities. I am concerned that this fund, which Congress set up originally for that purpose, is not being used for that purpose anymore. It is being used to do a lot of other things. So in my amendment I shift that balance. Instead of two-thirds for the people of America, I suggest that we reverse that and make the funding priorities just the opposite: one-third for the oil companies and two-thirds for all the citizens of the United States of present and future generations and visitors who are lawfully present within the boundaries of the United States so that they can enjoy the quality and quantity of outdoor recreational resources as may be available and are necessary and desirable for individual active participation in such recreation to strengthen the health and vitality of the citizens of the United States.
I am reading exactly from the bill, from the law that Congress in the 1960's adopted. So, Mr. Speaker, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, I think, has done a very good job under hard work, but I thank on this one my colleague has missed the mark. My colleague has essentially not put the priorities where the public wants the priorities to be. There is not a city, there is not a county, there is not a State that is not in need of more resources to buy from willing sellers, to invest in management opportunities. So for every Member of Congress, my amendment has something in it for them. I would urge that, when that amendment comes up under the rule that we are debating and will be adopting, we all vote for that amendment.
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula], my friend and chairman of the subcommittee.
(Mr. REGULA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to me.
Let me just say that I hope all the Members will carefully review this bill. I think we have done a good job. We have been very bipartisan in terms of projects. There have been on both sides of the aisle projects that have been funded. The bill recognizes the fact that we have a limited amount of money, we have tried to manage our resources carefully.
This bill is a billion and a half dollars less than in 1995. That is a billion and a half that our children and grandchildren will not have to pay in terms of national debt and in terms of interest on that debt. But in the process, I think we have taken care of the important things, and we will discuss that more in the general debate.
I certainly would again urge all of the Members to look carefully at the details of the bill. I think working with the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Yates], my colleague on the subcommittee, that we have tried to bring to the floor today a responsible bill given the constraints that were put upon us by reducing the spending by the reduced allocation. We have tried to address the important things.
Last year I talked about must-do's, need-to-do's and nice-to-do's. The must-do's we have done; added $55 million for the parks, for example. Need-to-do's, we have tried to take care of problem areas. We have done things like finish construction that was underway, put a lot of money in for repairs and maintenance. That is very important, and those are need-to-do's. On the nice-to-do's, we have to scale back considerably, but it is important.
We also recognize the fact that the taxpayers foot the bill for all of this, and so I think on balance we have done a responsible job. I would urge my colleagues to vote for the rule. It is an open rule. Members will have an opportunity to offer amendments as they see fit.
Given those circumstances, I would not see any reason not to support the rule. I urge all Members to do so.
Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from West Virginia [Mr. Rahall].
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule as well as the fiscal year 1997 appropriation bill itself and the Interior Department and related agencies. While it is not the perfect Interior appropriation bill, I do commend the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula] for the manner and the actions that he took within the context of the spending allocations with which he has dealt.
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I believe that he did a decent job of providing for those programs which are the most important. We are, after all, in an era of having to make decisions in order to prioritize our scarce resource dollars.
So while it is true that this bill is about $400 million less than current year funding, it should be noted that part of this reduction can be contributed to the fact that several programs have been terminated and no longer require funding. This is an important fact to bear in mind.
Further, while cuts are being proposed for energy conservation and research programs, those reductions are allowing more funds to be plowed into operating our National Park System wildlife refuges, endangered species and other resource management agency programs. In my view these are some of the most important aspects of the Interior appropriation bill.
But most importantly I am supporting this bill because it does not reduce funding for the Office of Surface Mining, and it contains the moratorium on the processing and issuance of hard rock mining patents, an issue this House has expressed itself on unanimously on a number of occasions. The OSM in both its regulatory functions and through the abandoned mine reclamation program well serves the citizens of our Nation's coalfields.
So I commend the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula], express my gratitude to him for resisting the agenda being advanced by certain quarters to gut the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 through backdoor approaches such through OSM's budget. The agency took a severe hit in the current year appropriation. It is operating with about 25 percent less Federal inspectors, and it is coping and under the leadership of Director Bob Uram. It is doing a job.
So I commend the fact this bill is largely free of controversial anti-environment, anti-public interest riders which plagued our consideration for so many appropriation bills last year.
Amendments might be offered today, Mr. Speaker. Many of my colleagues on this side of the aisle will vote for them. Fine. I may vote for them as well. But when all is said and done, let us vote for this Interior appropriation bill and vote for the rule.
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I will reserve the balance of my time until my friend, the gentleman from California [Mr. Beilenson] concludes.
Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of this Congress the Republican majority claimed that the House was going to consider bills under an open process.
I would like to point out that 62 percent of the legislation this session has been considered under a restrictive process.
At this point I insert the following extraneous material in the Record:
FLOOR PROCEDURE IN THE 104TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION; COMPILED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Process used for floor Amendments in
Bill No. Title Resolution No. consideration order
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.R. 1*........................ Compliance........ H. Res. 6 Closed................ None.
H. Res. 6...................... Opening Day Rules H. Res. 5 Closed................ None.
Package. H.R. 5*........................ Unfunded Mandates. H. Res. 38 Restrictive........... N/A.
H.J. Res. 2*................... Balanced Budget... H. Res. 44 Restrictive........... 2R; 4D.
H. Res. 43..................... Committee Hearings H. Res. 43 (OJ) Restrictive........... N/A.
Scheduling. H.R. 101....................... To transfer a H. Res. 51 Open.................. N/A.
parcel of land to the Taos Pueblo
Indians of New
Mexico. H.R. 400....................... To provide for the H. Res. 52 Open.................. N/A.
exchange of lands within Gates of the Arctic
National Park
Preserve. H.R. 440....................... To provide for the H. Res. 53 Open.................. N/A.
conveyance of lands to certain individuals in
Butte County,
California. H.R. 2*........................ Line Item Veto.... H. Res. 55 Open.................. N/A.
H.R. 665*...................... Victim Restitution H. Res. 61 Open.................. N/A.
Act of 1995. H.R. 666*...................... Exclusionary Rule H. Res. 63 Open.................. N/A.
Reform Act of
1995. H.R. 667*...................... Violent Criminal H. Res. 63 Restrictive........... N/A.
Incarceration Act of 1995. H.R. 668*...................... The Criminal Alien H. Res. 69 Open.................. N/A.
Deportation
Improvement Act. H.R. 728*...................... Local Government H. Res. 79 Restrictive........... N/A.
Law Enforcement
Block Grants. H.R. 7*........................ National Security H. Res. 83 Restrictive........... N/A.
Revitalization
Act. H.R. 729*...................... Death Penalty/ N/A Restrictive........... N/A.
Habeas. S. 2........................... Senate Compliance. N/A Closed................ None.
H.R. 831....................... To Permanently H. Res. 88 Restrictive........... 1D.
Extend the Health
Insurance
Deduction for the
Self-Employed. H.R. 830*...................... The Paperwork H. Res. 91 Open.................. N/A.
Reduction Act. H.R. 889....................... Emergency H. Res. 92 Restrictive........... 1D.
Supplemental/
Rescinding
Certain Budget
Authority. H.R. 450*...................... Regulatory H. Res. 93 Restrictive........... N/A.
Moratorium. H.R. 1022*..................... Risk Assessment... H. Res. 96 Restrictive........... N/A.
H.R. 926*...................... Regulatory H. Res. 100 Open.................. N/A.
Flexibility. H.R. 925*...................... Private Property H. Res. 101 Restrictive........... 1D.
Protection Act. H.R. 1058*..................... Securities H. Res. 105 Restrictive........... 1D.
Litigation Reform
Act. H.R. 988*...................... The Attorney H. Res. 104 Restrictive........... N/A.
Accountability
Act of 1995. H.R. 956*...................... Product Liability H. Res. 109 Restrictive........... 8D; 7R.
and Legal Reform
Act. H.R. 1158...................... Making Emergency H. Res. 115 Restrictive........... N/A.
Supplemental
Appropriations and Rescissions. H.J. Res. 73*.................. Term Limits....... H. Res. 116 Restrictive........... 1D; 3R
H.R. 4*........................ Welfare Reform.... H. Res. 119 Restrictive........... 5D; 26R.
H.R. 1271*..................... Family Privacy Act H. Res. 125 Open.................. N/A.
H.R. 660*...................... Housing for Older H. Res. 126 Open.................. N/A.
Persons Act. H.R. 1215*..................... The Contract With H. Res. 129 Restrictive........... 1D.
America Tax
Relief Act of
1995. H.R. 483....................... Medicare Select H. Res. 130 Restrictive........... 1D.
Extension. H.R. 655....................... Hydrogen Future H. Res. 136 Open.................. N/A.
Act. H.R. 1361...................... Coast Guard H. Res. 139 Open.................. N/A.
Authorization. H.R. 961....................... Clean Water Act... H. Res. 140 Open.................. N/A.
H.R. 535....................... Corning National H. Res. 144 Open.................. N/A.
Fish Hatchery
Conveyance Act. H.R. 584....................... Conveyance of the H. Res. 145 Open.................. N/A.
Fairport National
Fish Hatchery to the State of Iowa. H.R. 614....................... Conveyance of the H. Res. 146 Open.................. N/A.
New London
National Fish
Hatchery
Production
Facility. H. Con. Res. 67................ Budget Resolution. H. Res. 149 Restrictive........... 3D; 1R.
H.R. 1561...................... American Overseas H. Res. 155 Restrictive........... N/A.
Interests Act of
1995. H.R. 1530...................... National Defense H. Res. 164 Restrictive........... 36R; 18D; 2
Authorization Bipartisan.
Act; FY 1996. H.R. 1817...................... Military H. Res. 167 Open.................. N/A.
Construction
Appropriations;
FY 1996. H.R. 1854...................... Legislative Branch H. Res. 169 Restrictive........... 5R; 4D; 2
Appropriations. Bipartisan.
H.R. 1868...................... Foreign Operations H. Res. 170 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations. H.R. 1905...................... Energy & Water H. Res. 171 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations. H.J. Res. 79................... Constitutional H. Res. 173 Closed................ N/A.
Amendment to
Permit Congress and States to
Prohibit the
Physical
Desecration of the American Flag. H.R. 1944...................... Recissions Bill... H. Res. 175 Restrictive........... N/A.
H.R. 1868 (2nd rule)........... Foreign Operations H. Res. 177 Restrictive........... N/A.
Appropriations. H.R. 1977 *Rule Defeated*...... Interior H. Res. 185 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations. H.R. 1977...................... Interior H. Res. 187 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations. H.R. 1976...................... Agriculture H. Res. 188 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations. H.R. 1977 (3rd rule)........... Interior H. Res. 189 Restrictive........... N/A.
Appropriations. H.R. 2020...................... Treasury Postal H. Res. 190 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations. H.J. Res. 96................... Disapproving MFN H. Res. 193 Restrictive........... N/A.
for China. H.R. 2002...................... Transportation H. Res. 194 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations. H.R. 70........................ Exports of Alaskan H. Res. 197 Open.................. N/A.
North Slope Oil. H.R. 2076...................... Commerce, Justice H. Res. 198 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations. H.R. 2099...................... VA/HUD H. Res. 201 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations. S. 21.......................... Termination of H. Res. 204 Restrictive........... 1D.
U.S. Arms Embargo on Bosnia. H.R. 2126...................... Defense H. Res. 205 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations. H.R. 1555...................... Communications Act H. Res. 207 Restrictive........... 2R/3D/3 Bi-
of 1995. partisan.
H.R. 2127...................... Labor/HHS H. Res. 208 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations
Act. H.R. 1594...................... Economically H. Res. 215 Open.................. N/A.
Targeted
Investments. H.R. 1655...................... Intelligence H. Res. 216 Restrictive........... N/A.
Authorization. H.R. 1162...................... Deficit Reduction H. Res. 218 Open.................. N/A.
Lock Box. H.R. 1670...................... Federal H. Res. 219 Open.................. N/A.
Acquisition
Reform Act of
1995. H.R. 1617...................... To Consolidate and H. Res. 222 Open.................. N/A.
Reform Workforce
Development and
Literacy Programs
Act (CAREERS). H.R. 2274...................... National Highway H. Res. 224 Open.................. N/A.
System
Designation Act of 1995. H.R. 927....................... Cuban Liberty and H. Res. 225 Restrictive........... 2R/2D.
Democratic
Solidarity Act of
1995. H.R. 743....................... The Teamwork for H. Res. 226 Open.................. N/A.
Employees and
Managers Act of
1995. H.R. 1170...................... 3-Judge Court for H. Res. 227 Open.................. N/A.
Certain
Injunctions. H.R. 1601...................... International H. Res. 228 Open.................. N/A.
Space Station
Authorization Act of 1995. H.J. Res. 108.................. Making Continuing H. Res. 230 Closed................ ..............
Appropriations for FY 1996. H.R. 2405...................... Omnibus Civilian H. Res. 234 Open.................. N/A.
Science
Authorization Act of 1995. H.R. 2259...................... To Disapprove H. Res. 237 Restrictive........... 1D.
Certain
Sentencing
Guideline
Amendments. H.R. 2425...................... Medicare H. Res. 238 Restrictive........... 1D.
Preservation Act. H.R. 2492...................... Legislative Branch H. Res. 239 Restrictive........... N/A.
Appropriations
Bill. H.R. 2491...................... 7 Year Balanced H. Res. 245 Restrictive........... 1D.
H. Con. Res. 109............... Budget
Reconciliation
Social Security
Earnings Test
Reform. H.R. 1833...................... Partial Birth H. Res. 251 Closed................ N/A.
Abortion Ban Act of 1995. H.R. 2546...................... D.C. H. Res. 252 Restrictive........... N/A.
Appropriations FY
1996. H.J. Res. 115.................. Further Continuing H. Res. 257 Closed................ N/A.
Appropriations for FY 1996. H.R. 2586...................... Temporary Increase H. Res. 258 Restrictive........... 5R.
in the Statutory
Debt Limit. H.R. 2539...................... ICC Termination... H. Res. 259 Open.................. ..............
H.J. Res. 115.................. Further Continuing H. Res. 261 Closed................ N/A.
Appropriations for FY 1996. H.R. 2586...................... Temporary Increase H. Res. 262 Closed................ N/A.
in the Statutory
Limit on the
Public Debt. H. Res. 250.................... House Gift Rule H. Res. 268 Closed................ 2R.
Reform. H.R. 2564...................... Lobbying H. Res. 269 Open.................. N/A.
Disclosure Act of
1995. H.R. 2606...................... Prohibition on H. Res. 273 Restrictive........... N/A.
Funds for Bosnia
Deployment. H.R. 1788...................... Amtrak Reform and H. Res. 289 Open.................. N/A.
Privatization Act of 1995. H.R. 1350...................... Maritime Security H. Res. 287 Open.................. N/A.
Act of 1995. H.R. 2621...................... To Protect Federal H. Res. 293 Closed................ N/A.
Trust Funds. H.R. 1745...................... Utah Public Lands H. Res. 303 Open.................. N/A.
Management Act of
1995. H. Res. 304.................... Providing for N/A Closed................ 1D; 2R.
Debate and
Consideration of
Three Measures
Relating to U.S.
Troop Deployments in Bosnia. H. Res. 309.................... Revised Budget H. Res. 309 Closed................ N/A.
Resolution. H.R. 558....................... Texas Low-Level H. Res. 313 Open.................. N/A.
Radioactive Waste
Disposal Compact
Consent Act. H.R. 2677...................... The National Parks H. Res. 323 Closed................ N/A.
and National
Wildlife Refuge
Systems Freedom
Act of 1995.
PROCEDURE IN THE 104TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION
H.R. 1643...................... To authorize the H. Res. 334 Closed................ N/A.
extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (MFN) to the products of Bulgaria. H.J. Res. 134.................. Making continuing H. Res. 336 Closed................ N/A.
H. Con. Res. 131............... appropriations/ establishing procedures making the transmission of the continuing resolution H.J.
Res. 134. H.R. 1358...................... Conveyance of H. Res. 338 Closed................ N/A.
National Marine
Fisheries Service
Laboratory at
Gloucester,
Massachusetts. H.R. 2924...................... Social Security H. Res. 355 Closed................ N/A.
Guarantee Act. H.R. 2854...................... The Agricultural H. Res. 366 Restrictive........... 5D; 9R; 2
Market Transition Bipartisan.
Program. H.R. 994....................... Regulatory Sunset H. Res. 368 Open rule; Rule tabled N/A.
& Review Act of
1995. H.R. 3021...................... To Guarantee the H. Res. 371 Closed rule........... N/A.
Continuing Full
Investment of
Social Security and Other Federal
Funds in
Obligations of the United States. H.R. 3019...................... A Further H. Res. 372 Restrictive........... 2D/2R.
Downpayment
Toward a Balanced
Budget. H.R. 2703...................... The Effective H. Res. 380 Restrictive........... 6D; 7R; 4
Death Penalty and Bipartisan.
Public Safety Act of 1996. H.R. 2202...................... The Immigration H. Res. 384 Restrictive........... 12D; 19R; 1
and National Bipartisan.
Interest Act of
1995. H.J. Res. 165.................. Making further H. Res. 386 Closed................ N/A.
continuing appropriations for FY 1996. H.R. 125....................... The Gun Crime H. Res. 388 Closed................ N/A.
Enforcement and
Second Amendment
Restoration Act of 1996. H.R. 3136...................... The Contract With H. Res. 391 Closed................ N/A.
America
Advancement Act of 1996. H.R. 3103...................... The Health H. Res. 392 Restrictive........... N/A.
Coverage
Availability and
Affordability Act of 1996. H.J. Res. 159.................. Tax Limitation H. Res. 395 Restrictive........... 1D
Constitutional
Amendment. H.R. 842....................... Truth in Budgeting H. Res. 396 Open.................. N/A.
Act. H.R. 2715...................... Paperwork H. Res. 409 Open.................. N/A.
Elimination Act of 1996. H.R. 1675...................... National Wildlife H. Res. 410 Open.................. N/A.
Refuge
Improvement Act of 1995. H.J. Res. 175.................. Further Continuing H. Res. 411 Closed................ N/A.
Appropriations for FY 1996. H.R. 2641...................... United States H. Res. 418 Open.................. N/A.
Marshals Service
Improvement Act of 1996. H.R. 2149...................... The Ocean Shipping H. Res. 419 Open.................. N/A.
Reform Act. H.R. 2974...................... To amend the H. Res. 421 Open.................. N/A.
Violent Crime
Control and Law
Enforcement Act of 1994 to provide enhanced penalties for crimes against elderly and child victims. H.R. 3120...................... To amend Title 18, H. Res. 422 Open.................. N/A.
United States
Code, with respect to witness retaliation, witness tampering and jury tampering. H.R. 2406...................... The United States H. Res. 426 Open.................. N/A.
Housing Act of
1996. H.R. 3322...................... Omnibus Civilian H. Res. 427 Open.................. N/A.
Science
Authorization Act of 1996. H.R. 3286...................... The Adoption H. Res. 428 Restrictive........... 1D; 1R.
Promotion and
Stability Act of
1996. H.R. 3230...................... Defense H. Res. 430 Restrictive........... 41 amends;
Authorization 20D; 17R; 4
Bill FY 1997. bipartisan
H.R. 3415...................... Repeal of the 4.3- H. Res. 436 Closed................ N/A.
Cent Increase in
Transporation
Fuel Taxes. H.R. 3259...................... Intelligence H. Res. 437 Restrictive........... N/A.
Authorization Act for FY 1997. H.R. 3144...................... The Defend America H. Res. 438 Restrictive........... 1D.
Act. H.R. 3448/H.R. 1227............ The Small Business H. Res. 440 Restrictive........... 2R.
Job Protection
Act of 1996, and
The Employee
Commuting
Flexibility Act of 1996. H.R. 3517...................... Military H. Res. 442 Open.................. N/A.
Construction
Appropriations FY
1997. H.R. 3540...................... Foreign Operations H. Res. 445 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations FY
1997. H.R. 3562...................... The Wisconsin H. Res. 446 Restrictive........... N/A.
Works Waiver
Approval Act. H.R. 2754...................... Shipbuilding Trade H. Res. 448 Restrictive........... 1R.
Agreement Act. H.R. 3603...................... Agriculture H. Res. 451 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations FY
1997. H.R. 3610...................... Defense H. Res. 453 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations FY
1997. H.R. 3662...................... Interior H. Res. 455 Open.................. N/A.
Appropriations FY
1997.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Contract Bills, 67% restrictive; 33% open. ** All legislation 1st Session, 53% restrictive; 47% open. *** All legislation 2d Session, 62% restrictive; 38% open. **** All legislation 104th Congress, 56% restrictive; 44% open. ***** NR indicates that the legislation being considered by the House for amendment has circumvented standard procedure and was never reported from any House committee. ****** PQ Indicates that previous question
was ordered on the resolution. ******* Restrictive rules are those which limit the number of amendments which can be offered, and include so-called modified open and modified closed rules as well as completely closed rules and rules providing for consideration in the House as opposed to the Committee of the Whole. This definition of restrictive rule is taken from the Republican chart of resolutions reported from the Rules
Committee in the 103d Congress. N/A means not available.
Legislation in the 104th Congress, 2d Session
To date 14 out of 35 of the bills considered under rules in the 2d session of the 104th Congress have been considered under an irregular procedure which circumvents the standard committee procedure. They have been brought to the floor without any committee reporting them. They are as follows:
H.R. 1643, to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (MFN) to the products of Bulgaria.
H.J. Res. 134, making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 1996.
H.R. 1358, conveyance of National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory at Gloucester, Massachusetts.
H.R. 2924, the Social Security Guarantee Act.
H.R. 3021, to guarantee the continuing full investment of Social Security and other Federal funds in obligations of the United States.
H.R. 3019, a further downpayment toward a balanced budget.
H.R. 2703, the Effective Death Penalty and Public Safety Act of 1996.
H.J. Res. 165, making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 1996.
H.R. 125, the Crime Enforcement and Second Amendment Restoration Act of 1996.
H.R. 3136, the Contract With America Advancement Act of 1996.
H.J. Res. 159, tax limitation constitutional amendment.
H.R. 1675, National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1995.
H.J. Res. 175, making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 1996.
H.R. 3562 the Wisconsin Works Waiver Approval Act.
Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask our colleagues to join the gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. Pryce] and I in voting for this open, fair rule.
Ms. PRYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the time remaining on this side, and I thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Beilenson] for his remarks.
Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot of criticism here this morning about the funding levels contained in this bill. Let me say that I, for one, recognize that Chairman Regula and the members of the committee have made difficult choices in crafting this year's bill. It is never easy to reverse years of spiraling increases and bloating bureaucracies.
The chairman's system of prioritizing the must-do's, the need-to-
do's, and the nice-to-do's, reflects the kind of fiscal restraint and responsibility that we need in order to keep us on the glidepath to a balanced Federal budget.
The 1997 Interior appropriations bill is all making good Government choices and responsible spending decisions. It saves the American taxpayers $500 million from last year's level, and roughly $1.5 billion from the 1995 level, while focusing resources on programs that are important to the American people--the national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and the Nation's great cultural landmarks.
Under the terms of this fair and open rule, the House will have an opportunity to give full consideration to the environmental, cultural, and Native American programs contained in this year's bill. I urge my colleagues to give this rule their full support.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
The previous question was ordered.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
