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.
“LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H4164 on June 9, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Texas, the majority leader, to inquire about next week's schedule.
Mr. ARMEY. I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the House has completed its legislative business for the week.
The House will next meet on Monday, June 12, at 12:30 p.m. for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. We will consider a number of bills under suspension of the rules, a list of which will be distributed to Members' offices later today. On Monday, no recorded votes are expected before 6 p.m. We will also continue consideration of H.R. 4577, the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2001 after the suspension votes on Monday evening.
On Tuesday, June 13, and the balance of the week, the House will consider the following measures:
S. 761, the Millennium Digital Commerce Act conference report;
H.R. 4601, the Debt Reduction and Reconciliation Act of 2000;
H.R. 4578, the Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2001;
H.R. 4461, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2001;
H.R. 4516, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2001;
VA-HUD appropriations for fiscal year 2001.
I would like to wish all my colleagues a good weekend back in their districts. I should mention to my colleagues there will be no votes on the floor next Friday, but we should all be prepared to work late all evenings next week because we indeed intend to complete five appropriations bills next week.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. HOYER. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin, the ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr. OBEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman from Texas knows, last night we worked out a unanimous consent request on the major amendments that still divide the two parties. It was our expectation that having done that, we could finish that bill within a reasonable length of time, because outside of those amendments, I think most of the remaining amendments that are to be offered are on your side of the aisle with probably one or two exceptions on this side at most. When we made that agreement, I had indicated that it was with the understanding that that bill would not be considered either while Members were in the air trying to get back or in the dead of night.
Our reason for feeling that way is that this is the major domestic appropriations bill which divides us. Under the rule that the bill is being considered under, we cannot get votes on the major issues, but at least we wanted to be able to have a structured, coherent debate on the issue. I would urge the gentleman to simply look at moving some other appropriation bill or any other vehicle in for Monday evening. I have no preference as to which one it is. But we would not be able to finish the Labor-HHS bill Monday in any case starting that late. For example, if we were to proceed to it on Tuesday after the markup of the bill in full committee, I am confident we could finish consideration of the bill that day. But with 160 possible amendments pending if we do not have an agreement, I would hate to see us unravel an agreement which I thought we had with the accompanying understanding last night.
Mr. ARMEY. I appreciate the gentleman from Wisconsin's observations. Whenever floor managers on legislation work out a unanimous consent agreement to manage their bill, we try our very, very best to work with them and honor that. We will be examining the attendance levels that we have when we take the earlier votes on Monday evening regarding the suspension votes. We will be able to get a measure of that. We will also be paying attention to the things mentioned by the gentleman from Wisconsin. We will certainly give consideration to anything we can to accommodate those overall concerns.
Mr. OBEY. All I would say is that we are trying to accommodate the leadership without any extraneous delays of any kind. All we are asking in return is that we have an opportunity to make our case in one solid block of time. That obviously will not be possible Monday night. It would be possible on any other day of the week. I am confident that if we can reach an understanding, it would speed up rather than significantly delay the consideration of that and other appropriation bills.
Mr. ARMEY. I can only say to the gentleman from Wisconsin at this time given that we will be working late Monday evening beyond the votes on the suspension bills, I can see no alternative to working on the health and human services bill. I will tell the gentleman from Wisconsin, I have heard his concerns and I will look for what alternative we might be able to work out, but at this time I do not see that.
Mr. OBEY. All I would say is that if we cannot work it out, we are not going to make very much progress on that bill on Monday.
Mr. ARMEY. I appreciate the gentleman's point.
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