August 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9811 we are all anxious to complete our Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, as I un- gust recess tomorrow. Further, the re- work to make our departures for our derstand it, the next item of business port has been available in committee August recess work period. will be the rule on the defense author- offices so Members and staff have had At this time I can only advise Mem- ization conference report. It is my in- ample time to review it. bers, to the best of my knowledge, we tention to only use 2 or 3 minutes and Mr. Speaker, this is a fair rule that should expect additional votes this then, when the manager on the Demo- provides for expeditious consideration evening within the hour. At any point crat side has done the same, we would of this critically important legislation. during the evening, when I find infor- then yield back our time and expedite I urge support of the rule. I will not mation by which I can advise other- this rule without a vote. bother to get into the details of the wise, I will ask for time to do so. But Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, will the bill. It has been debated at consider- my best advice at this point is we must gentleman yield? able length. We all know the contents. be prepared to stay for additional votes Mr. SOLOMON. I yield to the gen- Mr. Speaker, I urge prompt action on tonight, and I will keep Members in- tleman from Texas. the rule, and I reserve the balance of formed. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I cannot my time. I want to also express my apprecia- assure the gentleman that it will only Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 tion to the Members on both sides of be 2 or 3 minutes. It will not be the full minutes to the gentleman from New the aisle for your patience with these time. We do have a request by the gen- Mexico [Mr. RICHARDSON], our ambas- times being as they are. tleman from New Mexico for a col- sador at large, for the purposes of en- f loquy. We also have a request by the gaging in a colloquy. Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I ranking member on the Committee on PERMISSION TO ENTERTAIN MO- rise for the purpose of entering into a Commerce for the opportunity to TIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES colloquy with the gentleman from Col- ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, speak. But we will move along as orado [Mr. SCHAEFER], the chairman of 1996 quickly as we can. the Subcommittee on Energy and Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, a mini- Power. unanimous consent that notwithstand- mum amount of time on both sides. As the gentleman knows, the Waste ing clause 1 of rule XXVII, the Speaker f Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico may entertain motions to suspend the will have a direct impact on many of rules on Wednesday, September 4, 1996. CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3230, our constituents in that State. While I The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- support amending the land withdrawal objection to the request of the gen- TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997 act, I would like to clarify some as- tleman from Texas? Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, by di- pects of this amending language. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, reserving rection of the Committee on Rules, I First, I have concerns about des- the right to object, I do not intend to call up House Resolution 498 and ask ignating November 1997 as the opening object. I would, however, like to clarify for its immediate consideration. date for the facility. If new health and with the distinguished majority leader The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- safety problems arise prior to start-up, our understanding of what the proce- lows: I want to be assured that resolving dure will be on Wednesday, September H. RES. 498 these concerns will take precedence 4, with regard to suspensions. over the opening date. It is our understanding that his office Resolved, That upon adoption of this reso- lution it shall be in order to consider the Secondly, the issue of proper over- will supply us with the final list of sus- sight is an important one. I want to en- pensions he intends to consider on Sep- conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 3230) to authorize appropriations for sure that the EPA will have a full ca- tember 4 by noon on August 21st. We fiscal year 1997 for military activities of the pability to provide for the safe oper- have requested this information from Department of Defense, to prescribe military ation and regulation of WIPP. him in order to notify our Members in personnel strengths for fiscal year 1997, and Finally, I am concerned about the ex- advance just what bill will be under for other purposes. All points of order emption from RCRA no-migration consideration so that our Members who against the conference report and against its standards. As the gentleman knows, I consideration are waived. The conference re- are interested in debating the bills have advocated for the implementation could arrange to be here. It is our un- port shall be considered as read. of an independent review of EPA’s deci- derstanding that no additional bills The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- sion to strike the RCRA no-migration will be added to this list without the ant to the rule, the gentleman from rules, possibly by the National Acad- unanimous consent of the minority. New York [Mr. SOLOMON] is recognized Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, will the emy of Sciences. I want to be assured for one hour. that the deletion of RCRA no-migra- gentleman yield? (Mr. SOLOMON asked and was given Mr. FROST. I yield to the gentleman tion standards will not result in a deg- permission to revise and extend his re- radation of environmental standards at from Texas. marks.) Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, the gen- WIPP. Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, for the Let me say that I appreciate the tleman is absolutely correct in the way purposes of debate only, I yield the cus- he has stated it. We will supply that work of the gentleman. The work of tomary 30 minutes to the gentleman the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. list by the 21st of August noon, and from Texas [Mr. FROST], pending which that indeed no other suspension would SKEEN] in responsibly moving this lan- I yield myself such time as I might guage forward. I do support the provi- be brought up except by additional consume. During consideration of this unanimous consent. And I would, sions affecting WIPP, but would appre- resolution, all time yielded is for the ciate any comment he has on these again, like to express my appreciation purpose of debate only. for the leadership on the minority side matters. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 498 Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, will of the aisle for their cooperation in provides for the consideration of the working with us on this. the gentleman yield? conference report to accompany H.R. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Mr. RICHARDSON. I yield to the 3230, the National Defense Authoriza- majority leader, and I withdraw my gentleman from Colorado. reservation of objection. tion Act for fiscal year 1997. Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I truly The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there The rule waives all points of order thank the gentleman from New Mexico, objection to the request of the gen- against the conference report and and it has been a great pleasure work- tleman from Texas? against its consideration. It further ing with him on this particular situa- There was no objection. provides that the conference report tion. I do appreciate his concerns. A f shall be considered as read. timely opening of WIPP is very impor- The waiver includes a waiver of the 3- tant. It is equally critical that the fa- ORDER OF BUSINESS day layout rule, as the report was filed cility opens and operates in a very safe (Mr. SOLOMON asked and was given only Tuesday. This was necessary so manner. permission to address the House for 1 that the House could complete consid- First, the 1997 opening date is not a minute.) eration of this measure before the Au- hard, statutory requirement, but is H9812 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 1, 1996 contained in a sense of Congress state- ity will comply with the disposal regulations EPA, exercising her independent judgment, ment. Both EPA and DOE feel that this in accordance with public rule-making pro- determined the contents of the final criteria. date is achievable. Obviously the cedures. We believe EPA’s criteria are sound and will You specifically expressed concern about effectively protect public health and the en- health and safety issues are very, very the impact of the proposed legislation on the vironment. important, and language has been in- WIPP certification process. In particular, I want to assure you that EPA will keep cluded to reflect that the site should that review of individual chapters of the De- communication lines open as it undertakes meet all applicable health and safety partment of Energy’s (DOE) compliance ap- the public rulemaking proceeding to certify standards before disposal operations plication by EPA would require the Agency whether the WIPP facility will comply with commence. to commit to a position on the sufficiency of the final disposal regulations. We recognize This subtitle closely mirrors legisla- each chapter without public input. While it the importance of this matter to you and all is true that EPA will review individual chap- of the residents of New Mexico. tion already approved by the full Com- ters prior to receipt of the full application, If you have questions regarding this letter mittee on Commerce and preserves a the Agency will make no determination on or any other concerns, please contact Frank strong regulatory role for EPA at the adequacy of any part of the application Marcinowski of my staff at (202) 233–9310. WIPP. The facility is also regulated by until: 1) EPA has received the full applica- Sincerely, several other entities, including the tion from the department; and 2) public com- MARY D. NICHOLS, State of New Mexico. The combination ments have been considered. In fact, the Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. of these different regulators provides Agency has received the first of these chap- ters and placed it in the certification docket for a broad oversight and regulatory Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I (No. A–93–02) on May 1, 1996. We will be pro- thank the gentleman. I support the base. viding written comments to DOE on these Finally, I can understand the gentle- provisions affecting WIPP. chapters. The written comments will also be Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- man’s concerns about the no-migration placed in the public dockets. self such time as I may consume. standard. As he knows, I have always You also raised concerns about the effect Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this felt that the Federal Government of the proposed legislation on the public’s opportunity to provide comment on DOE’s rule and this conference report, which should be held to the same environ- authorizes the programs which provide mental standards accepted by any application. As in the past, EPA will con- tinue to foster an open public process. As for our Nation’s defense which is our other entity in America. This legisla- you will note in the final compliance criteria common defense. In these uncertain tion does meet that test. There will be (40 CFR Part 194), EPA will hold two 120-day times, which, as we all know, grow no loss of environmental protection, no public comment periods after it receives more dangerous every day, it is of vital impact on human health and safety, DOE’s full compliance application. The pro- importance that this component of our posed legislation will not affect the process and no reduction of the overall safety country’s protection continues to be standards under this language. established in the compliance criteria. Fur- thermore, EPA never planned for or created strong. Our foreign enemies—those who The EPA is confident that this regu- seek to disrupt and ultimately destroy latory regime will provide and protect any process for formal public comment on the completeness of the application. There- our democratic way of life—must know human health and the environment. I fore, since DOE is providing the Agency with of our commitment to a strong and ca- would like to enter into the RECORD individual chapters prior to submission of pable military able to protect this correspondence from EPA which does the full application, the public will have an great Nation. This conference report is express this view. additional opportunity to comment on, and a positive step in insuring that our I do so much appreciate the gentle- additional time to review, the individual military capability remains strong and chapters, via EPA’s public docket. man’s concern for his constituents, as I vigilant and I urge its adoption. would, and his cooperative work on the Additionally, you were concerned that the proposed H.R. 1663 removes the ability of the Mr. Speaker, the conferees have wise- subtitle. I also want to recognize the Administrator to enforce compliance of the ly dropped contentious social issues very valiant efforts of the gentleman WIPP with any law, regulation or permit re- from this agreement, and in doing so, from New Mexico [Mr. SKEEN], without quirement described in § 9(a)(1) of the LWA. have taken the proper course of action whose help we would not be here today. We feel that EPA’s ability to ensure compli- in ensuring that this authorization can Again, I appreciate the gentleman’s ance with these environmental laws is not be signed into law by the President. support and his allowing me to clarify compromised by removal of this provision While the funding levels are still sig- these matters. since: 1) the environmental laws described in nificantly higher than those requested, Mr. Speaker, I include for the the LWA contain their own enforcement pro- visions; and 2) 40 CFR Part 194 imposes re- I feel confident that this is a bill that RECORD the following correspondence: quirements that DOE perform remedial ac- can be signed. The increases in funding ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, tions if the administrator determines WIPP levels are not for frivolous projects, Washington, DC, May 15, 1996. to be in non-compliance with the transuranic rather they provide for faster acquisi- Hon. TOM UDALL, waste disposal standards. tion of important weapons systems Attorney General of New Mexico, Further, with regard to H.R. 1663, you ex- which had been planned for purchase in Santa Fe, NM. pressed concern about the WIPP being used later years. DEAR MR. UDALL: The purpose of this let- as a repository for transuranic wastes that The agreement does not contain pro- ter is to follow-up on our telephone con- did not result from a defense activity. The visions from last year’s vetoed bill versation of April 1, 1996, and respond to proposed legislation does not alter the defi- your letter of April 4, 1996, regarding the En- nition of exposure or capacity limits of ei- which had required the deployment of a vironmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) role ther remote- or contact-handled wastes set national missile defense system by the in the regulation of the Waste Isolation Pilot forth in the LWA. If EPA were to certify the year 2003, nor does it contain language Plant (WIPP). WIPP, this provision would allow for dis- which might have been a violation of The Administration is presently formulat- posal of a relatively small amount of waste the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. ing its position on H.R. 1663, the ‘‘Skeen- from a site in West Valley, NY. If WIPP were As Members know, these issues, among Schaefer Bill’’ amending the WIPP Land capable of accepting this waste within the others, provoked a veto in 1993, and Withdrawal Act (Pub. L. 102–579). I appre- capacity limits of the LWA, it would be im- their exclusion this year certainly en- ciated hearing your views about the legisla- prudent to needlessly spend taxpayer money hances the chance that this agreement tion and am pleased we had the opportunity for a site similar to WIPP for such a small to discuss these important issues. The Agen- amount of transuranic waste simply because will become law. cy believes that the amended H.R. 1663 is a the process which generated the waste was This agreement contains provisions sound bill and makes critical improvements not defense related. which will require that the U.S. Gov- over its antecedent. As you are aware, the Lastly, I am disappointed that you have ernment live up to its obligations. The Skeen Bill, as originally proposed, severely elected to bring a legal challenge against bill contains a 3-percent pay raise for limited EPA’s regulatory oversight of WIPP EPA’s WIPP compliance criteria published military personnel and increases hous- and, we believe, did not provide adequate on February 9, 1996. The EPA considered the ing allowances. The agreement address- protection of human health and the environ- views of all interested parties, including the es a long and shamefully overlooked ment. Mr. Schaefer’s amendments retain comments and suggestions made by your of- EPA as the independent regulator of the fice, in deciding the contents of the final cri- matter by authorizing the award of the WIPP, eliminates extraneous requirements, teria. As you know, EPA held two public Medal of Honor to African-Americans and leaves intact the provisions of the 1992 comment periods totaling 135 days, and con- who served in World War II and who WIPP Land Withdrawal Act (LWA) that re- ducted a series of public hearings in New distinguished themselves by perform- quire EPA to certify whether the WIPP facil- Mexico. Ultimately, the Administrator of ing with gallantry above and beyond August 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9813 the call of duty. The agreement also should be aware that this provision ap- Supporters of the provision may claim that it contains language which will finally plies not only to defense facilities but contains safeguards to ensure that the Federal recognize the sacrifice and heroism of also properties owned by the Depart- Government will perform cleanups after trans- those Vietnamese nationals who par- ment of Energy, the Department of the ferring its contaminated property to other per- ticipated in special operations in North Interior and any property under the sons. However, serious questions have been Vietnam or Laos on behalf of the Unit- controls of the General Services Ad- raised by State Attorneys General and other ed States Government and who were ministration. Unfortunately, this pro- stakeholders as to the adequacy and enforce- subsequently captured and imprisoned vision has not been subject to hearings ability of the supposed safeguards to ensure by the Communist Vietnamese. or examination by the authorizing that timely and protective cleanups will occur I am particularly pleased that the committees, and no one knows exactly after the Federal Government no longer owns conference agreement contains $1.5 bil- the level of peril which is imposed upon the property it contaminated. lion for continued development and ac- the people of this country. I am particularly concerned that this far- quisition of six V–22 Osprey tiltroter Equally important is the fact that it reaching and significant amendment to the aircraft, as well as funds for the acqui- has no discernible support except Superfund law is being made without any con- sition of six additional F–16 fighters. amongst the Federal polluters, and it sideration of its ramifications by the two com- The conference agreement includes $2 is interesting to note that people who mittees of jurisdiction, the Transportation and billion in funding for research and de- address the question of pollution of our the Commerce Committees, and without con- velopment for the next-generation tac- environment, and who are concerned sideration of the views of States, communities, tical fighter, the F–22. Also provided is about protecting the citizens of this and the public. Letters of opposition from the $2.4 billion for the acquisition of nine country from dangerously contami- Attorneys General of the States of Michigan, C–17 transport aircraft. All these air- nated and environmentally degraded Minnesota, Colorado, California, Texas and craft are important components in our areas have expressed particular con- Washington, and from the National Associa- national defense system and the con- cern. tion of Attorneys General and the Natural Re- ference is to be commended for funding The Department of Defense has pro- sources Defense Counsel, evidence the them in this agreement. vided no examples of the need for the public's grave concerns with this provision. Mr. Speaker, this is a fair rule and a sweeping provisions in section 334, but Moreover, there has been no demonstration of good bill and I urge their adoption. the attorneys general of the States of any need for the provision. If this provision becomes law, Congress will b 2115 Michigan, Washington, New Mexico, Texas, Minnesota, and Colorado have have eliminated any certainty that federally Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the written to express their strong opposi- created toxic waste sites in our communities gentleman from Michigan [Mr. DIN- tion to this provision. On behalf of its will be cleaned up in a timely and protective GELL]. quarter-million members, the Natural manner. This provision goes in the wrong di- (Mr. DINGELL asked and was given Resources Defense Council has also op- rection. The Federal Government should be permission to revise and extend his re- posed this provision. Amongst other leading the way in cleaning up toxic waste marks.) concerns, these writers question the sites. Instead, we are making it easier for the Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in glaring absence of criteria for deter- Federal Government to avoid the cleanup re- opposition to the rule and to the con- mining the suitability of contaminated sponsibilities that we expect of private inter- ference report. I do so mainly because Federal lands for transfer and the en- ests. This provision should be removed from the this bill could let the Nation’s largest forceability of cleanup requirements. conference report and considered by the com- polluter, the Federal Government, Indeed the level of cleanup required is mittees of jurisdiction with the appropriate more specifically the Department of in question, insofar as whether the hearings and markups. Defense, the Department of the Inte- cleanup would be adequate to protect rior, GSA, and the Department of En- Mr. Speaker, I also am very troubled by an the health and the environment of peo- amendment made in conference to another ergy off the hook. Under this provision, ple who would be affected and who live section 334 would directly amend provision in the report. The House bill required in the neighborhood. the Navy to develop and implement a program CERCLA, otherwise known as I urge a rejection of the rule, and I Superfund, a law that is squarely with- to monitor the ecological effects of organotin, urge a rejection of the conference re- a highly toxic ingredient in paints used on in the jurisdiction of the Committee on port. Commerce. Navy vessels. I agree that it is appropriate for Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield the Navy to study the environmental impacts If my colleagues have defense or such time as he may consume to the other Federal establishments within of toxic materials it uses on its vessels. How- gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. ever, section 333 of the conference report their district, they better be very care- BORSKI]. ful before they vote for this legislation. adds a provision shifting to the Environmental (Mr. BORSKI asked and was given Protection Agency the obligation to pay such The legislation will change current law permission to revise and extend his re- to allow the Federal Government to sums as are necessary for the Navy to de- marks.) velop and implement its program. This raid on transfer contaminated property that it Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in EPA's budget to supplement the astronomical owns prior to the completion of the re- strong opposition to the rule and the budget of the Department of Defense is en- quired cleanup of the property. conference report on the Defense Au- Remember, this is contamination tirely unacceptable. thorization Act. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to note my with high-level hazardous wastes, high- Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to understanding that section 324 of the con- level nuclear wastes and other terribly the rule and conference report on the Defense ference report, which amends the Act to Pre- dangerous substances. This provision Authorization Act for fiscal year 1997. I do so vent Pollution from Ships, is not intended to may actually delay the cleanup of con- principally because it could allow Federal limit the Navy's efforts in continuing to develop taminated Federal properties. This pro- agencies to abdicate their responsibility to and implement more efficient and environ- vision will impose upon citizens of this clean up hazardous waste sites and address mentally beneficial garbage disposal tech- country the possibility or even the other toxic conditions that they created. It nologies. probability that there are no adequate could dump onto States, local governments, Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I have no or enforceable assurances that the and the public the burden of cleaning up fed- additional requests for time, and I cleanup will be completed by the party erally created toxic waste sites. This includes yield back the balance of my time. who buys the property in a timely some of the Nation's most contaminated haz- Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I have manner and in a way which is protec- ardous waste sites created by the Department no further requests for time, I yield tive of the human health and environ- of Defense and Department of Energy. back the balance of our time, and I ment. The provision should be of par- Section 334 of the conference report would move the previous question on the res- ticular concern to all of my colleagues fundamentally change current law by allowing olution. who have Federal properties in their the Federal Government to transfer contami- The previous question was ordered. district. nated federally owned Superfund sites before The resolution was agreed to. This is a defense authorization bill, completing cleanup necessary to protect A motion to reconsider was laid on and, if they vote for it, my colleagues human health and the environment. the table. H9814 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 1, 1996 Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant ing many of the serious problems plaguing the was much improved over last year. My to House Resolution 498, I call up the administration's inadequate modernization pro- colleagues will remember that the conference report on the bill (H.R. gram to ensure that our troops of tomorrow president warned that if certain ac- 3230), to authorize appropriations for maintain the technological edge they enjoy on tions were not taken on the fiscal year fiscal year 1997 for military activities the battlefield today. 1996 bill, that he would have to veto it, of the Department of Defense, for mili- The conference report itself is consistent and that is indeed what happened. tary construction, and for defense ac- with the Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution This year, several of the major con- tivities of the Department of Energy, and provides $265.6 billion in budget authority cerns of the administration were at- to prescribe personnel strengths for for Department of Defense and Department of tended to as this bill was worked out in such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, Energy programs. It authorizes approximately conference. For instance: and for other purposes. $1.1 billion less in defense spending than the The section that would require uni- The Clerk read the title of the bill. House-passed bill, and represents a real de- lateral enactment of the ‘‘dem- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. cline in spending of approximately 2.1 percent onstrated capability’’ standard for U.S. HAYWORTH). Pursuant to House Resolu- over current levels. The fact that this bill au- compliance with the ABM treaty, along tion 498, the conference report is con- thorizes defense spending at a level that is with the prohibition on the use of sidered as having been read. $11.2 billion greater than the President's re- funds to apply any other standard was (For conference report and state- quest yet still reflects spending decline, dropped. ment, see proceedings of the House of speaks volumes about the extent to which the The section that would require Sen- Tuesday, July 30, 1996, at page H 8985). President's defense budget is underfunded. ate approval of any succession agree- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- On the major issues the conference has to ment adding new parties to the ABM tleman from South Carolina [Mr. addressÐissues such as abortion, depots, treaty was dropped. SPENCE] and the gentleman from Cali- gays in the military, theater missile defense The section that would again, Mr. fornia [Mr. DELLUMS] each will control demarcation, ABM Treaty multilateralization Speaker, require the discharge of 30 minutes. among othersÐthis conference report clearly servicemembers who are HIV-positive The Chair recognizes the gentleman represents a compromise among many inter- was dropped. from South Carolina [Mr. SPENCE]. ested parties, including the administration. On The section that would reinstate the (Mr. SPENCE asked and was given balance, this conference report strikes a good total ban on gay men and lesbians in permission to revise and extend his re- balance between many competing and con- the military was dropped. marks.) flicting interests and deserves the support of However, Mr. Speaker, the President Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, in an ef- all members. has also warned that there are other fort to expedite these proceedings, it I will leave discussion of the many important problems with the bill—foremost will be my intention to limit my re- initiatives in the conference report to my col- among them a spending level author- marks and also those of the other leagues on the National Security Committee ized by this bill which in this gentle- members of our committee who are who have worked very hard over the past sev- man’s opinion is too high. going to speak. I know everyone is anx- eral weeksÐand really since this process Also: ious to get to a vote in a hurry, and so started back in FebruaryÐto get this con- The section that would repeal the we will do our best to get there. There ference report to the floor this week. In par- provision in law that prevents service- will be about two speakers we have to ticular, I would like to recognize the diligence, women from obtaining safe abortions her from to carry on a colloquy and dedication and cooperation of the subcommit- at military treatment facilities over- some important things to be said, but tee and panel chairmen and ranking members. seas was dropped from the bill in con- aside from that we are going to try to As always, I would also like to thank the ference. limit our remarks. gentleman from California, the committee's The section that prevents the sale of Mr. Speaker, we have a good con- ranking member, for his cooperation. While we constitutionally protected literature ference report. As a matter of fact, may disagree on the substance, my col- on military bases was retained in the there is $1.1 billion less in spending in league's support of the committee institution- bill. that bill that passed the House. Like ally and his support for the process improves As onerous as these and some other all conference reports, there were con- the work we all do. provisions in the bill are, and a number Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me thank the staffs cessions on both sides in order to ar- of my colleagues in the context of the of the National Security Committee and the rive at a conclusion. discussion and debate on the rule al- Senate Armed Services Committee. They The Department of Defense, I have luded to many of them, I believe that have worked tirelessly all year so that we been in touch with them. Secretary the President will in the end sign this could have this conference report before the Perry supports this report. bill. House and Senate prior to the August recess. I want to thank all of the members of Mr. Speaker, as I said, I oppose this They have done an outstanding job on a large the committee and the panel, panel conference report. I do so primarily be- and complex piece of legislationÐand in chairmen for all they have done to cause the funding level that is author- record time. bring this report to us and especially ized by this bill is a substantial and un- Mr. Speaker, raising and maintaining the the staff who have worked hard and necessary increase over what was re- military is one of Congress's most fundamen- long into the wee hours of the morning quested by the administration for de- tal responsibilities. This conference report re- to enable us to get to this point this fense spending in the coming fiscal flects the seriousness with which the National soon. We have set a record, I think, for year. I believe that this authorization Security Committee takes its responsibility. As bringing this report back in the period bill in its entirety takes this country’s a result, it has strong bipartisan backing in of time, and so I am going to also military spending, trends and policy both the House and the Senate as well as the thank the ranking minority member, initiatives in the wrong direction. The support of the Secretary of Defense so I urge the gentleman from California [Mr. overall budget represents increased all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' DELLUMS] for his cooperation. We could Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of military spending on items not re- not have been here otherwise without my time. quested by either the administration or that. Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield the service chiefs. Like the House-passed bill, the conference myself such time as I may consume. This is not only unwarranted, Mr. report takes a balanced approach toward ad- Mr. Speaker, we too will attempt to Speaker, it is shortsighted. It will only dressing the numerous quality of life, readi- expedite the process although I do have lead to large cuts in defense in the out- ness, and modernization problems our military a few Members who choose to speak years as the funding tails associated is facing today. The bill provides for military and exercise that option to do so. with these programs come due. As a personnel and their families who represent the Mr. Speaker, I Rise in opposition to consequence, we are insuring that we heart of the all-volunteer force. It enhances the conference report on the National will soon be faced with the decisions core military readiness by increasing funding Defense Authorization Bill for fiscal that will result in either cuts in the for a number of underfunded key readiness year 1997. quality of life programs combined with and training programs. And like last year's bill, First, let me say that the process by reductions in force structure or cuts in it once again makes great strides in address- which this bill was shaped this year planned modernization programs which August 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9815 will have to be done in midstream re- But I am disappointed in two in- Mr. Speaker, it has been a wonderful sulting in more cost to the taxpayers. stances, Mr. Speaker. We should have ride for me over the last 28 years. I sup- Ironically, Mr. Speaker, and I would had the ABM provisions in here dealing port this legislation. reemphasize ironically, this will be with multilateralization and with the Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield causing the very situation we all demarcation issue. But all is not lost, such time as he may consume to the agreed that we meant to prevent; that because in the compromise with the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. is, the work that Members thought had Senate we remained silent. We took HEFLEY]. been accomplished over the last 2 years out our language and they took out (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given will eventually be negated because of their language. permission to revise and extend his re- this spending binge. What does that mean, Mr. Speaker? marks.) With these remarks, Mr. Speaker, I That means prevailing law is the case. Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong respectfully reserve the balance of my When this administration attempts to support of the conference agreement on H.R. time. amend the ABM Treaty, they must 3230, the National Defense Authorization Act Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 bring back those changes to the appro- for Fiscal Year 1997. minutes to the gentleman from Penn- priate bodies of this institution, the This bipartisan legislation will make signifi- sylvania [Mr. WELDON] cant improvements in our military installations (Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania asked Congress, to achieve support and ratifi- cation. and facilities. and was given permission to revise and The conference agreement would add $850 extend his remarks.) So when this administration tries to dumb down our capabilities through million above the President's request for mili- b 2130 demarcation negotiations in Geneva or tary construction and military family housing Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. through the multilateralization of the programs. When the bill left the House, it Speaker, I thank my friend and chair- ABM Treaty, the Senate will have a strongly emphasized needed enhancements of man of the committee for yielding rightful role to play in approving those the quality of life for military personnel and time to me. changes before they in fact become their families. The conference agreement on Mr. Speaker, I thank both the chair- law. So all is not lost. military construction reflects the philosophy of man and the ranking member for their I applaud once again my chairman the House position. cooperation in bringing forth what I for the outstanding job he has done for Sixty percent of the added funding above think is an excellent bill that we all our subcommittee chairman. I think the line will be dedicated to military housing should get behind and support. It is an we have a good bill here that everyone and other quality of life improvements. Earlier excellent bill because it deals with the should get behind. It may not be per- this week, the Subcommittee on Military Instal- quality-of-life issues, issues involving fect, but it certainly deals with the lations and Facilities which I chair, held a pay raise, cost of living, housing, child needs of those men and women who are hearing on the quality of life issue. The senior care, and all those things that are im- serving our country today. enlisted officers of the military services testi- fied about the link between the quality of life portant for our military personnel Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 for military personnel, retention, and readi- around the world. minutes to the distinguished gen- It also deals with our readiness prob- ness. tleman from Mississippi [Mr. MONT- lem to make sure our troops are prop- We also heard from a very articulate group GOMERY]. erly prepared. of dedicated military spouses who spoke (Mr. MONTGOMERY asked and was Mr. Speaker, I rise today, however, about the practical problems they face in mili- given permission to revise and extend to ask for the support of our colleagues tary life. No one who heard their stories could his remarks.) because it deals in a real way with the ever suggest that the additional housing, child two major threats that I think we face Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I care centers, and other improvements con- over the next several years: that rise in support of this conference re- tained in this bill are not a wise use of our re- caused from terrorism, and that caused port. I do hope the President of the sources. from the proliferation of missiles and United States will sign the bill. There With this bill, we will commit an additional weapons of mass destruction. are parts of this legislation that he did $201 million to the President's request of $562 Mr. Speaker, we fully fund increases not like, and they were taken out. In million for troop housing. For just over 3,000 in the area of terrorism, far above what the conference with the Senate, there military families, we will provide an additional the administration requested. Long be- were areas that I had a particular in- $266 million to construct new quarters or im- fore incidents were occurring in this terest in. They were dropped in the prove existing unitsÐa 39 percent increase to country, as we have seen this year, it conference. So I accept, Mr. Speaker, the request. For child development centers, was this Congress, led by this chair- that you never get all you want in the bill would add $30 million for nine needed man, who had the foresight to put addi- these massive bills. I think it is still centers in addition to funding the $6 million tional funds into chemical and biologi- good legislation. construction cost for the two centers re- cal technology, into efforts to allow us Mr. Speaker, I have only served on quested by the Administration. to better train those civilian personnel two committees most of the time that This bill also funds important facilities im- around the country who have to re- I have been in the Congress, which is provements to enhance the operational and spond and better prepare our military. the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs training requirements of the active forces as We deal with terrorism in this bill, and and the Committee on National Secu- well as the reserve components. it is a very important priority for us. rity. I have enjoyed working on both of I am grateful for the strong bipartisan sup- Secondarily, we fully fund missile de- these committees and am very proud of port for the military construction portion of this fense technologies, national, theater, the excellent veterans programs we authorization conference report, led by the cruise, and space-based sensors. In ad- have, better than any other Nation, for ranking member of the subcommittee, SOLO- dition, Mr. Speaker, we fund the Nau- our veterans. With the defense bill MON ORTIZ. I am also particularly pleased that tilus Program for Israel; even though today, we still have the strongest de- Chairman VUCANOVICH and Mr. HEFNER with the administration never requested fense force in the world. the Appropriations Committee have success- dollars for that program, we fully fund Mr. Speaker, this will be the last fully brought back an appropriations con- it to make sure that Israel is secure. time I will be involved in the defense ference report that supports this bill. Unlike the past requests of the admin- bill. I want to thank the gentleman I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3230. istration where they tried to zero out from California [Mr. DELLUMS] on my Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield funds for the high-energy laser pro- side of the aisle, for his courtesies over such time as he may consume to the gram, we continue the funding. the many, many years. I say the same gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. BUYER]. In the R&D area, we maintain our for the gentleman from South Caro- Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in technology base with a robust funding lina, FLOYD SPENCE, our chairman, for strong support of this conference re- profile. We put money in for dual-use his fairness; and to my colleagues and port. I want to recognize that while technology and capabilities. We fund staffers on our committee, I thank there are many good things in this bill, the new ocean partnerships initiative, them for the help and understanding I am disappointed by two items con- with the Navy in the lead. they have shown to me. tained in the bill, one of which I know H9816 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 1, 1996 many of us have had discussions here tion on which I want to work with the tant for the American people. We had with regard to and we will take up in gentleman in the next military defense hearings on the safety of our fighter separate legislation regarding the bill to remove that provision from this aircraft that were crashed in a series of missing persons, the MIA issue, Miss- bill, and I want to salute the gen- crashes beginning in January of this ing Personnel Act. tleman from Georgia’s leadership to year. Both F–14s and AV–8Bs went The other issue is concerned with the strike the proper balance between indi- down in high numbers. We had good provision contained in the cooperative vidual civil liberties and the protection oversight hearings and we came up threat reduction portion of the bill. of an American citizen’s rights, along with fixes and recommendations by the While I agree with measures that re- with the Posse Comitatus Act and its Navy and the Marines that we fol- duce the threat posed by weapons of restraints upon the U.S. military’s in- lowed. We put those fixes into this bill. mass destruction, I am concerned volvement in domestic law enforce- We spent a lot of time on ammunition. about the language in the bill that pro- ment. We came up with extra ammunition for vides emergency powers to the mili- I encourage Members to vote for this the Marine Corps and Army. The gen- tary. I believe this additional excep- bill. We will work toward that end. tleman from Missouri [Mr. SKELTON] tion to the Posse Comitatus Act rep- Mr. BARR of Georgia. I appreciate and I want to see more ammunition for resents a further drift toward increased the gentleman’s support. the Marine Corps and Army, but we military involvement in domestic law Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 will get that in the next session. enforcement activities. minutes to the distinguished gen- We armed the bombers. We thought Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, tleman from Missouri [Mr. SKELTON]. it was important in this enormous in- (Mr. SKELTON asked and was given will the gentleman yield? vestment in long-range strike capabil- permission to revise and extend his re- Mr. BUYER. I yield to the gentleman ity to put the precision-guided muni- marks.) from Georgia. tions that served us so well in Desert Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Storm on those bombers. We did that. appreciate the distinguished gentleman the gentleman for yielding time to me. We continued through with our re- from Indiana, a member of the con- Mr. Speaker, for American uniformed form of the submarine program to ference, yielding for a colloquy. personnel currently deployed overseas Mr. Speaker, I understand that the in contingencies such as Bosnia, Korea, widen that qualitative edge that we gentleman worked to remove very dis- the Sinai, and Saudi Arabia, I rise in have over other nations of the world. turbing legislative language from the support of this conference agreement, We did a lot of things to give the right conference report that weakens posse and urge my colleagues to work to- kind of equipment to the men and comitatus protections. The language wards this passage. women who wear America’s uniforms. constitutes a serious erosion of the his- This agreement addresses my per- The gentleman from South Carolina, toric and firmly held belief in our sonal concern about the way in which FLOYD SPENCE, did a wonderful job put- country that our military should not military personnel may be employed in ting this package together. There were become involved in domestic law en- the future. It contains necessary fund- some things we would rather have seen forcement. ing for today’s readiness and quality- on the House side, some things that This principle is enshrined in posse of-life matters and, no less impor- dropped out, but it was a compromise comitatus provisions in our criminal tantly, accelerates critical military between the Senate and the House. We code. However, in the conference re- programs of tomorrow, allowing for are going to work those other issues port, the military is, in certain situa- purchases of new equipment sooner next year. I would urge a yes vote on tions, given the power to make civilian rather than later. this package. arrests, conduct searches and seizures, Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 and gather domestic intelligence. minutes to the gentleman from Califor- minutes to my distinguished colleague, While these powers are limited to situ- nia [Mr. HUNTER], the chairman of our the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. SISI- ations involving weapons of mass de- Subcommittee on Procurement. SKY]. struction, they are extremely trouble- Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank (Mr. SISISKY asked and was given some because they are unnecessary and the gentleman for yielding time to me. permission to revise and extend his re- directly involve the military in domes- Let me start out by thanking the gen- marks.) tic law enforcement. tleman for all the great work that he Mr. SISISKY. Mr. Speaker, I will add I fought hard to have these provi- has done on this bill, the great leader- to what my colleague, the gentleman sions removed, and I know that the ship he has given us, and the fairness from California, said. This has been a gentleman from Indiana did the same. I and decency with which he has con- great conference in a bipartisan way, regret that the conference report re- ducted the entire oversight process. for which I want to thank the chair- tains the Senate language, which was Let me also give kudos to my friend, man, the gentleman from South Caro- never presented to this House for prop- the gentleman from California, Mr. lina [Mr. SPENCE], and the ranking er consideration. It is my understand- DELLUMS, for being an outstanding mi- member, the gentleman from Califor- ing, however, we will be working to- nority Member in this process, and nia [Mr. DELLUMS]. They did a wonder- gether at the earliest opportunity to ranking member, and really sowing the ful job on a very complicated thing. have these ill-conceived provisions re- seeds for the bipartisanship that we Tonight, Mr. Speaker, I am ex- moved. have had in this year. tremely concerned about section 1616 of Mr. BUYER. Reclaiming my time, I want to thank all of the sub- the conference report. I am putting Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the gen- committee chairmen who worked this down my marker now, and the commit- tleman from Georgia that in subtitle A bill, because they are all great people; tee’s marker, I think. This section under ‘‘Domestic Preparedness,’’ sec- the gentleman from California, BOB would initiate a pilot program at un- tion 1313, military assistance to civil- DORNAN, the gentleman from New specified DOD facilities, privatized-in- ian law enforcement officials in emer- York, Mr. MCHUGH, the gentleman place by BRAC 1995. It places no limit gency situations involving biological from Pennsylvania, Mr. WELDON, the on how many pilot programs there will and chemical weapons, there is an ex- gentleman from Colorado, Mr. HEFLEY, be. ception that is granted to the military the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. It allows Federal employees who that they are not authorized to partici- BATEMAN, and all of their counterparts work for the contractor to continue to pate in the following actions: Number on the Democrat side, and my old accrue credit for years of Federal serv- one, arrest; number two, any direct friend and compadre, the gentleman ice in order to determine civil service participation in conducting a search or from Missouri, IKE SKELTON, for the retirement eligibility. I repeat again, seizure of evidence to a violation of great bipartisanship that he displayed. working for the private contractor this this section, or direct participation in I remember the meetings we had, some would happen. the collection of intelligence for law in his office, some in my office, work- Although the conference report speci- enforcement. ing military issues. fies that these calculations will not be But this goes beyond that, Mr. Mr. Speaker, we undertook to do a used to determine the amount of their Speaker. Subsection 382(2)(b) is the sec- few things in this bill that were impor- retirement, I worry about what this August 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9817 may cost in the years to come. I know the conference report, but be aware, military construction title of the bill. I why this happened. It was not because section 1616 could create a long-term greatly appreciate the leadership of of the House, the representatives. It problem that could come back to haunt both sides of the aisle and in both was not our bill, and to a degree we us in years to come. Chambers for their commitment to were almost forced to accept this pro- Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 compiling what I believe to be a truly vision. minute to the gentlewoman from Jack- bipartisan legislative package to ad- Although everyone assumes it applies sonville, FL [Mrs. FOWLER]. dress our Nation’s military construc- to Louisville, which was the Naval Sur- (Mrs. FOWLER asked and was given tion backlog. face Warfare Center, my concern is permission to revise and extend her re- The military construction portion of that it will be a very costly provision marks.) the bill places a very strong emphasis that will not stop with Louisville or In- Mrs. FOWLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in on quality of life initiatives and ad- dianapolis. GAO says this pilot pro- strong support of the fiscal 1997 De- dresses our military’s need for mod- gram could cost over $511 million, fense authorization conference report. ernization. I am extremely pleased that which is over a half a billion dollars, in This bill builds on the actions this we have been successful in protecting 11 years. That is with only several hun- House strongly endorsed last year: Im- the priorities of the House by allocat- dred employees. proving the quality of life or our mili- ing the quality of life programs the What will happen when Texas and tary personnel and their dependents; bulk of additional funds which have California want the same thing for em- enhancing the readiness of our military been made available for military con- ployees at Kelly and McClellan? How forces; ensuring that our combat equip- struction this year. can we say no? What will it cost when ment is appropriately modernized; and I think that it is important to point we include tens of thousands of em- providing for additional structural re- out to my good friends and colleagues ployees? I see nothing in the legisla- form at the Pentagon. that during the entire deliberation tion to limit this to Louisville. The The bill provides $10.8 billion more process, we were careful to fund those way I see it, it would apply to every fa- than the President requested for fiscal projects that were identified by the cility privatized in BRAC 1995. 1997. However, this is not even enough military services as a top priority. Furthermore, this conference report The whole point of BRAC was to re- to keep pace with inflation. Given the continues our commitment to stretch- duce excess infrastructure and over- many threats to America’s interests ing housing dollars and increases the head by privatizing in place and estab- overseas and the number of operations funds available for public-private part- lishing portable benefits. We do pre- other than war to which this adminis- nership initiatives. cisely the opposite. We sustain excess tration has committed our forces, the funding levels in this bill are not only I think that this portion of the De- infrastructure and keep the overhead. I fense authorization bill makes a strong appropriate, but necessary. am really disappointed that the De- statement of this Congress’ bipartisan partment of Defense did not take ex- I am especially pleased that H.R. 3230 keeps faith with our military personnel concern for our military and commit- ception to this. Where are the savings? ment to maintaining readiness and and families, in July I visited Bosnia, We would make a far greater contribu- modernization. where our troops are doing an out- tion to national security by maintain- The conference report is certainly ing the status quo, protecting our Fed- standing job under trying conditions. not perfect, but on balance I believe eral employees, and calling off whole- Like so many military members today, that this is a good bill that emphasizes sale privatization. By allowing the so- though, they are being called upon to readiness and quality of life projects, called pilot program to go forward, we leave their families behind more fre- and I congratulate the gentleman from quently, and for longer periods, than ensure we will never attain the savings Colorado, Chairman HEFLEY, the gen- we were supposed to get from BRAC. ever before. This bill increases military tleman from South Carolina, Chairman pay and other benefits and provides ad- b 2145 SPENCE, and the gentleman from Cali- ditional funds for family housing—im- fornia, Mr. RON DELLUMS, our ranking All of us worry about underfunded provements that are sorely needed if minority member, for a job well done. modernization in O&M accounts. But we hope to retain our best people over I encourage my friends and colleagues the conference report states, ‘‘The the long term. to vote for this conference report. military department concerns shall be I also want to note my appreciation Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 liable for the portion of any estimated that the conference chose to retain minute to the gentleman from Texas increase in unfunded liability of civil current law regarding depot mainte- [Mr. THORNBERRY]. service retirement.’’ nance and repair issues. I hope the Pen- Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I We do not know where this is going. tagon will take heed of this action and want to highlight one part of this bill We do not know where it will stop, and conclude at last that it ought not pro- that deals with nuclear weapons. As far we do not know what it will cost. ceed with ill-conceived plans to pri- as the eye can see, our country will The conference report includes the vatize closing installations. The base continue to rely on nuclear weapons GAO study. But directing GAO to do a closure process was designed to elimi- for our security, and yet we face some study after the fact will not be enough nate excess capacity. Efforts to evade very daunting challenges. to put the brakes on this policy. Once this requirement for political gain are Our weapons and facilities are get- it gets going, the cost will not matter. incompatible with National Security ting older, and we have decided not to Politically, it will be impossible to go interests. engage in nuclear testing. We are going back. Finally, I want t thank our very able to have to have first-rate facilities, My other worry is that this is a back- chairman, FLOYD SPENCE, his leader- first-rate people and an efficient man- door way to push privatization by mak- ship in securing an excellent bill. I also agement structure to get through this ing it more palatable to Federal work- want to thank the committee staff for time. This bill advances all three. ers. I can safely say that I stand second the very hard work and dedication they It is particularly important that we to none in my concern about Federal contribute to this process. have clear lines of authority and clear employees, but this is a divide-and-con- Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues’ lines of responsibility between each fa- quer strategy if there ever was one. support for this conference report. cility in the nuclear weapons complex In closing, the most unfortunate Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 and the headquarters in Washington thing is that this bill is so good, has minutes to the distinguished gen- without a lot of mid-level management many other constructive features, and tleman from Texas [Mr. ORTIZ]. getting in the way. There have been a does so many other things we need to (Mr. ORTIZ asked and was given per- number of outside organizations and do for our military. I will support the mission to revise and extend his re- internal reviews that have called for conference report. marks.) exactly this kind of reform, and yet But section 1616 plants a seed that Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in this bill is the first time that it has ac- would threaten to overwhelm our abil- support of this conference report and tually taken place. ity to pay for national security in the would like to particularly lend my Each facility will report directly to years ahead. I ask Members to support strong support and endorsement of the Washington and will be a part of a H9818 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 1, 1996 management council. This is a safety personnel account to minimize the half, even in peacetime. I am especially issue for the country, it is a good and readiness impact of continued short- pleased to see we are increasing impact efficient Government issue, and it is falls in that account. aid by $35 million over the President’s also a preparedness issue, and it is just In addition to the personnel titles, request for zero funding. one of the many ways that this bill the conference report to H.R. 3230, This bill strengthens America’s state helps make the country safer. taken as a whole, represents a strong of readiness in a still dangerous world. Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 balance between people, readiness, and I stand in favor of H.R. 3230, and I urge minutes to the distinguished gen- modernization. It will result in the my colleagues to vote in support of tleman from Virginia [Mr. PICKETT]. continuation of a ready, able, and qual- this very important legislation. (Mr. PICKETT asked and was given ity military force. I urge my colleagues Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 permission to revise and extend his re- to support the conference report. minutes to the distinguished gentle- marks.) Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield woman from California [Ms. HARMAN]. Mr. PICKETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank such time as he may consume to the (Ms. HARMAN asked an was given the gentleman for yielding me this gentleman from Georgia [Mr. permission to revise and extend her re- time. I rise in strong support of the CHAMBLISS]. marks.) conference report. (Mr. CHAMBLISS asked and was Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to Mr. Speaker, the military personnel given permission to revise and extend thank the gentleman from California title provisions in the conference re- his remarks.) [Mr. DELLUMS] for so many years of port to H.R. 3230 solidly support qual- Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, I rise courtesy and professionalism. It is an ity of life and readiness efforts. These in support of this bill. Let me say to honor to serve on the committee with provisions reflect Congress’ continued my friend, the gentleman from Mis- him, and also say to everyone how support of our military service mem- sissippi, Mr. SONNY MONTGOMERY, we much I will miss the gentleman from bers through significant enhancements will miss you and may God bless you. Mississippi [Mr. MONTGOMERY]. in these areas. I commend the chairman and the ranking Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support The bill includes a 3-percent military member for working in a true spirit of coopera- of the Defense authorization con- pay raise, as proposed in the Presi- tion throughout the process leading up to this ference report which, though hardly dent’s budget, as well as a 4.6-percent bill, being passed in committee and through its perfect, moves us in the right direc- increase in the basic allowance for conference. tion. quarters that will reduce out-of-pocket I would also commend the work done by the This House has made some tough housing costs to service members by 1 bipartisan depot caucus which focused on the votes in recent days—particularly on full percent. To ensure our junior mili- very difficult issue of defining the work to be welfare reform. As the Wall Street tary members can afford safe and ade- done at the various service departs. The Journal said yesterday, we are ending quate housing in high-cost areas, a members of this caucus and the respective welfare as we know it and creating wel- minimum variable housing allowance staff worked tireless hours and achieved a re- fare as we don’t know it. is provided, as well as other reimburse- sult that will be very beneficial to the men and That is true of our national security ments so that military members are women serving in our armed services. as well. The cold war threat we knew not forced to use their personal savings Mr. Speaker, this bill, among other things, has ended and a world we don’t know to offset the cost of a Government-di- provides for a pay raise for the members of has begun. rected move. each branch of our military and also provides This bill, nonetheless, takes some This conference report is another a significant benefit for members of the dental important steps. First, the bill makes step toward providing active duty and profession serving in the military, benefits like critical investments in key weapons retired service members and their fam- this will allow our armed services to continue and technology programs that our Na- ilies with accessible and quality health to compete with the private sector for the very tion will need in order to meet the ex- care. For example, it restores $475 mil- finest young men and women our country has pected war-fighting requirements of lion to the Defense Health program, a to offer. the next century. The dangers posed by shortfall that, if not remedied, would This is a good bill and I urge my colleagues a new range of regional threats and have had serious adverse consequences to support it. technologies are growing. for active-duty family members and re- Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 As we reduce forward-basing, we need tirees who have a difficult enough time minute to the gentleman from Okla- weapons with which we can project already trying to obtain medical care homa [Mr. WATTS]. force quickly and decisively—weapons in military facilities. (Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma asked and which can deter aggression before we Additionally, it takes a significant was given permission to revise and ex- are required to deploy personnel and step forward with regard to the issue of tend his remarks.) equipment. This bill includes funds for Medicare subvention by directing the Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speak- such weapons, like the B–1 and B–2 up- Secretary of Defense and the Secretary er, I am very pleased to rise in support grades, the F/A–18 and the C–17. It also of Health and Human Services to sub- of the National Defense Authorization includes research funds for a robust na- mit a plan for testing Medicare sub- Act for fiscal year 1997. This is a strong tional and theater ballistic missile de- vention to Congress and the President and substantive bill that bolsters and fense system as well as technologies by September 6, 1996. The plan would fortifies our national defense and aimed at counter-proliferation and establish a demonstration program en- greatly improves the quality of life for antiterrorism. abling the Department of Health and our Nation’s servicemen and women. It Many of these investments will, in Human Services to reimburse the De- also puts more money in veterans pro- the long term, also save money by re- partment of Defense for care provided grams. ducing the ever increasing operation to Medicare-eligible military retirees. I want to especially congratulate the and maintenance costs of weapons sys- Other key initiatives of the military gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. tems that have been in use well past personnel provisions of the conference SPENCE] who so ably crafted this legis- their designed life span. report to H.R. 3230 include: adding $20 lation. Thanks to the chairman’s lead- Second, the bill includes an initiative million to the New Parent Support pro- ership, we have the opportunity to vote which I helped author to re-organize gram to help new military families and for a very significant and strong bill the function and fund the development parents deal with new stresses associ- today, or this evening. I also want to of cost-shared dual use technology— ated with the high military operating thank the gentleman from California, thus protecting our industrial base and tempo. Challenging hate group activity [Mr. DELLUMS], who in victory or de- reducing costs by developing products, in the armed services by directing the feat is always the consummate profes- technology, and processes that meet services to conduct human relations sional. both defense and commercial needs. training designed to promote a sen- I am delighted with the quality of As my colleagues know, we can not sitivity to hate group activity. Adding life improvements this bill makes. We afford maintaining an industrial base nearly $50 million more than the Presi- must never forget the sacrifices that that only meets unique military re- dent’s budget for the Army military our service personnel make in our be- quirements. We need to diversify that August 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9819 base and not only apply defense tech- craft over the next 7 years, but we are b 2200 nologies to commercial use but, more also not cutting the budget, we are not So the next time we tell people we importantly, use commercial tech- increasing it, we are maintaining sta- are sorry NIH was not bigger, we are nologies and products to meet defense ble funding. A good part of that stable sorry we did not do more on the earned needs. The dual-use technology provi- funding is being used to add to a income tax credit or child care or Cops sion in the bill will help achieve this multiyear procurement plan for Aegis on the Street, please also tell them important goal. destroyers, the result of which is going that we gave $11 billion more to the There are also missed opportunities. to be that over the next 5 years, if the Pentagon than they wanted. Please I strongly supported changing the 60–40 plan is fulfilled, we will produce one also tell them that programs like the rule relating to military depots, in more destroyer at $1 billion less in Community Development Block Grant order to permit more private sector cost, or, if you will, 15 destroyers over could have got another $1 billion, one- work at competitive rates. That oppor- 5 years for $1 billion less than it would eleventh of that, and that would have tunity was lost and, as a result, we are cost us to buy 14 through normal pro- been 25 percent of what they got. burdened for another year by costs curement methods. If we have cut anything else, please that could have been directed to more Again with the threats we face in the give them the full picture about the $11 critical needs, whether military, do- world, now is not the time to cut de- billion giveaway to Western Europe mestic, or deficit reduction. Another fense but at the same time through and East Asia. opportunity will present itself next more efficient management we can sta- Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 11⁄2 year and I hope my colleagues will bilize the funding and get more value minutes to the gentleman from New seize it. for our dollars. Mexico [Mr. SKEEN]. We also need to aggressively reduce Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 (Mr. SKEEN asked and was given per- administrative overhead at the Penta- minutes to the distinguished gen- mission to revise and extend his re- gon. This bill takes some steps in that tleman from Massachusetts [Mr. marks.) direction, but last year’s mandate that FRANK]. Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the the defense workforce be reduced has Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. gentleman for yielding me this time. not been implemented. The bill before Speaker I have a list: I rise in strong support of final pas- us again directs the department to im- Head Start; antiterrorism efforts at sage of the 1997 national defense au- plement these cuts. The bill also begins airports and elsewhere; NIH research; thorization bill because it is a step in the process of streamlining, consolidat- cops on the street; drug treatment pro- the continuation of a national defense ing, and downsizing the inefficient grams; cleaning up hazardous waste with which New Mexico plays a vital headquarters organizations of the mili- sites; housing for the elderly; aid to role. tary departments. college students, Pell grants, student Specifically, this bill is very impor- We must do more to cut costs. We loans; the Community Development tant for remediation of our Nation’s must privatize more non-core defense Block Grant Program; child care; and nuclear waste problem. The WIPP land activities, accelerate procurement re- earned income tax credit. withdrawal amendment contained in forms, and rely on more dual use tech- If we funded the Defense Department this bill is a long overdue piece of leg- nologies, products, and processes. at what it asked, we could give each of islation which will cut through the bu- But cutting is not enough: rethink- these programs an additional $1 billion. reaucratic red tape that has kept this ing our roles and missions for the digi- Every one of these programs is $1 bil- vitally important project from open- tal battlefield of the 21st century is im- lion poorer because we decided to play ing. WIPP has been proven safe in perative. I anticipate that we will re- Santa Claus to the Defense Depart- every conceivable scientific fashion duce forward positioning and man- ment. We did not end welfare. We just and is the beginning of the end of our power requirements while making in- transferred it. We transferred it to Nation’s nuclear waste problem. creased investments in intelligence Western Europe and Japan. Our Euro- We have worked long and hard to gathering, deep strike capability, and pean allies spend an average of 2 per- draft a piece of legislation which will new systems and technologies that in- cent of their gross domestic product on address both the environmental and crease lethality, reduce response time, the military. We spend 4 percent. It is disposal concerns and this is it. Both and protect and enhance the surviv- in this $11 billion gift we gave. the DOE and the EPA support this leg- ability of our forces. The greatest gift any nation ever islation. But we need to review and reassess gave to another is the free military de- It is time to quit wasting taxpayer our defense assumptions in a place and fense we provide to Japan so it can dollars and time to permanently dis- time when partisanship and election keep its military spending at such a pose of waste that is currently stored sound-bites are absent. Hopefully, that minuscule level. Every Member here in aboveground containers on asphalt work can begin soon after the election who votes for this bill who has ever pads, and it is time to quit talking is over. told someone, ‘‘Gee, I would like to about what we cannot do and start I urge support for this conference re- have given you more for child care in going about what we can do. port. It is not perfect, but it makes an the welfare bill. I couldn’t afford it.’’ We have complete confidence in the important contribution to the difficult Or, ‘‘Gee, I wish we could have cleaned ability of DOE, EPA, and the State of national security choices we face in the up that hazardous waste site. We New Mexico to open WIPP in a safe and years ahead. couldn’t afford it.’’ timely manner. Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 ‘‘Yes, Project Head Start is a good I want to particularly thank the peo- minute to the gentleman from Maine program, I wish we could do more.’’ ple of Carlsbad for their tireless work [Mr. LONGLEY]. ‘‘Oh, I’m sorry you didn’t get your to make this project happen, and also a Mr. LONGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want cops on the street application. If we special thanks to the gentleman from to salute both the chairman as well as could only have increased it, you would New Mexico [Mr. RICHARDSON] for his the ranking member for their leader- have gotten more.’’ support, and also to the gentleman ship during the past year. It has been ‘‘And elderly housing, boy, of course from Colorado [Mr. SCHAEFER] for all superb. They have really set a stand- we could use more elderly housing.’’ the hard work and diligence, and to the ard. Would you also tell them that you chairman and his committee for pre- I think that there is a lot that we can spent it here? Do not tell them that senting this thing and finally bringing be proud of in this bill. I am certainly you wanted to do that if you vote for this Gordian knot to the present, for glad to see the retention of the depot this bill without telling them that you slicing it open and getting on with the language for the 60/40 split, but I am took $11 billion more than the Penta- business of storing nuclear waste. also proud that we have finally intro- gon asked, which goes to help defend Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I re- duced the concept of multiyear pro- Western Europe against I do not know serve the balance of my time, until curement. We have expanded the con- what, which goes to defend Japan such time as the gentleman from South cept from the C–17 program, which is against people they want to trade with, Carolina [Mr. SPENCE] reaches his last going to see a procurement of 80 air- that is where this money went. speaker. H9820 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 1, 1996 Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 budget request. This is what President rose in opposition to the report. That minute to the gentleman from Colo- Clinton asked for. We are adding more is not to say that I do not believe that rado [Mr. SCHAEFER]. money to that. there are some significant, important (Mr. SCHAEFER asked and was given Just as President Clinton signed the and constructive items in this bill and permission to revise and extend his re- budget last year, I think he will sign policy in this bill. But as we step back marks.) the defense budget this year. We need and look at the totality of it, I believe Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I it to support our troops. I urge every that this bill is going in the wrong di- thank the gentleman for yielding me Member to support this report. rection. this time. Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I have no When we find ourselves having com- Mr. Speaker, I would like specifically further requests for time, and even municated to millions of American to address section 334 of the defense au- though I have the right to close, I will people that virtually every segment of thorization conference report, which yield back the balance of my time and American society has had to make my good friend, the gentleman from let the gentleman close out. some sacrifice as we go about the busi- Michigan, [MR. DINGELL] referred to Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield ness of ‘‘balancing the budget’’, where earlier during the debate on the rule. myself such time as I may consume. we have even included poor people and This section amends the Superfund Very quickly, Mr. Speaker, first, I children and powerless people who have program with respect to the transfer to would like to point out to my col- had to contribute to that process, Federal facilities before contamination leagues that this is the last conference whether it is in the form of welfare re- is remediated. report for five of the distinguished form, reductions in education, reduc- The general idea of section 334 is members of this committee, and all tions in environmental restoration laudable: To assimilate polluted prop- five of these Members happen to be funds or whatever, we find ourselves erties back into the community. How- Members on the Democratic side of the with a conference report here today ever, without an ironclad assurance aisle. that does not reduce but rather in- that States can enforce the ultimate I would like to refer to them in order creases by $11.3 billion money above cleanup of these sites, the good idea of their seniority, the gentleman from and beyond what was requested by this quickly becomes a curse to commu- Mississippi, SONNY MONTGOMERY; the administration in the context of a nities. gentlewoman from Colorado, PAT post-cold-war era. Attorneys General from Colorado, SCHROEDER; the gentleman from Ala- I think that is a stark statement. I California, Texas, Washington, Min- bama, GLEN BROWDER; the gentleman think it needs to be laid clearly and nesota, and New Mexico, to name a from Texas, PETE GEREN; and the gen- profoundly before this body in this aus- few, have warned about the possible tleman from Florida, PETE PETERSON, picious moment when we find ourselves implications of section 334. They are and simply say to them that they will whacking away at programs designed concerned that any cleanup assurances be missed, thank them very much for to enhance the quality of life of mil- made by the Federal Government will the dignity of their service to this lions of American people in this coun- be hollow and unenforceable. country and to this Congress and wish try. Superfund does not contain an ade- them well in the next phase that they The gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. FRANK] said it eloquently and quate waiver of sovereign immunity. enter into in life’s process. Federal entities will initiate transfers Second, Mr. Speaker, if Members will articulately, and I would not attempt and disappear and the liability will go recall, last year we complained about to compete with that, but simply to re- back to private entities, and we cannot the process, arguing that there was a mind my colleagues that this bill is $11.3 billion above the President’s re- have this. I will introduce legislation lack of participation on the part of the quest and $1.3 billion above the appro- next year to correct this. minority members of this committee priation request. At this time I see no Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 in the process. I would rise tonight to rational reason why we should be in- minute to the gentleman from Massa- say that there was a quantum step for- creasing our military budget at this chusetts [Mr. TORKILDSEN]. ward and improvement in that area. particular level in the context of the Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Speaker, I My colleagues did participate in the post-cold-war world. rise in strong support of this con- process, and though it was truncated, Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposi- ference report and applaud the chair- dictated by a very ambitious schedule, tion to this conference report and ask unani- man and the ranking member for their to the extent possible, I feel com- mous consent to revise and extend my re- leadership. The disagreements were of fortable in saying, without fear of con- marks. a substantive nature and not partisan. tradiction, that my colleagues partici- I oppose this conference report for many The reason I support increasing the pated in that process. reasons, including the fact that it appropriates budget over what President Clinton Third, I would like to say something over $11 billion more for defense programs asked for is because the need is very that is not often spoken on the floor of than the Pentagon requested. But one of the real. This report increases funding for this House, and that is that I believe main reasons why I oppose this conference the F–18 CD program, it increases fund- very strongly that no Member of Con- report is that it fails to protect the rights and ing for R&D on the next generation of gress could function adequately and ca- health of American servicewomen serving Patriot missiles, and, importantly, it pably without competent, capable and overseas. As you all know, the House version increases funding for the quality of life dedicated staff people. of the bill contained a ban on military women for our men and women in uniform. It is not often known that many of purchasing abortion services on military bases People ask why do we need to in- these staff people work night and day, overseas with their own funds. This provision crease funding over what President all night, over weekends to get this job remained in the bill despite bipartisan efforts Clinton has asked for? Very simply, done. When we leave here, after we to remove it. The Senate rejected this provi- President Clinton has decided to send have made agreements, someone has to sion outright. troops to Haiti and he has decided to sit down and reconcile the hundreds of This ban penalizes women who have volun- send troops to Bosnia, and he has put pages, thousands of paragraphs, mil- teered to serve their country by prohibiting them on heightened alert elsewhere lions of words and billions of dollars. It them from exercising their constitutionally pro- around the world. Even though I did is all done at the staff level. So I would tected right to choose. It also puts the health not support all of those actions, and like to take the opportunity to thank of our military women at risk by forcing those perhaps others in the Chamber did not all of the staff members for their sig- stationed in countries where there is no safe as well, it is imperative that we all nificant dedication and contribution to and legal abortion available to seek an abor- support our troops with the training this process. tion at local facilities or to travel to acquire and equipment they need to complete Finally, Mr. Speaker, on a sub- safe abortion services. their mission and to return them home stantive note, I note most of my col- It is unimaginable to me and to the Amer- safely. leagues here, with the exception of the ican people that we would reward American That is why we have to add more distinguished gentleman from Massa- servicewomen who have volunteered to serve money than President Clinton asked chusetts, [Mr. FRANK] and myself, rose this Nation by burdening them this way. I urge for. The Pentagon does not set its own in support of this conference report. I you to vote against this report. August 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9821

Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support quested in fiscal year 1997 will lead to and the three million dollars threshold. If this of the conference report for H.R. 3230, the unsustainable defense budgets in the years Congress is serious about saving money, National Defense Authorization Act. This legis- 2001 and 2002. privatizing government functions other than lation addresses several basic needs for our Nevertheless, I support this bill because the the House mail room ought to be given seri- military including a 3 percent pay raise for mili- alternative is to not have an authorization bill. ous consideration and not empty rhetoric. To tary personnel and a cost of living adjustment We have been down that road before. Last that end, I am hopeful that we will be able to and improved access to health care for mili- year the Defense appropriations bill, which is address this important issue next year and tary retirees. The bill also supports moderniza- normally supposed to follow the authorization come to some sort of compromise that all tion initiatives and will improve the overall bill, was passed first and the fiscal year 1996 members can agree to. readiness of our Armed Forces. These points DOD authorization bill was not passed until Mr. Speaker, this bill is not perfect, but it ad- are increasingly significant as the threat of ter- this past spring. dresses many important issues that confront rorism continues to rise. I support this bill because it eliminates most the military today. We must not forget that the men and of the contentious and unwarranted provisions Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, although I in- women of our military face this threat every that were contained in the House-passed bill tend to support the conference report for H.R. day, and it is our responsibility to ensure that and the bill that was vetoed last year by the 3230, I do have concerns about several as- our troops are trained and equipped accord- President. Because these provisions were pects of the bill. ingly. I realize that some individual Members eliminated, we are able to move this bill in a Congress included H.R. 945, the Missing may have reservations about this conference more expeditious and bipartisan manner than Service Personnel Act, in the FY96 Depart- report, but I would respond by asking that we last year's authorization bill. ment of Defense Authorization Act. As a co- take a moment to think about the men and I am pleased that the conferees eliminated sponsor of H.R. 945, I was pleased that this women who have volunteered for the difficult the onerous provisions that would discharge important legislation was finally enacted into task of defending our Nation. They deserve HIV-positive service personnel and the earlier law. The Missing Service Personnel Act, as con- our support today. I urge a yes vote. House provision that would have rescinded tained in Section 569 of P.L. 104±106, con- Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, here are the ``don't ask, don't tell'' policy governing sists of a number of critical provisions that six reasons to vote against the fiscal year gays in the military. provide due process for the families of missing 1997 DOD authorization conference report: I am also happy that the leadership did service members who are desperately seeking First, the measure provides: $11.3 billion away with language that would have man- honest information about the fate of their loved more than the Pentagon requested overall, $7 dated early deployment of space based sen- ones. The conference report revokes key pro- billion more than requested for procurement, sors or ``star wars'' as a central component of visions contained in this law. As a result of the $3.8 billion more than requested for BMD, U.S. missile defense policy, thus violating the ABM treaty and endangering Russia's ratifica- these changes: $508 million more than requested for NMD, Civilian Defense Department employees sta- tion of START II. $234 million more than requested for C±17 tioned in hostile fire zones will no longer be Additionally, this bill provides for a 3-percent transport planes, $281 million more than re- covered by the Missing Service Personnel Act, pay raise for military personnel, equal to the quested for tactical aircraft, $203 million more meaning that DOD will not be required to ac- President's request, and establishes January than requested for helicopters, and $701 mil- count for civilian employees who might be 1, 1998 as the fiscal year 1998 military retiree lion more than requested for submarines. captured by enemy forces or who disappear cost of living adjustment [COLA] date. Both of Second, overseas abortions are not per- during combat. mitted under the conference report. The Sen- these important provisions maintain Congress' Unit commanders will be permitted to wait ate receded to the Dornan position. commitment to those who serve and those 10 daysÐrather than 48 hours, as required by Third, the conference report does not in- who have served our military. This bill also di- current lawÐbefore reporting that a service clude Dornan provisions on HIV positive rects the Secretary of Defense and Secretary person is missing or unaccounted for. servicemembers and gays in the military. of Health and Human Services to submit a Criminal penalties for someone who know- Fourth, the conference report retains the plan to Congress and the President outlining ingly and willfully withholds information about Bartlett ban on selling pornography at the PX. the details of a Medicare subvention dem- the disappearance, whereabouts or status of a Fifth, the conference accepted CAROL onstration program. missing person will be repealed. MOSELEY-BRAUN's amendment to prevent While I am generally pleased with the end Missing service persons can be declared servicemembers from rolling their military re- product of this bill, I am deeply concerned that dead without credible proof. If a body is recov- tirement into their civil service retirement to this bill fails to address the issue of depot ered and is not identifiable by visual means, avoid payment to former spouses with the pro- maintenance and the so-called 60±40 rule. forensic certification will no longer be required. vision that it is not retroactive, and that no one Ironically enough, it was the House last year In addition, current law provides for auto- can sue a servicemember for taking advan- that boldly called for the repeal of the so- matic review every three years after an initial tage of the loophole. called 60±40 rule in order to give DOD greater report of disappearance. The enactment of Sixth, the report provides $15.95 million for flexibility in outsourcing non-CORE workload H.R. 3230 will repeal this requirement and nonlethal weapons and technology develop- to the private sector. provide that cases will be reviewed only when ment and an additional $5 million for the serv- I understand that many of my colleagues information is received. ices to procure nonlethal weapons. are concerned that the Pentagon will engage We have a responsibility to determine to the Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in wholesale privatization of the Pentagon's fullest extent possible the fate of our missing in support of H.R. 3230, the fiscal year 1997 defense industrial base and maintenance ac- personnel and to share that information with Defense authorization conference report. tivities. That simply is not the case and flies in next of kin. What kind of message are we While I am concerned that this bill provides the face of the evidence. The elimination or sending to the brave men and women in the more money than the Pentagon has re- modification of the 60±40 rule would have Armed Forces if we repeal the Missing Service quested, this legislation addresses many of moved away from the arbitrary standard cur- Personnel Act? A service member deserves to the important needs expressed by the Depart- rently used for depot workload allocation to a know that we will do everything in our power ment of Defense and the Joint Chiefs. more rational approach that will better serve to account for their whereabouts if he or she I disagree, however, with the Republican the long term national interest. The Penta- is reported missing. leadership that the current defense posture of gon's report made clear that public depots The POW/MIA issue is one in which I have this administration is weakening our core de- have and will continue to play a major role in been involved during my entire Congressional fense capabilities. One only needs to look to the important maintenance capabilities of the career. As a member of the House Veterans' the Republican budget resolution passed in military. Affairs Committee and as an Air Force vet- the spring to see that their out year projections Greater reliance on the private sector for eran, I made a vow to myself long ago never for defense spending are roughly that of the appropriate types of depot maintenance, and to give up the search. I am disappointed that administration. In fact, I would simply like to determining where it makes sense, will en- H.R. 3230 repeals the Missing Service Per- point out that the Democratic alternative, oth- hance faster infusion of new technologies into sonnel Act which was only enacted into law erwise known as the coalition budget, keeps existing DOD weapons platforms. Testimony earlier this year. defense spending on a path that sustains U.S. offered by the service Chiefs this year sup- I am also disappointed that conferees did national security throughout the next century. ported removal of legal constraints on DOD's not include provisions from the Senate bill, S. I am concerned that the current rationalization ability to efficiently manage its system support 1745, which would have benefited certain wid- for spending more than the Pentagon has re- resources, including the arbitrary 60±40 rule ows of military retirees. H9822 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 1, 1996 As my colleagues may know, several legis- overseas. As you all know, the House version that was glaring in the President's original re- lative changes have been enacted over the of the bill contained a ban on military women quest. years to allow regular and reserve retired purchasing abortion services on military bases This bill funds the 3 percent military pay members to ensure that their survivors will overseas with their own funds. This provision raise and a 4.6 percent increase in housing al- continue to receive a percentage of their re- remained in the bill despite bi-partisan efforts lowances for our military. tired pay upon their death. However, these to remove it. The Senate rejected this provi- And, we funded O&M and other readiness changes have created two categories of for- sion outright. accounts to stop the reductions in our military gotten widows by omitting any benefits for sur- This ban should have been removed at con- forces below the levels required by the admin- vivors of members who died before they could ference. Removing it would not obligate any istration for all of its overseas deployments. participate in the new Survivor Benefit Plan. State funds. It would merely allow military This bill trys to slow down the continued de- The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), enacted in women and dependents to use their own cline in procurement which has suffered a 70 1972, replaced an earlier unsuccessful pro- money to pay for abortion services at military percent decline since 1985. gram. DOD offered an 18-month open enroll- bases, just as they would use their own funds Most importantly, this bill maintains the com- ment period for members already retired. This to pay for those services if they were in the mitment we made last in this Republican Con- SBP open enrollment period inadvertently cre- United States. gress' first defense bills to actually deploy ef- ated the first category of forgotten widowsÐ The ban contained in the conference report fective missile defenses by 2003 or earlier. widows of retirees who died before the SBP penalizes women who have volunteered to It is this Congress that has added over $900 was enacted or during the open enrollment serve their country by prohibiting them from million for theatre and national missile defense period before making a participation decision. exercising their constitutionally protected right programs to keep us on track to deployment, In 1978, the law was changed to allow Re- to choose. The irony that this Congress will not simply continue research as the President servists the opportunity to elect survivor bene- limit the constitutional rights of the very recommends. fit coverage for their spouses and children women who have sacrificed so much to pro- It is this bill and the appropriations bills that when completing 20 years of qualifying serv- tect our Constitution should not be lost on any have added $246 million for the Navy Upper ice. However, it did not provide coverage for of us. Tier program, the most promising and near widows of Reserve retirees who died prior to This ban also puts the health of our military term theatre missile defense program. its enactment. Thus, the second category of women at risk. Many of these women are sta- The Administration's budget request simply forgotten widows evolvedÐthe pre-1978 re- tioned in countries where there is no access to kept the Navy Upper program as technology serve widows. safe and legal abortions outside of the military development program with no certain date for Additionally, in 1948, when the Civil Service hospitals. A woman forced to seek an abortion deployment. Survivor Benefit Plan was enacted, it also cre- at local facilities, or forced to wait to travel to On the policy side this bill did drop bill lan- ated some civil service forgotten widows. This acquire safe abortion services, faces tremen- guage, because of veto threats, that required was resolved 10 years later in 1958 by author- dous health risks. the administration to submit changes in the ization of an annuity of up to $750 per year for It is unimaginable to me and to the Amer- ABM Treaty to the Congress. the widow of a civil service employee who was ican people that we would reward American However, Republican and Democrat con- married to the employee for at least five years servicewomen who have volunteered to serve ferees clearly stated in the manager's report immediately before the retiree's death, had not this nation by burdening them this way. I urge that any substantive change to the ABM Trea- remarried and was not entitled to any other you to vote against this report. Thank you. ty be done in accordance with the Constitution Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I strongly annuity based on the deceased employee's and the treaty making powers of the Senate. support providing our troops the basic equip- service. And, that this constitutional principle had ment they rely on in the field. Adequate mili- As a group, forgotten widows are older been permanently codified with regard to the tary housing and medical facilities are also women 60 to 90 years of age whose hus- ABM Treaty in the 1995 Defense Authorization wise uses of our scarce resources. In provid- bands retired with 20 to 40 years of service to Bill, Public Law 103±337, and remains in ef- ing for the defense of our Nation, there is no our country. Despite all of the efforts to bring fect. substitute for having well-trained, well- in other groups of survivors into the SBP, wid- Most importantly, the conferees, Democrat equipped military personnel. ows, whose husbands died in retirement prior and Republican, stated in their conference re- Besides providing for the needs of our to 1972, have remained forgotten. port that the President's National Security Ad- troops, the bill before us today includes fund- Today, all military forgotten widows have to visor, Mr. Lake, told House and Senate Mem- ing for exotic weapons systems and missile show for their husbands' career service is bers from both parties in a meeting within the programs. Much of the high-tech gadgetry in- memories, while the 1958 $750 civil service last 2 weeks that the tentative agreements the cluded in this bill was neither requested, nor is benefits equates to more than $3,600 in 1994 U.S. has recently announced with various needed by the Department of Defense. Russian republics regarding theatre missile dollars. The military forgotten widows deserve While I will continue to vote to improve the defenses and their demarcation constitutes a at least the minimum SBP annuity allowed lives of those serving in our armed forces, I substantive change to the ABM Treaty. under current law. cannot support this bill. The real military needs Section 634 of the Senate Defense Author- I refer all Members to Page H9250 of the of our country, as well as pressing domestic ization Act addressed this important issue and July 30, Part II, Congressional Record. This concerns prevent me from doing so. would have provided forgotten widows with a Mr. LIVINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in page contains the conferees statement that I monthly annuity of $165 per month. This provi- support of the conference report to H.R. 3230, just referred to. The conferees statement for this bill is clear- sion of S. 1745 was similar to a bill which I in- the fiscal year 1997 National Defense Author- ly consistent with a provision this House troduced. My bill, H.R. 1090, has received bi- ization Act. partisan support and has over 40 cosponsors. I do so because it provides the support for adopted and I sponsored as part of the fiscal I was hopeful that the conferees would re- our troops and their families that this adminis- year 1997 Commerce, State, Justice appro- tain the language from the Senate bill in the tration did not when they submitted their budg- priations bill. final conference report for H.R. 3230. Unfortu- et request earlier this year. That provision requires the President to cer- nately, it was excluded for budgetary reasons. Yet, this bill still represents a decrease from tify that he will submit to the Senate for its ad- I will continue to work on this important 1996 when you take inflation into account. vice and consent any amendments or changes issue in the 105th Congress. Military service Why do we need to pass a bill that keeps to the ABM Treaty regarding the demarcation does not take place in a vacuum and I hope defense at level spending rather than cut al- between theatre missile defense systems and that we will provide these elderly widows with most $11 billion as the President originally antiballistic missile systems or any changes the help they deserve. proposed? regarding the multilateralization of the ABM Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposi- Because it provides the funds to stem the Treaty. tion to this conference report. continued deteriation in family housing, military I commend Chairman SPENCE and his staff I oppose this conference report for many health care, and our procurement programs. for all of their hard work and urge support of reasons, including the fact that it appropriates This bill adds much needed funding for new this important conference agreement. over $11 billion more for Defense programs barracks and improvements to family housing Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, last June than the Pentagon requested. But one of the units that will benefit approximately 3,000 fam- I asked the Secretary of Defense to answer a main reasons why I oppose this conference ilies. few questions about growing numbers of mili- report is that it fails to protect the rights and This bill restores $475 million to health care tary personnel on loan to Members of Con- health of American servicewomen serving for our military and their families, a shortfall gress under questionable circumstances. To August 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9823 date, I have not received a reply. Now I know The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evi- Cunningham Jacobs Pombo Davis Johnson (CT) Porter why. They are too embarrassed. dently, a quorum is not present. Deal Johnson, Sam Portman Pentagon officials have learned that the The Sergeant at Arms will notify ab- DeLay Jones Pryce their haphazard and uncontrolled lending of sent Members. Diaz-Balart Kanjorski Quillen military personnel to Hill offices violates Con- Doggett Kasich Quinn Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5 Doolittle Kim Radanovich gressional ethics rules, not to mention DoD's of rule XV, the Chair announces that Doyle King Ramstad own regulations. he will reduce to a minimum of 5 min- Dreier Kingston Regula The situation is so bad DoD has admitted it utes the period of time within which a Duncan Kleczka Roberts has no idea how many military officers are Dunn Klink Rogers vote by electronic device will be taken Ehlers Klug Rohrabacher working on the Hill. The estimates range from on agreeing to the conference report. Ehrlich Knollenberg Ros-Lehtinen dozens to more than one hundred. The vote was taken by electronic de- English Kolbe Roth Here are a few examples. The Joint Chiefs Ensign LaHood Roukema vice, and there were—yeas 181, nays Everett Largent Royce of Staff have magnanimously given the Speak- 236, not voting 16, as follows: Ewing Latham Salmon er of the House four military officers to help [Roll No. 396] Fawell LaTourette Sanford him analyze votes. The training, salaries, and Fields (TX) Laughlin Saxton benefits for these officers cost the taxpayers YEAS—181 Flanagan Lazio Schaefer Foley Leach Schiff Abercrombie Flake Moran hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yet they are Forbes Lewis (CA) Seastrand Ackerman Foglietta Nadler Fowler Lewis (KY) Sensenbrenner now doing political chores for the Speaker. Andrews Fox Neal Franks (CT) Lightfoot Shadegg Another Member of Congress has had an Baesler Frank (MA) Oberstar Franks (NJ) Linder Shaw Baldacci Frost Olver Army nurse on his staff for years. Frelinghuysen Lipinski Shays Barcia Furse Ortiz Some Members of Congress are actually Frisa Livingston Shuster Barrett (NE) Gejdenson Orton Funderburk LoBiondo Skeen calling the Pentagon and requesting specific Becerra Gephardt Owens Gallegly Longley Smith (MI) officers by name. ``Can you send Captain Mid- Beilenson Geren Pallone Ganske Lucas Smith (NJ) Bentsen Gonzalez Pastor night up to my office to help out for a year?'' Gekas Manzullo Smith (TX) Bereuter Goodling Payne (NJ) Pentagon leaders believe that by detailing Gilchrest Martini Smith (WA) Berman Gordon Payne (VA) Gillmor Mascara Solomon staff up here they can ingratiate themselves Bevill Green (TX) Pelosi Gilman McCollum Souder with Members of Congress. In other words, Bishop Gutierrez Peterson (FL) Goodlatte McCrery Spence Blumenauer Hall (OH) Peterson (MN) the goal is to keep Members happy and Goss McHale Stearns Bonior Hall (TX) Pomeroy Graham McHugh Stockman grease the wheels for Defense appropriations. Borski Hamilton Poshard Greene (UT) McInnis Stump Those of us who been around for more than Boucher Harman Rahall Greenwood McIntosh Tate Browder Hastings (FL) Rangel a few years can recall the House Post Office Gunderson McKeon Tauzin Brown (CA) Hefner Reed scandal and the House Bank scandal. Gutknecht Metcalf Taylor (NC) Brown (FL) Hilliard Richardson Hancock Meyers Thomas My colleagues who are serving their first Brown (OH) Hinchey Riggs Hansen Mica Thornberry term can now look forward to the House DoD Bryant (TX) Hoyer Rivers Hastert Miller (FL) Tiahrt Cardin Jackson (IL) Roemer Staff Scandal. Hastings (WA) Molinari Torkildsen Castle Jackson-Lee Roybal-Allard Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield Hayes Mollohan Traficant Chapman (TX) Rush Hayworth Moorhead Upton back the balance of my time. Christensen Jefferson Sabo Hefley Morella Visclosky The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Clay Johnson (SD) Sanders Heineman Murtha Vucanovich Clayton Johnson, E. B. Sawyer KINGSTON). Without objection, the pre- Herger Myers Walker Clement Johnston Schumer vious question is ordered on the con- Hilleary Myrick Walsh Clyburn Kaptur Scott Hobson Nethercutt Wamp ference report. Coleman Kelly Serrano Hoekstra Neumann Watts (OK) There was no objection. Collins (IL) Kennedy (MA) Sisisky Hoke Ney Weldon (FL) Collins (MI) Kennedy (RI) Skaggs MOTION TO RECOMMIT OFFERED BY MR. Holden Norwood Weldon (PA) Condit Kennelly Skelton DELLUMS Horn Nussle White Conyers Kildee Slaughter Hostettler Obey Whitfield Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I offer a Costello LaFalce Spratt Houghton Oxley Wicker Coyne Lantos Stenholm motion to recommit. Hunter Packard Wolf Cramer Levin Stokes The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the Hutchinson Parker Young (AK) Cummings Lewis (GA) Stupak Hyde Paxon Zeliff gentleman opposed to the conference Danner Lofgren Talent Inglis Petri Zimmer report? de la Garza Lowey Tanner Istook Pickett Mr. DELLUMS. In its present form, DeFazio Luther Taylor (MS) yes, Mr. Speaker. DeLauro Maloney Tejeda NOT VOTING—16 Dellums Markey Thompson The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Deutsch Martinez Thornton Brownback McDade Williams Clerk will report the motion to recom- Dicks Matsui Thurman Dickey Rose Wilson Dingell McCarthy Torres Ford Scarborough Yates mit. Gibbons Schroeder Young (FL) The Clerk read as follows: Dixon McDermott Torricelli Dooley McKinney Towns Lincoln Stark Mr. DELLUMS moves to recommit the con- Dornan McNulty Velazquez Manton Studds ference report on the bill H.R. 3230 to the Durbin Meehan Vento committee of conference with instructions Edwards Meek Volkmer b 2229 Engel Menendez Ward to the managers on the part of the House to Mr. CUNNINGHAM and Mr. insist on section 367 of the House bill (relat- Eshoo Millender- Waters Evans McDonald Watt (NC) ing to impact aid assistance to local edu- SHADEGG changed their vote from Farr Miller (CA) Waxman ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ cational agencies for the benefit of depend- Fattah Minge Weller ents of members of the Armed Forces and ci- Fazio Mink Wise Mr. CRAMER, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. vilian employees of the Department of De- Fields (LA) Moakley Woolsey MARTINEZ, and Mr. BARRETT of Ne- fense). Filner Montgomery Wynn braska changed their vote from ‘‘nay’’ The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without NAYS—236 to ‘‘yea.’’ objection, the previous question is or- Allard Blute Canady So the motion to recommit was re- dered on the motion to recommit. Archer Boehlert Chabot jected. There was no objection. Armey Boehner Chambliss The result of the vote was announced The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Bachus Bonilla Chenoweth as above recorded. Baker (CA) Bono Chrysler question is on the motion to recommit. Baker (LA) Brewster Clinger The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. The question was taken; and the Ballenger Bryant (TN) Coble KINGSTON). The question is on the con- Speaker pro tempore announced that Barr Bunn Coburn ference report. Barrett (WI) Bunning Collins (GA) the noes appeared to have it. Bartlett Burr Combest The question was taken; and the Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I object Barton Burton Cooley Speaker pro tempore announced that to the vote on the ground that a Bass Buyer Cox the noes appeared to have it. quorum is not present and make the Bateman Callahan Crane Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, on that Bilbray Calvert Crapo point of order that a quorum is not Bilirakis Camp Cremeans I demand the yeas and nays. present. Bliley Campbell Cubin The yeas and nays were ordered. H9824 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 1, 1996 The SPEAKER pro tempore. This Visclosky Waters Whitfield REPORT ON RESOLUTION WAIVING Vucanovich Watts (OK) Wicker will be a 5-minute vote. Walker Weldon (FL) Wolf POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CON- The vote was taken by electronic de- Walsh Weldon (PA) Young (AK) FERENCE REPORT ON S. 1316, vice, and there were—yeas 285, nays Wamp Weller Zeliff SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT 132, answered not voting 16, as follows: Ward White AMENDMENTS OF 1996 [Roll No. 397] NAYS—132 Mr. MCINNIS, from the Committee YEAS—285 Ackerman Franks (NJ) Neumann on Rules, submitted a privileged report Abercrombie Fowler McKeon Andrews Furse Oberstar (Rept. No. 104–743) on the resolution (H. Allard Fox McNulty Baesler Ganske Obey Res. 507) waiving points of order Archer Franks (CT) Meek Barrett (WI) Gutierrez Olver Armey Frelinghuysen Metcalf Becerra Gutknecht Owens against the conference report to ac- Bachus Frisa Meyers Beilenson Hall (TX) Pallone company the bill (S. 1316) to reauthor- Baker (CA) Frost Mica Berman Hilliard Payne (NJ) ize and amend title XIV of the Public Blumenauer Hinchey Pelosi Baker (LA) Funderburk Millender- Health Service Act (commonly known Baldacci Gallegly McDonald Blute Hoekstra Peterson (MN) Ballenger Gejdenson Miller (FL) Bonior Hutchinson Rahall as the ‘‘Safe Drinking Water Act’’), and Barcia Gekas Mink Borski Jackson (IL) Ramstad for other purposes, which was referred Barr Gephardt Molinari Brown (OH) Jacobs Rangel to the House Calendar and ordered to Barrett (NE) Geren Mollohan Bryant (TX) Johnson, Sam Riggs Bartlett Gilchrest Montgomery Bunn Johnston Rivers be printed. Barton Gillmor Moorhead Burton Kaptur Roemer f Bass Gilman Moran Camp Kennedy (MA) Roth Bateman Gonzalez Murtha Campbell Kleczka Roukema Cardin Klug Roybal-Allard APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER TO Bentsen Goodlatte Myers HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Bereuter Goodling Myrick Chabot LaFalce Rush Bevill Gordon Nethercutt Collins (IL) Lantos Sabo PAGE BOARD Collins (MI) Leach Sanders Bilbray Goss Ney The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without Bilirakis Graham Norwood Conyers Lewis (GA) Sawyer Bishop Green (TX) Nussle Coyne LoBiondo Schumer objection, and pursuant to the provi- Bliley Greene (UT) Ortiz Cummings Lofgren Sensenbrenner sions of section 127 of Public Law 97– Danner Lowey Serrano Boehlert Greenwood Orton 377, the Chair announces the Speaker’s Boehner Gunderson Oxley DeFazio Luther Shays Bonilla Hall (OH) Packard Dellums Maloney Skaggs appointment of the following Member Bono Hamilton Parker Deutsch Markey Smith (MI) of the House to fill a vacancy on the Boucher Hancock Pastor Dingell Martinez Stockman Doggett Martini Stokes House of Representatives Page Board: Brewster Hansen Paxon Mrs. FOWLER of Florida. Browder Harman Payne (VA) Dornan Mascara Stupak Brown (CA) Hastert Peterson (FL) Doyle Matsui Talent There was no objection. Durbin McCarthy Tiahrt Brown (FL) Hastings (FL) Petri f Bryant (TN) Hastings (WA) Pickett Ehlers McDermott Towns Engel McIntosh Upton Bunning Hayes Pombo COMMUNICATION FROM THE HON. Burr Hayworth Pomeroy English McKinney Velazquez Buyer Hefley Porter Eshoo Meehan Vento JOHN TANNER, MEMBER OF CON- Callahan Hefner Portman Evans Menendez Volkmer GRESS Calvert Heineman Poshard Farr Miller (CA) Watt (NC) Canady Herger Pryce Fattah Minge Waxman The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- Castle Hilleary Quillen Filner Moakley Wise fore the House the following commu- Foglietta Morella Woolsey Chambliss Hobson Quinn nication from the Honorable JOHN TAN- Chapman Hoke Radanovich Foley Nadler Wynn NER, Member of Congress: Chenoweth Holden Reed Frank (MA) Neal Zimmer CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Christensen Horn Regula NOT VOTING—16 Chrysler Hostettler Richardson HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Clay Houghton Roberts Brownback Manton Williams Washington, DC, July 31, 1996. Dickey McDade Wilson Clayton Hoyer Rogers Hon. NEWT GINGRICH, Ford Rose Yates Clement Hunter Rohrabacher Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, Clinger Hyde Ros-Lehtinen Gibbons Schroeder Young (FL) Clyburn Inglis Royce Johnson (CT) Stark DC. Coble Istook Salmon Lincoln Studds DEAR MR. SPEAKER: This is to formally no- Coburn Jackson-Lee Sanford tify you, pursuant to Rule L (50) of the Rules Coleman (TX) Saxton b of the House of Representatives, that Doug Collins (GA) Jefferson Scarborough 2237 Thompson, Legislative Director in my Wash- Combest Johnson (SD) Schaefer Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD changed her ington, D.C. office, has been served with a Condit Johnson, E. B. Schiff subpoena issued by the Superior Court of the Cooley Jones Scott vote from ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ District of Columbia in the matter of John- Costello Kanjorski Seastrand Mr. HANCOCK changed his vote from Cox Kasich Shadegg son, et al. v. Public Housing Authorities Di- Cramer Kelly Shaw ‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’ rectors Association, et al. Crane Kennedy (RI) Shuster So the conference report was agreed After consultation with the Office of Gen- Crapo Kennelly Sisisky eral Counsel, I have determined that compli- Cremeans Kildee Skeen to. The result of the vote was an- nounced as above recorded. ance with the subpoena is consistent with Cubin Kim Skelton the precedents and privileges of the House. Cunningham King Slaughter A motion to reconsider was laid on Davis Kingston Smith (NJ) Sincerely, de la Garza Klink Smith (TX) the table. JOHN TANNER, Deal Knollenberg Smith (WA) Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Member of Congress. DeLauro Kolbe Solomon Speaker, on rollcall No. 397, I was un- f DeLay LaHood Souder Diaz-Balart Largent Spence avoidably detained. Had I been present, Dicks Latham Spratt I would have voted ‘‘yes.’’ REQUEST TO CONCUR IN SENATE Dixon LaTourette Stearns AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2739, HOUSE Dooley Laughlin Stenholm f OF REPRESENTATIVES ADMINIS- Doolittle Lazio Stump TRATIVE REFORM TECHNICAL Dreier Levin Tanner CORRECTIONS ACT Duncan Lewis (CA) Tate GENERAL LEAVE Dunn Lewis (KY) Tauzin Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask Edwards Lightfoot Taylor (MS) Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask Ehrlich Linder Taylor (NC) unanimous consent to take from the Ensign Lipinski Tejeda unanimous consent that all Members Speaker’s table the bill (H.R. 2739) to Everett Livingston Thomas may have 5 legislative days in which to provide for a representational allow- Ewing Longley Thompson revise and extend their remarks on the ance for Members of the House of Rep- Fawell Lucas Thornberry conference report just adopted. Fazio Manzullo Thornton resentatives, to make technical and Fields (LA) McCollum Thurman The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there conforming changes to sundry provi- Fields (TX) McCrery Torkildsen objection to the request of the gen- sions of law in consequence of adminis- Flake McHale Torres Flanagan McHugh Torricelli tleman from South Carolina? trative reforms in the House of Rep- Forbes McInnis Traficant There was no objection. resentatives, and for other purposes,