Deborah Pryce

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 143 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Fort Wayne, Indiana (Mr. Souder).

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and just say in closing that I want to emphasize once again this is a bipartisan bill. The conference report is virtually identical to the bill that the House passed by a vote of 330 to 90. All of my colleagues who supported this legislation back in March should register their support again today. Let us take the first step toward education reform together by voting ``yes'' on both the rule and the Ed-Flex conference report. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purposes of debate only. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 143 provides for the consideration of the conference report on H.R. 800, the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999, better known as the Ed-Flex bill. Yesterday the Committee on Rules, by a vote of 11 to zero, granted the customary rule waiving all points of order against the conference report. The House will have 1 hour to debate the merits of this legislation. As my colleagues may recall, back in March the House passed the Ed- Flex bill by a bipartisan vote of 330 to 90. The Senate followed suit by passing its Ed-Flex legislation by an overwhelming vote of 98 to 1. It is encouraging to know that Democrats and Republicans can come together on at least one aspect of our Nation's education policy. There are numerous competing ideas for improving our schools and teaching our children; but we all agree that education, perhaps more than any other issue, will dictate our Nation's future, and it must be a top priority. I do not think anyone would argue that many of our Nation's schools are failing, and there is no excuse. We are the world's only remaining superpower, yet we allow our children to graduate from high school without basic reading and writing skills. Something is not working. It is time to move beyond the status quo and encourage innovative reform. Passing the Ed-Flex conference report is a good first step in the right direction. This legislation will allow all 50 States to participate in a program that gives local school districts the freedom to implement effective reforms by liberating them from restrictive one- size-fits-all Federal requirements. This approach recognizes that the Federal Government does not have the magic pill that will remedy the ailments of each and every school. But the least we can do is clear away some of the obstacles found in onerous Federal regulations that are blocking our schools' path to improvement. The Ed-Flex program is founded in the principle of trust, trust in our State and local leaders who we believe will make good choices for their communities. Ed-Flex has worked in the 12 States that are currently eligible, including my own State of Ohio. This success strongly suggests that we expand Ed-Flex to all 50 States, and that is what this legislation is all about. Let us be clear. The Ed-Flex program does not simply dissolve Federal education law. We are not simply handing out money and turning our heads the other way. To be eligible for Ed-Flex, States must demonstrate that they have an effective plan for improving the education of poor and disadvantaged children, and they must agree to be held accountable for the results. In fact, this conference report strengthens the accountability provisions of current law. All told, the conference report actually contains very few changes from the House-passed bill, and it should receive the same broad support. The bipartisan spirit surrounding the Ed-Flex bill was carried over into the conference committee to produce a bill that both the House and Senate can approve and the President should sign. One example of this bipartisan effort is the decision of the Republican conferees to drop a Senate amendment which the Democrats and the President opposed. The amendment would have provided additional flexibility to schools, giving them discretion to devote more funds to special education, which is a top Republican priority. I cannot say I understand the President's opposition to giving local school districts the option of putting resources into education for children with special needs. However, I appreciate the decision of Republican conferees to compromise on this issue in the interest of quickly moving this important legislation to the President's desk where it can be signed into law. I am pleased to report that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) has assured the Committee on Rules that the Republican commitment to funding special education will remain high on his committee's agenda. Other changes agreed to in the conference will ensure that our Nation's poorest schools continue to receive priority consideration for Title I funding. In addition, the conference report clears up some confusion created by the Department of Education's interpretation of the Individuals with Disabilities Act which governs the treatment of children who possess a weapon at school. Under this legislation, it is made clear that children who possess weapons will be subject to the same discipline procedures as children who carry weapons. After yesterday's horrifying incident in Colorado, it is clear that we must enforce strict rules of no tolerance for guns in school. This is a step in that direction. The conferees also agreed to an amendment designed to benefit rural school districts. Specifically, small school districts that reduce class size to 18 or fewer children will be allowed to devote funds to professional development without joining consortiums. Outside of these few changes, the conference report mirrors the House-passed bill. Fifty governors, the National School Board Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of School Administrators all support this legislation. So I urge my colleagues, in the spirit of bipartisanship and in the name of innovative education reform, to move expeditiously to adopt this rule and agree to the Education Flexibility Conference Report. We cannot afford to wait any longer to remove the obstacles that stand in the way of our children's opportunities to learn. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes).

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, the deaths caused by two troubled youths in Littleton, Colorado, point out the tragedy of those lonely, alienated teens in our society who feel there is no one to help, no one to turn to when their lives seem empty and pointless. Many turn to self-destructive outlets: drugs, alcohol, nihilistic subcultures which celebrate death and destruction. They think there is no one to help them, but they are wrong. The help that is offered by parents, teachers, school psychologists and kindly guidance counselors is rejected. No one can reach them. But those whose occupations touch the lives of our teenagers must not lose heart. They must continue to do the good work that they rightly take pride in. They must not be discouraged by the failures that they see, the children whom they cannot comfort, and the anger they cannot dispel. Our prayers go out today to the people of Littleton, and to all those school officials who try so hard to help all of our children.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution of the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson), authorizing a Congressional Gold Medal for Rosa Parks in recognition of her contributions to this Nation. Rosa Parks is known as both the first lady of civil rights and the mother of the civil rights movement. She began to earn these titles back in 1955 for her courageous refusal to comply with the Montgomery, Alabama, law which required her to give up her seat on a public bus for a white man. For this, she was thrown in jail. However, an interesting historic footnote is that Rosa Parks was ejected from a bus further back in time, in 1943, for entering through the front door instead of the back door as then prescribed by the law. To protest the segregated public bus system and Rosa Parks' arrest, a fledgling civil rights group, the Montgomery Improvement Association, organized a historic boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama buses, led by a young civil rights leader named Martin Luther King, Jr. The boycott lasted 381 days. Thanks to Rosa Parks' conviction and the steady determination of the civil rights movement, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Montgomery, Alabama, segregated seating law and the buses were legally integrated. Mr. Speaker, many history books stop there, but I believe it is important to note that Rosa Parks' courageous stand was not without cost to her and to her family. Rosa Parks was harassed continuously. She lost her job. Her husband lost his job and suffered a nervous breakdown. Rosa Parks and her husband could not find work anywhere near Montgomery, so they moved to Detroit where her husband had to be hospitalized further. Ultimately, Rosa Parks began working for the congressional office of our colleague, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), and she still remains active to this day in the civil rights movement. Mr. Speaker, as we fast forward to today, I find it amazing how much we take for granted thanks to Rosa Parks' courageous stand almost 45 years ago. For this reason, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. I congratulate my colleague from Indiana (Ms. Carson) for introducing it.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas. I rise in support of this rule and the Local Census Quality Check Act. Simply, this legislation is designed to improve the accuracy of the Census by giving our local officials, who know their communities best, a chance to review census data before it is finalized. Local review is not a new idea. It was used in 1990 with the support of Republicans and Democrats, and it succeeded in adding thousands of overlooked households to the Census Bureau's original count. Local review is especially useful in fast-growing neighborhoods and communities, or ones that are being rebuilt after fires or natural disasters, where it is very possible that the Census Bureau will miss some new homes. In fact, this was the experience in 1990. And who better than the people living in the community to recognize oversights and errors in Census numbers? I have to say that I find the objections to this bill very curious. My friends on the other side of the aisle claim they need statistical sampling to make a guess about how many households may exist which the Census might miss. They support this method of estimation in the name of improved accuracy. Yet, they reject a program that allows local officials to look at Census data and point to actual existing households with addresses where real people with names and faces live which do not appear on the Census Bureau's list. How can my colleagues argue that a system of adding invisible statistical households is preferable to adding real homes and people to the Census count? Mr. Speaker, I will place in the Record a letter that I received from the Ohio Township Association, representing more than 1,300 townships, in support of H.R. 472.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of this fair and balanced rule. It provides for a full and free debate of our Nation's budget priorities. The House will have the opportunity to debate not only the Republican budget proposal but also the President's budget, as well as two other budgets offered by House Democrats. That is right. Out of the four plans we consider today, three were written by our Democratic friends. I would like to take a moment to recognize the hard work of my friend from Columbus, Ohio (Mr. Kasich). He is a tireless advocate of balanced budgets, fiscal discipline, and the Republican principles of smaller government and lower taxes. The GOP budget resolution embodies these values. First and foremost, Mr. Speaker, the Republican budget is honest. It comes to terms with our Nation's true budget situation by recognizing that the surplus that everyone is talking about is really Social Security money. Instead of spending this money, the Republican budget locks away 100 percent of the Social Security surplus to be used only for Social Security benefits, debt reduction, or Medicare reform. Secondly, the Republican budget is responsible. In 1997 the Republican Congress and President Clinton agreed to a historic balanced budget agreement that has steered our Nation down the path of economic prosperity. In the Republican budget we honor the balanced budget deal we made with the President by sticking to those limitations. Promises made, promises kept; and our country will be better for it. Further, the GOP budget provides Americans with security today and in their future by investing in our national defense and the education of our children. We wish we could do more in these areas, and we will do more as our budget situation improves and additional resources become available. It is today's fiscal discipline that will ensure those resources materialize in the future. When a true budget surplus is achieved, Congress will have the flexibility to bolster our Nation's defense budget, prop up special education, and check off some other items on our wish list. For Republicans, this wish list includes some long-awaited tax relief for American taxpayers. I, for one, am amazed that the tax rate in America is at its highest level since World War II. These high taxes have real effects on real people's lives. Am I the only one receiving mail and phone calls from students, newlyweds, and young parents who are trying to get ahead in life, only to be set back by crippling tax bills? One man from my district who was downsized, out of his job, is being taxed at the rate of 28 percent on his severance pay. In frustration, he wrote to me asking why the government is hitting him while he is down. He is trying to put two kids through college. Meanwhile, the government is taking $700 from him while he is unemployed. I cannot explain the government's greed, but I can tell him that the Republican budget anticipates giving back some of that surplus to the people who earned it so they can spend their money as they see fit on their priorities. I urge my colleagues to support this rule, which gives ample opportunity to debate the priorities of both Republicans and Democrats.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the committee funding resolution as fair and responsible legislation that will allow our committees to fulfill their policy, legislative and oversight responsibilities to all the American people. I see no reason why any Member of the House should oppose this legislation. First of all, this committee funding resolution is fiscally responsible. It provides a modest 3 percent increase in overall funding for our committees. That is a mere 1\1/2\ percent increase each year. This increase recognizes some of the modernization needs of our committees, while adhering to the principle of doing more with less. This committee funding resolution is fair to the minority. It moves more committees toward the overall goal of allocating one-third of committee resources to the minority's control. In fact, nine committees of the 106th Congress will provide one-third or more of their resources to the minority. This compares to only two committees that met this goal in the 103rd Congress when Republicans were in the minority. Under the Republican majority, 31 percent of staff is allocated to the minority, and 32 percent of staff salaries go to the minority. So I think the cries from the other side of the aisle that they are being mistreated and misused are just disingenuous or, at the very least, some people have very, very short memories. Further, the committee funding resolution scales back the reserve fund to 62 percent. Instead of offering a tempting pot of overflowing dollars for committees to dip into, this reserve fund will serve as a true rainy day fund for the unanticipated needs that are likely to arise over the course of 2 years. Finally, Mr. Speaker, it is important to point out how very far we have come since the Republicans took over control of Congress. This year's committee funding resolution is still $40 million less than the 103rd Congress. The overall number of committee staff is still 30 percent below the staff levels of the 103rd Congress. Again, we are doing more with less in the true spirit of government reform. Above all, Mr. Speaker, there is much work which we, in a bipartisan way, must accomplish for the American people. Much of this work is done in our congressional committees by very talented, very hardworking staff on both sides of the aisle. We should pass this committee funding resolution to ensure that that work gets done. I urge support of this resolution.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the fact is that defeating the previous question for the purpose of adding the 100,000 teachers amendment would be futile. It is not germane. And the rule amendment is not allowed under the rules of the House. I urge my colleagues to focus on the issue at hand, which is the ed flex bill and the rule governing its consideration. All Members should vote ``yes'' on the previous question. I would like to remind my colleagues of the strong bipartisan support of the ed flex bill. H.R. 800 has the support of, in addition to many Members on the other side of the aisle, the National School Board Association, the Association of School Administrators, the Chamber of Commerce, the National Education Association, and once again all 50 governors. I urge my colleagues to set politics aside and think of the kids who need us to open the doors to a better future through education. Let us move forward together to respond to the needs of our States, our local communities, but most importantly our children. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this reasonable rule so we can move expeditiously toward passage of the Education Flexibility Partnership Act.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), the chairman of the subcommittee and coauthor of this bill along with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer).

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Sanibel Island, Florida (Mr. Goss), a member of the Committee on Rules. (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), chairman of the Committee on Rules. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), my good friend, the chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. (Mr. GOODLING asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), a member of the Committee on Rules.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 100 is a modified open rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 800, the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999, better known as the Ed-Flex bill. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate, equally divided between the chairman and ranking minority member on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. For the purpose of amendment, the rule makes in order the amendment in the nature of a substitute of the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill. The Ed-Flex bill is truly bipartisan legislation which has the support of Republicans and Democrats alike in the House and Senate, as well as the support of all 50 Governors. Despite the popularity of Ed-Flex, we have witnessed some try to undermine this bipartisan effort by diverting attention away from the Ed-Flex bill to other issues which are clearly outside the scope of this simple bill. For this reason, the Committee on Rules felt it was reasonable to ask Members to preprint their amendments in the Congressional Record. The chairman of the Committee on Rules announced this preprinting requirement on Thursday, so all Members have been properly notified of this policy. In addition, the committee felt that placing a reasonable time limit on the consideration of the Ed-Flex bill would encourage those who have concerns about H.R. 800 to prioritize their amendments and focus on constructive changes, rather than partisan tactics. Therefore, the rule before us contains a 5-hour time limit on the amendment process, which is considerably more generous than the 3-hour time limit requested by the Committee on Education and the Workforce itself. With the exception of these reasonable parameters designed to focus the debate on the issue at hand, the rule is open, in the tradition of every other rule reported by the Committee on Rules this year. Let me be clear. Any member who has a concern about this legislation may offer any amendment on the floor, as long as it is germane and has been printed in the Record. In addition to the amendment process, the rule provides a final opportunity for the minority to make changes to the bill through a motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Further, in the interest of facilitating consideration of this popular bill by the House, the rule waives clause 4(a) of rule XIII, requiring a 3-day layover of the committee report. And, for the convenience of Members, the rule allows the chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes and reduce voting time to 5 minutes, as long as the postponed vote follows a 15-minute vote. Mr. Speaker, all Americans agree that the education of our Nation's children must be a top priority. Education is the foundation on which the future of our country rests. While many of our community schools are shining examples of success, others are miserably failing in their attempts to teach even the most basic skills to our young students. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill that we can give our neediest schools to bring them up to par, but the very least we can do is to remove some of the obstructions which are blocking their path to improvement. The fact is that the Federal Government has a stranglehold on our local schools, and the Ed-Flex bill loosens the government's grip. By easing the burden of Federal regulation and clearing away the red tape, Ed-Flex allows States to pursue effective school reform. The Ed-Flex program is founded on the principle of trust, trust in our State and local leaders, who we believe will make good choices for their communities. Currently, 12 States are participating in the existing Ed-Flex demonstration program, including my own State of Ohio. The positive results in Ohio and 11 other States strongly suggest that we extend this program to all 50 States. Through the Ed-Flex program, Ohio has been able to apply the good intentions of Federal education policies to more children. For example, Ohio has enabled more schools to use Federal dollars to implement schoolwide programs. Schoolwide programs go beyond helping at-risk children and utilize resources to improve the scholastic skills of all students. In addition, Ohio has used Ed-Flex to expand its use of Eisenhower Professional Development Grants, which are designed for math and science teacher training. In Ohio, if a school has met its math and science training requirements, it can use unexpended Eisenhower funds to provide training in other areas, such as reading. These commonsense reforms have helped Ohio to realize tangible improvements in the education of our children. Last year, Ohio exceeded two benchmarks for student performance in both reading and writing. Yet, while Ohio moves ahead, other States continue to be mired in Federal rules and regulations that stunt forward progress. That is why it is so important that we pass the Education Flexibility Partnership Act, to give all 50 States the opportunity to maximize resources to educate students. Not only will Ed-Flex help our States in their efforts to improve student performance, it will help Congress assess what Federal education policies are burdening States and need to be revamped. This information will be crucial as we work on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act later this year. I think some of my colleagues will speak to their concerns about accountability during this debate, but it is not fair to give the impression that we are handing out money and turning our heads the other way. The Ed-Flex program does not simply dissolve Federal education law. In fact, there are strings attached to the flexibility we are offering to the States through this legislation. To be eligible for Ed-Flex, States must develop and implement a Title I plan, which includes education content standards, student performance standards, and a means of assessing school progress. In addition, States must have an accountability system in place to hold localities and schools responsible for meeting their education goals. We are asking for a credible education plan, and then trusting the State and local officials to make good decisions for their communities. After all, they are the people who live in those communities, know the citizens, and work in the local school systems every day. Let us not take the ``flex'' out of Ed-Flex by erecting additional hoops and hurdles under the guise of accountability. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support this fair and balanced resolution, as well as the underlying legislation which will move us toward the shared goal of commonsense education reform. All of our 50 Governors have asked us to pass this bill, and our schools and children will be better for it. Let us move forward together in the spirit of bipartisanship. I urge all my colleagues to vote yes on both the rule and the Education Flexibility Partnership Act. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 100 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to say that the White House talks a great game when it comes to education reform, but it turns out there is more going on behind the scenes that you will never see on the network news. The White House has been working with Democrats in the Congress to take the ``flex'' out of ed flex. The whole purpose of this program is to give the States their own authority to assess their programs instead of Washington telling them what they need. Now, 100,000 new teachers is a great slogan but trying to handcuff our governors like this is not exactly the kind of flexibility that reformers have in mind when they advocate ed flex. This program is supposed to allow local schools to spend Federal dollars as they see fit. The special interests will have none of that. But the special interests are not putting the education needs of our children first. Ed flex does. It is a commonsense reform overwhelmingly supported by all 50 governors across this country. Today we will have the opportunity to support it as well.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) for yielding time to me. At this time I rise in support of the Mandates Information Act. Mr. Chairman, the State of Ohio has been very active in the fight against unfunded Federal mandates. Both Mayor Lushutka of Columbus and former Ohio Governor, now our colleague in the other body, George Voinovich, fought hard for the passage of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, which is sponsored by yet another Ohioan (Mr. Portman). I congratulate both the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Condit) for their hard work which has brought us here today to debate the merits of extended protections against unfunded mandates to the private sector. While Ohio has been a leader in the battle against the tremendous burdens imposed on State and local governments by Federal laws, I know the cries for relief that I have heard from Ohio's elected officials and business owners are not unique to our State. I am sure all of my colleagues have heard the moans and groans of their constituents every time Congress figures out a way to fix a problem, but turns a blind eye to the real world price tag. We must remember that our actions here have real consequences. When Washington's good ideas are enshrined into law, America's businessmen and women have to spend real time and real money out of their limited resources to comply. And, to ensure that their businesses stay afloat, these companies have to adjust and offset these new costs, which means higher prices for consumers, lower wages for workers, and less time on innovations that make American businesses competitive. Given these serious consequences, it seems reasonable to ask Congress to pause for just a moment when we are faced with broad-reaching legislation, to focus on the costs and benefits before we move forward with the legislation. That is what the Mandates Information Act will force us to do. It is really that simple. This bill does not prohibit unfunded mandates on the private sector. It merely gives Congress a mechanism through which we can acquire more information, greater deliberation, and increased accountability before we ask America's consumers and entrepreneurs to pick up the price tag. Now, some of my colleagues have expressed concern about this bill's impact on environmental legislation. Let us be clear. Nothing in this bill singles out the environment for prejudicial treatment. This bill applies to all mandating legislation across the board, regardless of topic, on an equal basis. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support informed debate and responsive government. We should all stand up for our constituents who are hard at work creating jobs and moving our economy forward by voting ``yes'' on this important bipartisan legislation, the Mandates Information Act.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on December 18th and 19th, I was unavoidably detained due to a family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: Friday, December 18, 1998: Motion to Adjourn (Roll Call No. 540): ``Nay.'' Saturday, December 19, 1998: Approval of the House Journal (Roll Call No. 541): ``Aye.''

Mrs. PRYCE of Ohio

Mrs. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on October 20, 1998, I was absent due to an illness in my family. I received an official leave of absence from the Majority Leader in this regard. However, had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner on the following legislation: H. Res. 605--waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany the bill H.R. 4328 making appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes (Roll Call No: 536): AYE. H. Res. 604--providing for consideration of the bill (S. 1132) to modify the boundaries of the Bandelier National Monument to include the lands within the headwaters of the Upper Alamo Watershed which drain into the Monument and which are not currently within the jurisdiction of a federal land management agency, to authorize purchase or donation of those lands, and for other purposes, and for consideration of the bill (S. 2133) an act to preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 corridor and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance (Roll Call No. 537): AYE. H.R. 4328--making appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes (Roll Call No. 538): AYE.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, during the week of October 12, 1998, I was absent due to an illness in my family. I received an official leave of absence from the Majority Leader in this regard. However, had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner on the following legislation: Monday, October 12, 1998 H.R. 3494--Child Protection and Sexual Predator Punishment Act: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to the Senate Amendments (Roll Call No. 521) Aye. H. Con. Res. 350--Calling Upon the President to Respond to the Significant Increase in Steel Imports: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree (Roll Call No. 522) Aye. S. 2095--National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended (Roll Call No. 523) Aye. Tuesday, October 13, 1998 H. Res. 494--Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives that the U.S. has enjoyed the loyalty of the U.S. citizens of Guam: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree (Roll Call No. 524) Aye. S. 1364--Federal Reports Elimination Act of 1998: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended: (Roll Call No. 525) Aye. H.R. 4756--The Year 2000 Preparedness Act of 1998: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended (Roll Call No. 526) Aye. S. 1754--The Health Professions Education Partnership Act: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended (Roll Call No. 527) Aye. S. 1260--The Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to the Conference Report (Roll Call No. 528) Aye. S. 1722--The Women's Health Research and Prevention Amendments: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (Roll Call No. 529) Aye. Wednesday, October 14, 1998 H.R. 3963--Sell Canyon Ferry Reservoir Cabins: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended (Roll Call No. 530) Aye. H.R. 559--Add Bronchiolo-Alveolar Carcinoma to Service- connected Diseases: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (Roll Call No. 531) Aye. Thursday, October 15, 1998 H. Res. 598--Steel Imports: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (Roll Call No. 532) Aye. S. 1733--To require the Commissioner of Social Security and Food Stamp Agencies to take certain actions to ensure that food stamp coupons are not issued for deceased individuals: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (Roll Call No. 533) Aye. S. 2133--To preserve the cultural resources of Route 66 Corridor: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (Roll Call No. 534) Aye. S. 1132--Bandelier National Monument Administrative Improvement and Watershed Protection Act: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (Roll Call No. 535) Aye.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, during the week of October 5, 1998, I was absent due to an illness in my family. I received an official leave of absence from the Majority Leader in this regard. However, had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner on the following legislation: Monday, October 5, 1998 H.R. 4614--New Hampshire Land Conveyance Act: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the bill (Roll Call No. 480): Aye. H.R. 1154--The Indian Federal Recognition Administrative Procedure Act of 1997: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the bill (Roll Call No. 481): Nay. H.R. 4655--Establishing a Program to support a Transition to Democracy in Iraq: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the bill (Roll Call No. 482): Aye. Tuesday, October 6, 1998 H.R. 4194--VA-HUD Appropriations Act for FY 1999: On Agreeing to the Conference Report (Roll Call No. 483): Aye. H. Res. 575--Waiving a requirement of clause 4(b) of rule XI with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules: On Agreeing to the Resolution (Roll Call No. 484): Aye. H.R. 4259--The Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Systems Act of 1998: On Agreeing to the Cummings of Maryland Substitute Amendment (Roll Call No. 485): Nay. Wednesday, October 7, 1998 H.R. 3694--Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 1999: Motion to Recommit (Roll Call No. 486): Nay; On Agreeing to the Conference Report (Roll Call No. 487): Aye. H. Res. 573--Providing for the consideration of H.R. 4570, the Omnibus National Parks and Public Lands Act: On Passage (Roll Call No. 488): Aye. H.R. 4570--Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Act: On Passage (Roll Call No. 489): Nay. H. Res. 579--Waiving all points of order against the Conference Report on H.R. 4104, the Treasury, Postal Services, and Independent Agencies Appropriations for FY 1999: On Agreeing to the Resolution (Roll Call No. 490): Aye. H.R. 4616--Designating the Corporal Harold Gomez Post Office: On the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the bill (Roll Call No. 491): Aye. H.R. 2348--Designating the Mervyn Dymally Post Office Building: On the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the bill (Roll Call No. 492): Aye; On the Motion to Recommit with Instructions (Roll Call No. 493): Nay. H.R. 4104--The Treasury, Postal Services, and Independent Agencies Appropriations for FY 1999: On Agreeing the Conference Report (Roll Call No. 494): Aye. Thursday, October 8, 1998 House Journal of October 8, 1998: On Approving the House Journal (Roll Call No. 495): Aye. Quorum: On the Call of the House (Roll Call No. 496): Present. H. Res. 581--Authorizing and directing the Committee on the Judiciary to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States: On the Motion to Recommit with Instructions (Roll Call No. 497): Nay; On Agreeing to the Resolution (Roll Call No. 498): Aye. Adjourn: Motion to Adjourn (Roll Call No. 499): Nay. H.Res. 584--Further providing for the consideration of H.R. 4274: On Ordering the Previous Question (Roll Call No. 500) Aye; To Table the Motion to Reconsider (Roll Call No. 501) Aye; On Agreeing to the Resolution (Roll Call No. 502) Aye; To Table the Motion to Reconsider (Roll Call No. 503) Aye. H.R. 4274--The Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations for FY 1999: On Agreeing to the Istook Substitute Amendment to the Greenwood Amendment (Roll Call No. 504): Nay. H.R. 3150--Bankruptcy Reform Act: On the Motion to Recommit the Conference Report with Instructions (Roll Call No. 505): Nay; On Agreeing to the Conference Report (Roll Call No. 506) Aye. H.Res. 565--Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives Regarding the Importance of Mammograms and biopsies in the Fight Against Breast Cancer: On the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree (Roll Call No. 507): Aye. H.Con.Res. 331--Expressing the Sense of Congress Concerning the Inadequacy of Sewage Infrastructure Facilities in Tijuana, Mexico: On the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree (Roll Call No. 508): Aye. H.Res. 557--Expressing Support for the U.S. Government Efforts to Identify Holocaust-Era Assets: On the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree (Roll Call No. 509): Aye. H.R. 3874--Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Amendments of 1998: On the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to the Conference Report (Roll Call No. 510): Aye. H.J.Res. 133--Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal year 1999: On Passage (Roll Call No. 511): Aye. Saturday, October 10, 1998 Question of Privilege--noticed by Mr. Visclosky on Oct. 8, 1998: On motion to table the appeal of the ruling of the Chair (Roll Call No. 512) Aye. H.Res. 589--Waiving Clause 4(b) of rule XI for special rules and suspensions On ordering the Previous Question--(Roll Call No. 513) Aye. H.Res. 588--Rule governing consideration of H.R. 4761 On agreeing to the resolution--(Roll Call No. 514) Aye. H.Res. 592--Providing for concurrence by House with amendment in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4110. On suspending the rules and agreeing to the resolution--(Roll Call No. 515) Aye.