Thomas Reynolds

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, today a Dear Colleague letter will be sent to all Members informing them that the Committee on Rules is planning to meet the week of May 22 to grant a rule which may limit the amendment process on H.R. 1304, the Quality Health-Care Coalition Act of 1999. Any Member who wishes to offer an amendment should submit 55 copies and a brief explanation of the amendment by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, to the Committee on Rules in room H-312 in the Capitol. Amendments should be drafted to the text of the bill as reported by the Committee on the Judiciary, which is available on their website. Members should use the Office of Legislative Counsel to ensure that their amendments are properly drafted and should check with the Office of the Parliamentarian to be certain their amendments comply with the rules of the House.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 505 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 505 is an open rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4475, the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2001. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill and provides for 1 hour of general debate to be equally divided between the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule further provides that amendments printed in the Committee on Rules report accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted. In addition, the rule waives clause 2 of rule XXI prohibiting unauthorized or legislative provisions in an appropriations bill against provisions in the bill, as amended, except as otherwise specified in the rule. Additionally, the rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule also allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the bill and to reduce votes to 5 minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a 15-minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4475 continues the Republican Congress' focus on safety for all modes of transportation. Whether cross-town or cross- country, by car, train or plane, ensuring the safety and efficiency of our transportation networks is one of the Federal Government's highest responsibilities. The underlying bill is the product of the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation's extensive hearings and careful consideration of each section of the Department of Transportation and related agencies. The bill seeks to improve and enhance the safety and capacity of the aviation system and highway and rail networks. It makes runway prevention systems and devices eligible for airport improvement funds and directs the FAA to grant such requests for discretionary funding the highest priority. Additionally, the bill provides nearly $700 million for airline regulation and certification activities, an increase of over $28 million from the fiscal year 2000 enacted levels. The bill also includes $28 million to address effects of hazardous weather on aviation, an increase of over 44 percent. To further advances made to aircraft safety technology, the bill includes an increase of over $14 million from fiscal year 2000 levels. Additionally, the bill provides a $72 million increase for motor carrier safety grants, consistent with truck safety reforms enacted as part of the Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1999, and increases investment to critical highway safety research and development of smart vehicle technologies. The bill meets the funding obligations for the highway and aviation accounts as prescribed by the recent TEA-21 and AIR-21 reauthorization bills. These programs are critical to improvements and modernization of our roadways and our airways, providing desperately needed funds across the Nation. Additionally, I am pleased that the underlying bill makes available $2 million in continuing appropriations for the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority bus terminal project. This type of project reinforces our commitment to safe and adequate public transportation. Mr. Speaker, safety should remain the Federal Government's highest responsibility in the transportation area, and, clearly, this bill addresses those needs and concerns. In conclusion, I would like to commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking member, for bringing this measure before the House today. I would also like to commend the chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), for their hard work and leadership on this measure. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this completely fair and open rule and the underlying measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Committee on Rules met and granted an open rule for H.R. 4425, the Military Construction Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2001. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and the ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives clause 2 of House rule XXI prohibiting unauthorized or legislative provisions in a general appropriations bill against provisions in the bill. The rule also waives clause 4(c) of rule XIII requiring the 3-day availability of printed hearings on a general appropriations bill against consideration of the bill. Additionally, the rule provides that the bill shall be open to amendment by paragraph and authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule further allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the bill and to reduce voting time to 5 minutes on a postponed question if it follows a 15-minute vote. The rule provides that for the purposes of enforcement of the Congressional Budget Act, the appropriate levels of new budget authority and total budget outlays shall be those reflected in the table entitled ``Conference Report Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Resolution Total Spending and Revenues'' in House Report 106-577. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, as Thomas Jefferson warned, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Part of this Nation's vigilance is ensuring America's military readiness, for as Ronald Reagan said during an address at West Point, a successful Army is one that because of its strength, ability and dedication will not be called upon to fight, for no one will dare provoke it. Too often, we take for granted the security and peace of mind that comes with living in the greatest, freest Nation in the world. But we cannot take for granted the dedicated men and women who serve in the United States military. The Military Construction Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2001 recognizes the dedication and commitment of our troops by providing for their most basic needs: improved military facilities, including housing and medical facilities. Last year, this Congress began to meet its responsibility to our troops and the recruitment and retention of military personnel by increasing military pay. This legislation will continue that effort by ensuring an adequate and appropriate quality of life. The quality of housing for service members and their families is an important incentive, attracting and retaining dedicated individuals to military service. Today's poor state of military housing for these men and women clearly serves as a disincentive to reenlistment. This bill provides an overall increase for military construction, which includes $43 million for child development centers, $141 million for hospital and medical facilities, and $26 million for environmental compliance. The bill also provides $859 million for new family housing units and for improvements to existing units. Additionally, I am pleased the committee included $4.1 million for the Niagara Falls International Airport upgrade overrun and runway. The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is home to the 914th Air Reserve (Airlift) Wing and the 109th Air National Guard (Refueling) Wing. Upgrading the runway and constructing the necessary overrun will enable Niagara based fueling aircraft to participate in the ``Air Bridge'' missions which resupply operations in Europe and the Near East as well as serve as a third Northeast Tanker Task Force Location for ``surge'' contingency missions. Mr. Speaker, we must honor the most basic commitments we have made to the men and women of our Armed Services; we must ensure a reasonable quality of life to recruit and retain the best and the brightest to America's fighting forces; and most important, we must do all in our power to ensure a strong, able, dedicated American military, so that this Nation will be ever vigilant, ever prepared. Mr. Speaker, this is a fair and open rule for consideration of the fiscal year 2001 military construction appropriations bill. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 502 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), 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. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous material.)

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, a trial is underway in Iran where the judge serves as investigator, prosecutor, and judge. There is no jury. In fact, this court operates outside the control of the Iranian president. I am referring to the trial of the revolutionary courts of 13 Iranian Jews held in an Iranian prison for over a year. These men are accused of spying for Israel and the United States. After a year, charges have yet to be filed. Both Israel and the United States deny that these men, who include a rabbi, three Hebrew teachers, and a shoe store clerk, were conducting espionage on their behalf. Yet, they are still held. Mr. Speaker, recent election victories by reformers in Iran have shown that the country is attempting to reject the old ways of the hard-liners. This trial is a step in the wrong direction. Iran's mock justice is outrageous and should not be tolerated. The world is watching.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley), the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Rules, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of the resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 489 provides for consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 434, the Trade and Development Act of 2000. The rule waives all points of order against the conference report and its consideration. Additionally, the rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. The Trade and Development Act of 2000 conference report offers opportunities for the United States to enhance trade with diverse nations in both sub-Saharan Africa and Caribbean Basin countries. Mr. Speaker, the end of the Cold War has opened up sub-Saharan Africa to the world as never before. Only now are so many African nations able to start making the necessary reforms to become part of the global economy. The new economic realities of sub-Saharan Africa must be met and encouraged by the United States. Indeed, improving the lives of the people in sub-Saharan Africa can best be accomplished by advancing the development of free market economies and representative democracies. H.R. 434 is a vehicle for that economic and social progression. The Trade and Development Act of 2000 will provide sub-Saharan countries with the tools needed to raise the standard of living in African nations, while simultaneously benefiting the United States by opening new trade and investment opportunities for U.S. firms and workers. Additionally, the bill preserves the United States' commitment to the Caribbean Basin beneficiary countries by promoting growth and free enterprise and economic opportunity in these neighboring countries. By promoting economic opportunity in the Caribbean countries, the United States enhances our own national security interests. The bill includes strict and effective customs procedures to guard against transshipment. Under a ``one strike and you are out'' provision, if an exporter is determined to have engaged in illegal transshipment of textile and apparel products from a CBI country, the President is required to deny all benefits under the bill to that exporter for a period of 2 years. The conference report also focuses on eliminating certain human rights abuses by requiring all countries participating in trade with the United States under this bill to implement commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in order to receive benefits. There is no question that the creation of an investment-friendly environment in Africa and enhancing the Caribbean Basin will benefit all countries involved by attracting the capital needed to provide and promote the needed job creation and economic growth. I would like to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), chairman of the Committee on International Relations; the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), the ranking member; along with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Archer), the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means; the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane), chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade; the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means; and the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close. We have had an opportunity to bring before this House two rules that really bring the bottom line, and that is that the will of the House in its last vote said, at 301 to 114, let us move through consideration of the rule today and, ultimately, let us get under way with the debate of this legislation. So as we look at where we are, we have Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, rural and urban America coming together in this House to put together legislation that has taken a great deal of time. All of the authors deserve a great deal of credit. The next hour of debate will finalize the debate on this legislation, and I urge passage of this rule. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the chair of the Subcommittee on Africa of the Committee on International Relations, and an integral part of making this legislation the crafted conference report that is before us.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe).

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 489 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous material.)

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. All time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker, this rule waives the provisions of clause 6(a) of rule 13, requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Committee on Rules, against resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules. Additionally, the rule applies the waiver of a special rule reported on or before May 4, 2000, providing for consideration or disposition of a conference report to accompany the bill, H.R. 434, to authorize a new trade and investment policy for sub-Sahara Africa, or any amendment reported in disagreement from a conference thereon. Mr. Speaker, this is a straightforward rule to allow the House to move forward with consideration of the conference report on H.R. 434. This measure contains no surprises and was crafted with full consultation with the minority and the appropriate chairman and ranking members of the committees involved. This procedure actually provided the committees more of an opportunity to complete important provisions in the underlying legislation by allowing them to finish their work this morning. Mr. Speaker, both sides of the aisle would like to complete this legislation today, and we have worked closely with all parties involved to do just that. By passing this rule today, we will allow the House to complete this very important legislation. I hope we can move expeditiously to pass this rule. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley), I would point out that, first of all, I believe that the conference report was made available on the Web at 10 o'clock on sunshine this morning. Number two, he and I both know that there are many times that this rule would be completed after the negotiations were done by the conference committees at some 4:30 in the morning, a little longer drive for me coming in from Arlington as my colleague coming from the city. But the fact is that, in an orderly fashion, our colleagues on the Committee on Rules came together, as being summoned by the chairman, at 10 o'clock to say they are actively in negotiations, Republicans and Democrats, both houses, to bring about a solution that will come back to the Committee on Rules and that we could convene at 10:30 in the morning upon the agreement being brought to the light of day and ample time for us to review it. And certainly my staff has brought it to me. The Committee on Rules staff brought it to us as Rules members. We also, in completing the rule to expedite this piece of legislation today, we have taken an opportunity to give our colleagues the ability to get our work done by late today and have Friday to go back to our districts if we so desire. And so, this is in the light of day. We have had it. It is in sunshine. And we also got a nice sleep on the Committee on Rules, which is an unusual feat here. As the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the chairman, sits to my right, I know that he will address again the procedure which we were under as we postponed the consideration while the negotiations went through until about 4:30 this morning. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, we have had an opportunity to hear from a few speakers on the debate that do not favor this legislation. I would now like to introduce and yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules, so he might comment on both the merits of the legislation but more importantly the merits of this rule as it comes before the House today. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 488 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.