Thomas Reynolds

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as I listened to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney) talk about being back in our district on Friday, one of my great heros of this great House is the former speaker of Massachusetts, I am reminded every day that all politics is local. I am looking forward to being back in my community on Friday because we have the opportunity to debate this today. I think it is important, as I share with my father, that when we debate this, it is not a Republican or a Democrat or a majority or a minority issue; this is you are either a free trader and opening up those countries, as my colleague from New York (Mr. Rangel) pointed out, or you are a protectionist, and that is fine, and that debate should be in this hall and it will be. And I just want to remind my colleagues how much time today we are going to have to debate this issue. We are going to debate it for an hour now on the rules to suspend and waive the rules, so we can have immediate consideration. Right after this legislation passes or is defeated, we will have a debate on the rule itself, and that will be another hour. And then we will have an hour debate on the conference report as the merits of the legislation by those who negotiated it through the wee hours of this morning had the opportunity to bring to the floor for all of our colleagues to participate in that debate, a rather lengthy debate on the issue. And when we conclude today, we have actually had more debate on this issue, no matter where you come down on the issue, than we would have on any other normal circumstances, and we have done it in the light of day. And the chairman of the Committee on Rules has given us a night's sleep, which is an unusual occurrence if you are a Member of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this open and fair rule. Mr. Speaker, I have no further request 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 468 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 468 is an open rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 2328, a bill to reauthorize the Clean Lakes Program. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The rule also makes in order the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure amendment in the nature of a substitute now printed in the bill as an original bill for the purpose of an amendment. The rule waives clause 7 of rule XVI, prohibiting nongermane amendments against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute and provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be open for amendment by section. Additionally, the rule authorizes the chairman of the Committee of the Whole to accord priority in recognition to Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional Record and to postpone votes during consideration of the bill and to reduce voting time to 5 minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a 15-minute vote. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, the Clean Lakes Program was included in the 1972 amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act. This broad-based program helps communities to address a wide range of water quality issues and helps States through grants and technical assistance. Reauthorization of the Clean Lakes Program is a necessary measure that will provide much-needed financial and technical assistance to states to restore publicly owned lakes. It is important to note that this is the primary Federal program that places the national focus and priority on lakes, their monitoring, protection, and management. Mr. Speaker, the funding authorization for this program expired in fiscal year 1990. The program has not received funding since fiscal year 1995. Recently, the EPA has recognized the need to focus on clean lakes activities and has encouraged States to set aside monies from other programs to fund the Clean Lakes Program. In addition, various public and private organizations involved in lake water quality management have been seeking an increase in funding for this program. Over the past two decades, lake restoration techniques have improved dramatically, and are viewed by many as an important component in meeting the Clean Water Act's objective of having all our Nation's waters fishable and swimmable, including the 41 million acres of fresh water lakes. One of the most damaging contributing factors to the toxicity of these lakes in the Northeast is acid rain. Not only is it a costly problem to solve, but it can overwhelm State budgets. Funding the Clean Lakes Program is necessary to meet the States' needs in combatting the devastating effects of acid rain and other environmental pollutants. Finally, Mr. Speaker, this legislation provides the opportunity for necessary partnerships among Federal, State, and local entities to focus both on the prevention and the remediation of pollution. Working together, Federal, State, and local governments can focus attention and resources on the special needs of our Nation's lakes. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), the bill's sponsor, for his hard work on this measure. In addition, I would like to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar.) Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support both this rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of the resolution, all time is yielded 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, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 470 is an open rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 3039, a bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to assist in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and the ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides that the bill shall be open for amendment at any point, and authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional Record. Additionally, the rule 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 the rule follows a 15 minute vote. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, the Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and is an important commercial, recreational, and historical center for thousands of residents in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. The Chesapeake Bay is protected and promoted under a unique voluntary partnership under the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, first adopted in 1983. The signatories to the agreement are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and the States of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, along with the District of Columbia. The agreement directs and conducts the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Over the past two decades, much progress has been made in restoring the Chesapeake Bay. Area wildlife is recovering, toxic pollutant releases are down, and bay grasses have increased. However, much more needs to be done, particularly regarding water clarity and restoring the oyster population. This bill addresses the need for a cooperative Federal, State, and local effort in restoring the Chesapeake Bay by authorizing $180 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program for fiscal years 2000 through 2005. In addition, the bill requires Federal facilities to participate in watershed planning and restoration activities. Finally, the bill requires a study of the state of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and a study of the Chesapeake Bay Program's effect on this ecosystem. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support both 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 470 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, I rise today to mark the 100th Anniversary of Clarence Grange No. 892. More than 250 years ago, George Washington wrote ``I know of no pursuit in which more real and important services can be rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture.'' Despite the passing of the centuries between our generation and that of our Founding Fathers, their wisdom is eternal. Since its conception as an agricultural organization, the Grange has grown to be much more than that. It reflects and embraces the spirit of fellowship, community, faith and family. For the past 100 years, Clarence members have embodied the purposes and the principles of the Grange--``meeting together, talking together, working together,'' striving to ``secure harmony, good will and brotherhood.'' As a longtime member of the Grange myself, I've seen the great work they do, their commitment to community, and devotion to faith and family. Mr. Speaker, I ask that this Congress join me in extending both our heartiest congratulations on the 100th birthday of Clarence Grange No. 892, and our sincerest best wishes for continued success as they begin another century of service to the community.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule. The reason we are here today is very simple. The Clinton-Gore administration was caught sleeping on the job. A year ago, OPEC nations cut production quotas by 2 million barrels a day. A year ago, oil-producing nations engaged in a deliberate and calculated effort to drive up energy costs in this country. A year ago, the Clinton-Gore administration did nothing. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson admits that they were, quote, napping. That is not a nap, that is a hibernation. From home heating to gasoline, consumers have been hit with double-digit increases in energy costs. In my own home area of western New York in the Finger Lakes, we have experienced how particularly hard hit the Northeast has been over the past several months. Our only hope is that now that the President has family living in upstate New York, he may be more sensitive to the needs of the Northeast. It is time for the Clinton-Gore administration to stand up for American consumers and working families by standing up to those nations engaged in price fixing. Finally, in the last year of this administration, it is time for the Clinton-Gore team offering up to the American people a plan for energy management rather than crisis management.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood).

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly). (Mrs. KELLY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert). (Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Committee on Rules met and granted a standard rule for consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 1000, the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century. As is customary for all conference report rules, the rule waives all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration. Mr. Speaker, Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote, ``For my part, I travel not to go anywhere but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.'' This Nation's proud history is filled with the deeds and adventures of great explorers and brave pioneers whose journeys were often more fascinating than their destinations. As we continue to explore, pioneer and grow, the people of a young nation no longer travel just for adventure or, as Stevenson opined, solely for travel's sake. We began traveling for a much simpler purpose. We traveled to get somewhere. We never stop finding a way to do it safer, faster and cheaper. Whether it was the trailblazers of the Old West laying rails across a new frontier or immigrants from the Old World digging the ditches of a new canal; the growth, prosperity and opportunities of this great Nation have been intertwined with our ability, as a people, to move. Throughout that history, this Congress has been called upon for its leadership and sometimes its help to make certain that the transportation needs of this country and its citizens were met safely, efficiently, and adequately. Often that work is not easy, and I commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) for his efforts and his diligence. Mr. Speaker, air travel is as critical to our Nation's economy as its future, just as surely as wagon trains and railroads were to expanding our land and our prosperity. Issues affecting airline, airport and aviation safety have been of paramount concern over the years, and this Congress has been working to find the solutions to those issues and problems. Our Nation's travelers have rightfully called for a greater safety and an end to needless delays and uncertain schedules. The airline industry has called out for increased safety measures, much-needed radar modernization and funding for airport construction projects. The Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century provides for critical changes to improve competition, reforms the Federal Aviation Administration, helps small communities and large airports alike, and most important, makes our skies safer. Mr. Speaker, the safety of our skies and our citizens must remain a paramount concern of this Congress. This bill goes a long way toward improving airline safety by increasing investment for FAA's facilities and equipment budget by almost 50 percent so that the agency can modernize our antiquated air traffic control system. Additionally, H.R. 1000 provides the FAA sufficient funding to hire and retain the air traffic controllers, maintenance technicians and inspectors necessary for the safety of the aviation system. Mr. Speaker, this bill helps airline passengers and their families by strengthening the provisions of the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act that was created following the tragic Value Jet and TWA 800 crashes. Those terrible tragedies left already fearful family members without timely or accurate information, something that should never happen again. Additionally, this bill spurs needed competition on behalf of American consumers. In my own district in Upstate New York, the high cost of air travel has been an ongoing concern, as we earned the dubious distinction of being one of the costliest areas in the Nation to travel by air. This region of the State, as do others across the Nation, needs greater airline competition and lower airline costs. H.R. 1000 addresses much of that concern, by setting a dated elimination of slot restrictions at O'Hare, LaGuardia and Kennedy Airports, allowing smaller communities better access to New York and Chicago, as well as immediate access for regional jets. The bill also creates a new funding program to help small, underserved airports market and promote their air service and for the first time funds general aviation airports. As our reliance on air travel for business and commerce, vocations and vacations continues to grow, this bill provides the assistance needed for burgeoning airports across the Nation. In my own region, the Buffalo and Rochester Airports will see funds from the Airport Improvement Program more than double, as will most others across the United States. Mr. Speaker, this bill not only accomplishes a great deal on behalf of competition, growth, and safety in America's aviation system, it is a product of deliberation and consensus reflecting both the complexities and agreement of the two Houses of this Congress, as well as the executive branch. In conclusion, I would like to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member, for their hard work on this measure. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, at this point I would like to insert into the Record a series of correspondence between the chairman and the ranking member of the Committee on Rules and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure concerning application of section 106 of the conference report to accompany H.R. 1000. Committee on Rules, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, March 10, 2000. Hon. Bud Shuster, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Bud: The Rules Committee is planning to meet on March 14th to grant a rule for the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 1000, the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act of the 21st Century (AIR21). Since the conference report contains provisions establishing new points of order in the rules of the House and Senate, we would appreciate you responding to the enclosed questions prior to the hearing. Your responses will help us to develop a legislative history that will assist in the implementation of the points of order contained in the legislation. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, David Dreier. Joseph Moakley. Questions to Chairman Shuster Regarding the Application of Section 106 of the Conference Report To Accompany H.R. 1000 1. How is the Chair to interpret the language in section 106 of the conference report with regard to a limitation amendment to a general appropriation bill? In particular, how should the Chair interpret ``cause total budget resources in a fiscal year for aviation investment programs described in subsection (b) to be less than the amount required by subsection (a)(1)(A) for such fiscal year''? (Section 106(c)(1)) 2. Is there statutory discretion for the FAA to reprogram funds in the event of an amendment that limits funding for a project? If so, where is the statutory discretion? 3. How is the Chair to interpret the language in section 106 of the conference report with regard to a supplemental appropriations bill or a continuing resolution? 4. How is the Chair to interpret the language in section 106 of the conference report with regard to an ``across-the- board'' cut? 5. What calculations would the Chair have to undertake in determining whether the point of order applies to a bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion or conference report? 6. To what extent should the Chair rely on estimates from outside entities? (e.g. Budget Committee, CBO, OMB).

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

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde). (Mr. HYDE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, to close, this bill not only accomplishes a great deal on behalf of competition, growth, and safety in America's aviation system, it is a product of deliberation and consensus, reflecting both the complexities and agreement of the two Houses of this Congress as well as the Executive Branch. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill. 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, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 438 and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 438, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 1000) to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.