Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States

XX. announced that further proceedings on the motion were postponed.

$124.9 DRUG KINGPINS BANKRUPTCY

Mr. GILMAN moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3164) to provide for the imposition of economic sanctions on certain foreign persons engaging in, or otherwise involved in. international narcotics trafficking.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mrs. BIGGERT, recognized Mr. GILMAN and Mr. NADLER, each for 20 minutes. After debate.

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House suspend the rules and pass said bill?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

Mr. MCCOLLUM demanded that the vote be taken by the yeas and nays, which demand was supported by onefifth of the Members present, so the yeas and nays were ordered.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, pursuant to clause 8, rule XX, announced that further proceedings on the motion were postponed.

1124.10 ACQUISITION OF BUILDING IN

TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA

Mr. HORN moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2513) to direct the Administrator of General Services to acquire a building located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and for other purposes.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, recognized Mr. HORN and Mr. TURNER, each for 20 minutes. After debate,

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House suspend the rules and pass said bill?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

So, two-thirds of the Members present having voted in favor thereof. the rules were suspended and said bill was passed.

A motion to reconsider the vote whereby the rules were suspended and said bill was passed was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in said bill. 1124.11 PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION FOR KEY POSITIONS IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Mr. HORN moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3137) to amend the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 to provide for training of individuals a President-elect intends to nominate as department heads or appoint to key positions in the Executive Office of the President.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, recognized Mr. HORN and Mr. TURNER, each for 20 minutes. After debate,

The question being put, viva voce,

Will the House suspend the rules and pass said bill?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

So, two-thirds of the Members present having voted in favor thereof, the rules were suspended and said bill was passed.

A motion to reconsider the vote whereby the rules were suspended and said bill was passed was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in said bill.

124.12 FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

PROGRAMS

Mr. HORN moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill of the Senate (S. 468) to improve the effectiveness and performance of Federal financial assistance programs, simplify Federal financial assistance application and reporting requirements, and improve the delivery of services to the public; as amended.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, recognized Mr. HORN and Mr. TURNER, each for 20 minutes. After debate,

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House suspend the rules and pass said bill, as amended?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

So, two-thirds of the Members present having voted in favor thereof, the rules were suspended and said bill, as amended, was passed.

A motion to reconsider the vote whereby the rules were suspended and said bill, as amended, was passed was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Clerk notify the Senate thereof.

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House suspend the rules and pass said bill, as amended?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

So, two-thirds of the Members present having voted in favor thereof, the rules were suspended and said bill, as amended, was passed.

A motion to reconsider the vote whereby the rules were suspended and said bill, as amended, was passed was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in said bill. 1124.14 NATIONAL CIVILITY WEEK

Mrs. BIGGERT moved to suspend the rules and agree to the following resolution (H. Res. 324):

Whereas our civilization is founded upon the values of honesty, courtesy, and respectful consideration among its citizens;

Whereas we seek to teach and reaffirm these fundamental values of civility;

Whereas a lack of civility in recent years has become frighteningly apparent, as seen in media tales of road rage and school violence, of personal deceit and public corruption:

Whereas common courtesy has become bewilderingly uncommon;

Whereas a large part of many Americans' behavior can be traced to a failure to honor the codes of civil conduct that have governed society for many generations;

Whereas the teaching of courtesy has declined while the celebration of vulgarity and effrontery has increased;

Whereas many Americans have ceased to honor the good examples that surround them;

Whereas in this context, too many people find it easy to manifest disrespect for other age groups, races, and religions;

Whereas National Civility Week, Inc. is a nonpartisan and nonprofit corporation devoted to reintroducing civility in our Nation;

Whereas National Civility Week, Inc. has encouraged the establishment of Civility Weeks in a number of states in an effort to reaffirm society's commitment to adhere to well-established rules of civil conduct;

Whereas National Civility Week, Inc. will honor those who practice common decency and simple honesty; and

Whereas National Civility Week, Inc. will draw attention to the behaviors and standards that we respect as a people, and will celebrate the conduct that ties together the threads of our social fabric: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports these efforts to restore civility, honesty, integrity, and respectful consideration in the United States.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, recognized Mrs. BIGGERT and Mr. LANTOS, each for 20 minutes. After debate,

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House suspend the rules and agree to said resolution?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SUNUNU, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

So, two-thirds of the Members present having voted in favor thereof, the rules were suspended and said resolution was agreed to.

A motion to reconsider the vote whereby the rules were suspended and said resolution was agreed to was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table. 1124.15 NOTICE QUESTION OF

PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE

Mr. VISCLOSKY, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, announced his intention to call up the following resolution, as a question of the privileges of the House:

Calling upon the President to abstain from renegotiating international agreements governing antidumping and countervailing

measures.

Whereas under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, the Congress has power and responsibility with regard to foreign commerce and the conduct of international trade negotiations;

Whereas the House of Representatives is deeply concerned that, in connection with the World Trade Organization Ministerial meeting to be held in Seattle, Washington, and the multilateral trade negotiations expected to follow, a few countries are seeking to circumvent the agreed list of negotiation topics and reopen debate over the WTO's antidumping and antisubsidy rules;

and

Whereas strong antidumping antisubsidy rules are a cornerstone of the liberal trade policy of the United States and are essential to the health of the manufacturing and farm sectors of the United States;

Whereas it has long been and remains the policy of the United States to support its antidumping and antisubsidy laws and to defend those laws in international negotiations:

Whereas the current absence of official negotiating objectives on the statute books. must not be allowed to undermine the Congress' constitutional role in charting the direction of United States trade policy;

Whereas under present circumstances, launching a negotiation that includes antidumping and antisubsidy issues would affect the rights of the House and the integrity of its proceedings;

Whereas opening these rules to renegotiation could only lead to weakening them, which would in turn lead to even greater abuse of the world's open markets, particularly that of the United States;

Whereas, conversely, avoiding another divisive fight over these rules is the best way to promote progress on the other, far more important issues facing the WTO members; and

Whereas it is, therefore, essential that negotiations on these antidumping and antisubsidy matters not be reopened under the auspices of the WTO or otherwise:

Now, therefore, be it resolved, That the House of Representatives calls upon the President:

(1) not to participate in any international negotiation in which antidumping or antisubsidy rules are part of the negotiating agenda;

(2) to refrain from submitting for congressional approval agreements that require changes to the current antidumping and countervailing duty laws and enforcement policies of the United States; and

(3) to enforce the antidumping and countervailing duty laws vigorously in all pending and future cases.

tempore, Mr.

The SPEAKER pro SHIMKUS, responded to the foregoing notice, and said:

"Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. VISCLOSKY] will appear in the Record at this point.

"The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at the time designated for consideration of the resolution.".

1124.16 INCREASE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN DECENNIAL CENSUS

Mr. MILLER of Florida moved to suspend the rules and agree to the following concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 193):

Whereas the decennial census is required by article I, section 2, clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States;

Whereas, in order to achieve a successful decennial census, the joint efforts of Federal, State, and local government, and of other institutions, groups, organizations, and individuals will be needed;

Whereas the Bureau of the Census has implemented a partnership program through which a comprehensive outreach, education, and motivation campaign is being carried out to encourage all segments of the population to participate in the upcoming census; and

Whereas it is fitting and proper that Congress seek to promote the efforts of the Bureau of the Census, and of the other aforementioned institutions, organizations, groups, and individuals to achieve a successful decennial census: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress

(1) recognizes the importance of achieving a successful decennial census;

(2) encourages State and local governments, community leaders, and all other parties involved in this joint undertaking to continue to work to ensure a successful census;

(3) reaffirms the spirit of cooperation that exists between Congress and the Bureau of the Census with respect to achieving a successful census; and

(4) asserts this public partnership between Congress and the Bureau of the Census to promote the decennial census.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SHIMKUS, recognized Mr. MILLER of Florida and Mrs. MALONEY of New York, each for 20 minutes.

¶124.18 NOTICE REQUIREMENT QUESTION

OF PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE

Mr. WISE, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, announced his intention to call up the following resolution, as a question of the privileges of the House: Calling on the President to abstain from renegotiating international agreements governing antidumping and countervailing measures.

Whereas under Art. I, Section 8 of the Constitution, the Congress has power and responsibility with regard to foreign commerce and the conduct of international trade negotiations;

Whereas the House of Representatives is deeply concerned that, in connection with the World Trade Organization ("WTO") Ministerial meeting to be held in Seattle, Washington, and the multilateral trade negotiations expected to follow, a few countries are seeking to circumvent the agreed list of negotiation topics and reopen debate over the WTO's antidumping and antisubsidy rules;

Whereas the Congress has not approved new negotiations on antidumping or antisubsidy rules and has clearly, but so far informally, signaled its opposition to such negotiations;

Whereas, under present circumstances, launching a negotiation that includes antidumping and antisubsidy issues would affect the rights of the House and the integrity of its proceedings;

Whereas the WTO antidumping and antisubsidy rules concluded in the Uruguay Round have scarcely been tested since they entered into effect and certainly have not proved defective:

Whereas opening these rules to renegotiation could only lead to weakening them, which would in turn lead to even greater abuse of the world's open markets, particularly that of the United States;

Whereas conversely, avoiding another divisive fight over these rules is the best way to promote progress on the other, far more important, issues facing WTO members; and

Whereas it is therefore essential that negotiations on these antidumping and antisubsidy matters not be reopened under the auspices of the WTO or otherwise: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives calls upon the President

(1) not to participate in any international negotiation in which antidumping or antisubsidy rules are part of the negotiating agenda:

(2) to refrain from submitting for congressional approval agreements that require changes to the current antidumping and countervailing duty laws and enforcement policies of the United States; and

(3) to enforce the antidumping and countervailing duty laws vigorously in all pending and future cases.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SHIMKUS, responded to the foregoing notice, and said:

"Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the gentleman from West Virginia [Mr. WISE] will appear in the Record at this point.

"The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at the time designated for consideration of the resolution.".

$124.19 ZACHARY FISHER, HONORARY

VETERAN OF UNITED STATES ARMED
FORCES

Mr. STUMP moved to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H. J. Res. 46) conferring status as an honorary veteran of the United States Armed Forces on Zachary Fisher.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SHIMKUS, recognized Mr. STUMP and Mr. EVANS, each for 20 minutes. After debate,

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House suspend the rules and pass said joint resolution?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SHIMKUS, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

So, two-thirds of the Members present having voted in favor thereof, the rules were suspended and said joint resolution was passed.

A motion to reconsider, the vote whereby the rules were suspended and said joint resolution was passed was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in said joint resolution.

¶124.20 AMERICANS OF ASIAN ANCESTRY

REGARDING CAMPAIGN FINANCING

On motion of Mr. HYDE, by unanimous consent, the Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of the following concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 124):

Whereas the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are truths we hold as self-evident:

Whereas all Americans are entitled to the equal protection of law;

Whereas Americans of Asian ancestry have made profound contributions to American life, including the arts, our economy, education, the sciences, technology, politics, and sports, among others;

Whereas Americans of Asian ancestry have demonstrated their patriotism by honorably serving to defend the United States in times of armed conflict, from the Civil War to the present; and

Whereas due to recent allegations of espionage and illegal campaign financing, the loyalty and probity of Americans of Asian ancestry has been questioned: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that

(1) no Member of Congress or any other American should generalize or stereotype the actions of an individual to an entire group of people;

(2) Americans of Asian ancestry are entitled to all rights and privileges afforded to all Americans; and

(3) the Attorney General, the Secretary of Energy, and the Commissioner of the Equal

Employment

Opportunity

Commission should, within their respective jurisdictions, vigorously enforce the security of America's national laboratories and investigate all allegations of discrimination in public or private workplaces.

By unanimous consent, the previous question was ordered on the concurrent resolution to its adoption or rejection and under the operation thereof, the concurrent resolution was agreed to.

A motion to reconsider the vote whereby said said concurrent resolution was agreed to was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in said concurrent resolution.

$124.21 ANTITRUST LAWS TECHNICAL

CORRECTIONS

Mr. HYDE moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1801) to make technical corrections to various antitrust laws and to references to such laws; as amended.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. SHIMKUS, recognized Mr. HYDE and Ms. JACKSON-LEE, each for 20 minutes.

After debate,

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House suspend the rules and pass said bill, as amended?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

So. two-thirds of the Members present having voted in favor thereof, the rules were suspended and said bill, as amended, was passed.

A motion to reconsider the vote whereby the rules were suspended and said bill, as amended, was passed was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in said bill. 1124.22 NOTICE REQUIREMENT-QUESTION OF PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE Mr. KUCINICH, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, announced his intention to call up the following resolution, as a question of the privileges of the House:

Calling on the President to abstain from renegotiating international agreements governing antidumping and countervailing

measures.

Whereas under Art. I, Section 8 of the Constitution, the Congress has power and responsibility with regard to foreign commerce and the conduct of international trade negotiations;

Whereas the House of Representatives is deeply concerned, that in connection with the World Trade Organization ("WTO") Ministerial meeting to be held in Seattle, Washington, and the multilateral trade negotiations expected to follow, few countries are seeking to circumvent the agreed list of negotiations topics and reopen debate over the WTO's antidumping and antisubsidy rules;

Whereas the built-in agenda for future WTO negotiations, which was set out in the Uruguay Round package ratified by Congress in 1994, includes agriculture trade, services trade, and intellectual property protection but does not include antidumping or antisubsidy rules;

Whereas the Congress has not approved new negotiations on antidumping or antisubsidy rules and has clearly, but so far informally, signaled its opposition to such negotiations;

and

Whereas it has long been and remains the policy of the United States to support its antidumping and antisubsidy laws and to defend those laws in international negotiations;

Whereas an important part of Congress' participation in the formulation of trade policy is the enactment of official negotiating objectives against which completed agreements can be measured when presented for ratification;

Whereas the current absence of official negotiating objectives on the statute books must not be allowed to undermine the Congress' constitutional role in charting the direction of United State trade policy;

Whereas the WTO antidumping and antisubsidy rules concluded in the Uruguay Round have scarcely been tested since they entered into effect and certainly have not proved defective:

Whereas opening these rules to renegotiation could only lead to weakening them, which would in turn lead to even greater abuse of the world's open markets, particularly that of the United States;

Whereas conversely, avoiding another divisive fight over these rules is the best way to promote progress on the other, far more important, issues facing WTO members; and

Whereas it is therefore essential that negotiations on these antidumping and antisubsidy matters not be reopened under the auspices of the WTO or otherwise: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives calls upon the President

(1) not to participate in any international negotiation in which antidumping antisubsidy rules are part of the negotiating agenda;

(2) to refrain from submitting for congressional approval agreements that require changes to the current antidumping and countervailing duty laws and enforcement policies of the United States; and

(3) to enforce the antidumping and countervailing duty law vigorously in all pending and future cases.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, responded to the foregoing notice, and said:

"Under rule IX, a resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence only at a time or place designated by the Chair within two legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed. "Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. KUCINICH] will appear in the Record at this point.

"The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at the time designated for consideration of the resolution.".

¶124.23 NURSING RELIEF FOR

DISADVANTAGED AREAS

Mr. SMITH of Texas moved to suspend the rules and agree to the fol

lowing amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 441) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to the requirements for the admission of nonimmigrant nurses who will practice in health professional shortage

areas:

Page 18, after line 5, insert:

SEC. 5. NATIONAL INTEREST WAIVERS OF JOB OFFER REQUIREMENTS FOR ALIENS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSIONS HOLDING ADVANCED DEGREES OR ALIENS OF EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY.

Section 203(b)(2)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(B)) is amended to read as follows:

“(B) WAIVER OF JOB OFFER.—

"(i) NATIONAL INTEREST WAIVER.-Subject to clause (ii), the Attorney General may, when the Attorney General deems it to be in the national interest, waive the requirements of subparagraph (A) that an alien's services in the sciences, arts, professions, or business be sought by an employer in the United States.

"(ii) PHYSICIANS WORKING IN SHORTAGE AREAS OR VETERANS FACILITIES.

“(I) IN GENERAL.-The Attorney General shall grant a national interest waiver pursuant to clause (i) on behalf of any alien physician with respect to whom a petition for preference classification has been filed under subparagraph (A) if

"(aa) the alien physician agrees to work full time as a physician in an area or areas designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as having a shortage of health care professionals or at a health care facility under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and

"(bb) a Federal agency or a department of public health in any State has previously determined that the alien physician's work in such an area or at such facility was in the public interest.

"(II) PROHIBITION.-No permanent resident visa may be issued to an alien physician described in subclause (1) by the Secretary of State under section 204(b), and the Attorney General may not adjust the status of such an alien physician from that of a nonimmigrant alien to that of a permanent resident alien under section 245, until such time as the alien has worked full time as a physician for an aggregate of five years (not including the time served in the status of an alien described in section 101(a)(15)(J)), in an area or areas designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as having a shortage of health care professionals or at a health care facility under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

"(III) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.-Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to prevent the filing of a petition with the Attorney General for classification under section 204(a), or the filing of an application for adjustment of status under section 245, by an alien physician described in subclause (1) prior to the date by which such alien physician has completed the service described in subclause (II).

"(IV) EFFECTIVE DATE.-The requirements of this subsection do not affect waivers on behalf of alien physicians approved under section 203(b)(2)(B) before the enactment date of this subsection. In the case of a physician for whom an application for a waiver was filed under section 203(b)(2)(B) prior to November 1, 1998, the Attorney General shall grant a national interest waiver pursuant to section 203(b)(2)(B) except that the alien is required to have worked full time as a physician for an aggregate of three years (not including time served in the status of an alien described in section 101(a)(15)(J)) before a visa can be issued to the alien under section 204(b) or the status of the alien is adjusted to permanent resident under section 245.".

SEC. 6. FURTHER CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL AC

COUNTING FIRMS. Section 206(a) of the Immigration Act of 1990 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended to read as follows:

"(a) CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTING FIRMS.-In applying sections 101(a)(15)(L) and 203(b)(1)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and for no other purpose, in the case of a partnership that is organized in the United States to provide accounting or management consulting services and that markets its accounting or management consulting services under an internationally recognized name under an agreement with a worldwide coordinating organization that is collectively owned and controlled by the member accounting and management consulting firms or by the elected members (partners, shareholders, members, employees) thereof, an entity that is organized outside the United States to provide accounting or management consulting services shall be considered to be an affiliate of the United States accounting or management consulting partnership if it markets its accounting or management consulting services under the same internationally recognized name directly or indirectly under an agreement with the same worldwide coordinating organization of which the United States partnership is also a member. Those partnerships organized within the United States and entities organized outside the United States which are considered affiliates under this subsection shall continue to be considered affiliates to the extent such firms enter into a plan of association with a successor worldwide coordinating organization, which need not be collectively owned and controlled.".

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, recognized Mr. SMITH of Texas and Ms. JACKSON-LEE, each for 20 minutes.

After debate,

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House suspend the rules and agree to said amendment?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

So, two-thirds of the Members present having voted in favor thereof, the rules were suspended and said amendment was agreed to.

A motion to reconsider the vote whereby the rules were suspended and said amendment was agreed to was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table. Ordered, That the Clerk notify the Senate thereof.

1124.24 NOTICE REQUIREMENT QUESTION

OF PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE

Ms. KAPTUR, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, announced her intention to call up the following resolution, as a question of the privileges of the House:

We know the World Trade Organization is about to meet in Seattle, and whereas under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, the Congress has the power and responsibility with regard to foreign commerce and the conduct of international trade negotiations; Whereas the House of Representatives is deeply concerned that in connection with the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting to be held in Seattle, Washington, later this month, and the multilateral trade negotiations expected to follow, a few countries are seeking to circumvent the agreed list of negotiation topics and reopen the debate over the World Trade Organization's antidumping and anti subsidy rules;

antisubsidy rules are a cornerstone of the liberal trade policy of the United States and are essential to the health of the manufacturing and farm sectors here in our country;

And whereas it has long been and remains the policy of the United States to support antidumping and antisubsidy laws and to defend those laws in international negotiations;

Whereas the current absence of official negotiating objectives on the statute books must not be allowed to undermine the Congress' constitutional role in charting the direction of U.S. trade policy;

Whereas, under present circumstances, launching a negotiation that includes antidumping and antisubsidy issues would affect the rights of the House and the integrity of its proceedings;

Whereas the WTO antidumping and antisubsidy rules concluded in the Uruguay Round have scarcely been tested since they entered into effect and certainly have not proven effective in view of our trade deficit;

Whereas opening these rules to renegotiation could only lead to weakening them, which would in turn lead to even greater abuse of the world's open markets, particularly that of the United States, which has become the greatest dump market in the world:

Whereas conversely, avoiding another decisive fight over these rules is the best way to promote progress on the other far more important issues facing the World Trade Organization Members;

Whereas it is therefore essential that negotiations on these antidumping and antisubsidy matters not be reopened under the auspices of the World Trade Organization or otherwise:

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the House of Representatives calls upon the President (1) not to participate in any international negotiation in which antidumping or antisubsidy rules are part of the negotiating agenda; (2) to refrain from submitting for Congressional approval agreements that require changes to the current antidumping and countervailing duty laws and enforcement policies of the United States; and (3) also calls upon the President to enforce the antidumping and countervailing duty laws vigorously in all pending and future cases.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, responded to the foregoing notice, and said:

"Under rule IX, a resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence only at a time or place designated by the Chair within two legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed. "Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by by the gentlelady from Ohio [Ms. KAPTUR] will appear in the Record at this point.

"The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at the time designated for consideration of the resolution.".

1124.25 NOTICE REQUIREMENT QUESTION OF PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE Mr. TRAFICANT, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, announced his inten

tion to call up a resolution as a question of the privileges of the House, and said:

"Mr. Speaker, the question of privilege expresses the sense of the House that its integrity has been impuned because the antidumping provisions of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1930, Subtitle B of title VII, have not been enforced.

"Therefore, the resolution calls upon the President to, number one, immediately obtain volunteer restraint agreements from Japan, Russia, the Ukraine, Korea and Brazil which limit those countries in July to June fiscal year 1999 to their exports calculated from fiscal year 1998.

"Number two, to immediately impose a 1-year ban on imports of hot-rolled steel products and plate steel products that are the product of manufacture of Japan, Russia, the Ukraine, Korea or Brazil, if the President is unable to obtain such volunteer restraint agreements within 10 days.

"Number three, to pursue with all tools at his disposal a more equitable sharing of the burden of accepting imports of finished steel products from Asia and the countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States.

"Number four, to establish a task force to closely monitor the imports of steel.

"Finally, to report to Congress by no later than January 5 with a prehensive plan for responding to this import surge, including ways of limiting its deleterious effect on employment, prices and investment in the United States steel industry.".

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, responded to the foregoing notice, and said:

"Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. TRAFICANT] will appear in the Record at this point.

"The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at the time designated for consideration of the resolution.".

¶124.26 PRAYERS AND INVOCATIONS AT

PUBLIC SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS Mr. SMITH of Texas moved to suspend the rules and agree to the following concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 199):

Whereas prayers at public school sporting events are entirely consistent with our American heritage of seeking Divine guidance and protection in all of our undertakings;

Whereas sporting events provide a significant and long-lasting impact in character and values development among young people;

Whereas prayers and invocations have been demonstrated to positively affect the fair play and sportsmanlike behavior of both players and spectators at sporting events;

Whereas lower court rulings about prayer at sporting events have placed school and community leaders in the difficult position of choosing between conflicting values, rights, and laws;

Whereas congressional leaders have found value in beginning each legislative day with prayers; and

Whereas statements of belief in a Supreme Power and the virtue of seeking strength and protection from that Power are prevalent throughout our national history, currency, and rituals: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that

(1) prayers and invocations at public school sporting events are constitutional under the First Amendment to the Constitution; and (2) the Supreme Court, accordingly, should uphold the constitutionality of such practices.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, recognized Mr. SMITH of Texas and Mr. CONYERS, each for 20 minutes.

After debate,

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House suspend the rules and agree to said concurrent resolution?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

So, two-thirds of the Members present having voted in favor thereof. the rules were suspended and said concurrent resolution was agreed to.

A motion to reconsider the vote whereby the rules were suspended and said concurrent resolution was agreed to was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in said concurrent resolution. ¶124.27

HURRICANE FLOYD DISASTER

Mrs. FOWLER moved to suspend the rules and agree to the following resolution (H. Res. 349):

Resolved,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

The House of Representatives finds the following:

(1) Hurricane Floyd made landfall on the coast of North Carolina on September 15, 1999, as a category two hurricane.

(2) In the State of North Carolina alone, the hurricane caused the deaths of at least 50 individuals, damage to more than 40,000 homes, and billions of dollars in infrastructure damage and agricultural losses.

(3) Citizens of the States of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut have registered for Federal disaster relief aid as a result of Hurricane Floyd.

(4) More than 6 weeks after this disaster, the citizens of these States continue to await critical assistance from the Federal government to rebuild their homes, businesses, and lives.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should immediately transmit to Congress the President's recommendations for emergency response ac

tions, including appropriate offsets, to provide relief and assistance to the victims of Hurricane Floyd.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, recognized Mrs. recognized Mrs. FOWLER and Mr. TRAFICANT, each for 20 minutes.

After debate,

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House suspend the rules and agree to said resolution?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, announced that two-thirds of the Members present had voted in the affirmative.

Mr. COBLE demanded that the vote be taken by the yeas and nays, which demand was supported by one-fifth of the Members present, so the yeas and nays were ordered.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mrs. BIGGERT, pursuant to clause 8, rule XX, announced that further proceedings on the motion were postponed.

¶124.28 MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

A message from the Senate by Mr. Lundregan, one of its clerks, announced that the Senate agrees to the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 3064) "An Act making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and for other purposes.".

¶124.29 H. CON. RES. 213-UNFINISHED BUSINESS

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, pursuant to clause 8, rule XX, announced the unfinished business to be the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 213) encouraging the Secretary of Education to promote, and state and local educational agencies to incorporate in their education programs, financial literacy training. The question being put,

Will the House suspend the rules and agree to said concurrent resolution? The vote was taken by electronic device.

It was decided in the affirmative.....