H.R.2620: Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002

The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 107-159, by Mr. Walsh.

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 94.

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 209 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2620.

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 210 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2620 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be read by paragraph. Bill is open to amendments.

Rule H. Res. 209 passed House.

Rule H. Res. 210 passed House.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 210.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2620 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be read by paragraph. Bill is open to amendments.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 210 and Rule XXIII.

The Speaker designated the Honorable John Shimkus to act as Chairman of the Committee.

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2620.

DEBATE - UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, DEBATE ON AMENDMENTS WILL PROCEED UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a unanimous consent agreement, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 50 minutes of debate on the Obey amendments en bloc, pending reservation of a point of order.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Foley amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Foley demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Nadler amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Nadler demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Filner amendment pending reservation of a point of order.

DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Kleczka amendment pending reservation of a point of order.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a unanimous consent agreement, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 16 minutes of debate on the Filner amendments en bloc, pending reservation of a point of order.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Davis (IL) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Davis (IL) demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Velazquez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Velazquez demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the LaFalce amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Lee demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

Mr. Frank moved that the Committee rise.

On motion that the Committee rise Failed by recorded vote: 189 - 230 (Roll no. 280).

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2620 as unfinished business.

Considered as unfinished business.

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

DEBATE - UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WILL PROCEED WITH DEBATE ON AMENDMENTS UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Frank amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Frank demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Walsh asked unanimous consent that the amendments numbered 44, 45, and 46 be offered out of order in consideration of the bill without prejudice to amendments which would be in order relative to the reading of the bill. Agreed to without objection.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Kaptur amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Kaptur demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a unanimous consent agreement, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 60 minutes of debate on the Bonior amendment, equally divided and controlled.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Bonior amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Bonior demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2620 as unfinished business.

ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Walsh asked unanimous consent that during further consideration of H.R. 2620 in the Committee of the Whole pursuant to H.Res. 210: (1) No amendment to the bill may be offered except pro forma amendments offered by the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations; the amendment printed in House Report 107-164; the amendments printed in the Congressional Record numbered 5, 6, 7, 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 46; two amendments by Mr. Frank of Massachusetts and one amendment by Mr. Traficant; one amendment en bloc by Ms. Jackson-Lee consisting of amendments numbered 31, 33, 34, and 35 printed in the Congressional Record. Debate time on amendments is as follows: amendments numbered 6, 12, 24, 39, and 42 for 20 minutes each...(continued)

ORDER OF PROCEDURE (continued) - Amendments numbered 5 and 37 and one amendment by Mr. Frank for 30 minutes each; amendment numbered 46 for 40 minutes. All points of order are waived against amendment numbered 25; and the amendment printed in House Report 107-164 may amend portions of the bill not yet read. Agreed to without objection.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 40 minutes of debate on the Menendez amendment.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Menendez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Menendez demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

Considered as unfinished business.

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Weldon (PA) amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson-Lee amendments en bloc, pending reservation of a point of order.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson-Lee amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Capps amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pallone amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Barcia amendment.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Barcia amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. LaTourette demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

Mr. Gillmor raised a point of order against the content of the measure. Beginning with "except" on page 64, line 12, and ending with "contaminants" on page 64, line 17 constitutes legislation in an appropriations bill. The Chair sustained the point of order.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Pelosi amendment, as modified.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Capps amendment.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Capps amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Capps demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Roemer amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bishop amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Frelinghuysen amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waxman amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rangel amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Traficant amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Roemer amendment.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Frank amendment pending reservation of a point of order.

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Frank amendment.

VOTE POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Frank amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Frank demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2620.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

Mr. Boyd moved to recommit with instructions to Appropriations.

Floor summary: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Boyd motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion require the Committee on Appropriations to report the bill back to the House with an amendment to increase funding for veterans medical care programs by an amount adequate to fund the full cost of all currently authorized services including those authorized by Public Law 106-117, the Veterans Millenium Health Care Act.

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 196 - 230 (Roll no. 296).

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 336 - 89 (Roll no. 297).

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 109.

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

Considered by Senate.

Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 5. Record Vote Number: 269.

Senate insists on its amendment, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Mikulski, Leahy, Harkin, Byrd, Kohl, Johnson, Hollings, Inouye, Bond, Burns, Shelby, Craig, Domenici, DeWine and Stevens.

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Mr. Walsh asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference.

On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection.

The Speaker appointed conferees: Walsh, DeLay, Hobson, Knollenberg, Frelinghuysen, Northup, Sununu, Goode, Aderholt, Young (FL), Mollohan, Kaptur, Meek (FL), Price (NC), Cramer, Fattah, and Obey.

Conferees agreed to file conference report.

Conference report H. Rept. 107-272 filed.

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 279 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to H.R. 2620. All points of order against the conference report and against its consideration are waived. The conference report shall be considered as read when called up for consideration.

Mr. Walsh brought up conference report H. Rept. 107-272 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 279.

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report.

Rule H. Res. 279 passed House.

The previous question was ordered without objection.

On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 401 - 18 (Roll no. 434).

Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Conference papers: Senate report and manager's statement and message on House action held at the desk in Senate.

Conference report considered in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 7. Record Vote Number: 334.

Cleared for White House.

Presented to President.

Signed by President.

Became Public Law No: 107-73.