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suant to the Water and Sewer Authority Establishment and Department of of Public Works Reorganization Act of 1996 shall prepare and annually submit to the Mayor, for inclusion in the annual budget, annual estimates of the expenditures and appropriations necessary for the operation of the Authority for the year. All such estimates shall be forwarded by the Mayor to the Council for its action pursuant to sections 446 and 603(c), without revision but subject to his recommendations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Council may comment or make recommendations concerning such annual estimates, but shall have no authority under this Act to revise such estimates.".

(b) EXEMPTION FROM REDUCTIONS OF BUDGETS OF INDEPENDENT AGENCIES.-Section 453(c) of such Act (sec. 47-304.1(c), D.C. Code) is amended

(1) by striking "courts or the Council, or to" and inserting "courts, the Council,"; and

(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: ", or the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority established pursuant to the Water and Sewer Authority Establishment and Department of Public Works Reorganization Act of 1996.".

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.-Section 442(b) of such Act (sec. 47-301(b), D.C. Code) is amended

(1) by striking "and the Commission" and inserting "the Commission"; and

(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: ", and the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority.".

(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.-The table of contents of subpart 1 of part D of title IV of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 445 the following new item:

"Sec. 445A. Water and Sewer Authority budget.".

SEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF COMPENSATION OF CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

The first sentence of section 205(b)(2) of the Water and Sewer Authority Establishment and Department of Public Works Reorganization Act of 1996 (sec. 43-1675(b)(2), D.C. Code) is amended by striking "duties)" and inserting "duties, and except as may otherwise be provided under the personnel system developed pursuant to subsection (a)(4) or a collective bargaining agreement entered into after the date of the enactment of this Act)". The bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read a third time by title, and passed. A motion to reconsider the vote whereby the bill was passed was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in said bill. 182.7 MFN-CHINA

Mr. ARCHER, pursuant to House Resolution 463, called up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 182) disapproving the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) to the products of the People's Republic of China.

When said joint resolution was considered and read twice. After debate,

Ms. KAPTUR, pursuant to rule XXX, objected to the use of an exhibit during debate.

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House permit the gentlewoman from California [Ms. PELOSI] to use said exhibit?

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Calvert Camp Campbell

Canady

Cardin

Castle Chabot

de la Garza Deal DeFazio DeLauro

Fields (LA) Fields (TX) Filner Flanagan

Hoke Holden Horn

Hoyer

Johnson (SD)

Johnson, E. B.

Johnson, Sam Johnston Jones

Kanjorski

Kaptur

Kasich

Kelly

Foglietta

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Chambliss Chapman Chenoweth Christensen Chrysler

Diaz-Balart

Collins (MI)

Goodlatte
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Graham
Green (TX)

Kennedy (MA)

Kennedy (RI)
Kennelly

Largent Latham LaTourette Laughlin Lazio

Levin Lewis (CA) Lewis (KY) Lightfoot

Linder Lipinski Livingston LoBiondo Lofgren

Collins (IL) Davis

Flake Gephardt

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So, the gentlewoman from California [MS. PELOSI] was permitted to use the exhibit.

After further debate,

Pursuant to House Resolution 463, the previous question was considered as ordered.

The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read a third time by title.

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

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, announced that the yeas had it.

Mr. CRANE demanded a recorded vote on passage of said joint resolution, which demand was supported by one-fifth of a quorum, so a recorded vote was ordered.

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Whereas the People's Republic of China has long enjoyed most favored nation trading status with the United States notwithstanding significant policy and security issues in our bilateral relationship;

Whereas, despite the positive influence that United States trade with the People's Republic of China has had in encouraging the abandonment of state control over all aspects of the economy by the Communist government, serious human rights, trade, security, and weapons proliferation issues have remained and often worsened during the period of this trade policy;

Whereas this experience has made clear that of itself, the extension of most favored nation trading status (and the potential of its annual non-renewal) has been inadequate to address the many policy and security issues that characterize our bilateral relationship;

Whereas these policy and security issues include, with regard to the economic activities of the People's Liberation Army

(1) according to the Defense Intelligence Agency, the People's Liberation Army of Communist China is in fact engaged, through controlled enterprises, in government-controlled and subsidized trade overseas;

(2) the General Staff Department of the People's Liberation Army owns and operates Polytechnologies, which is the weapons trading arm of the People's Liberation Army. Polytechnologies has a representative office in the United States;

(3) the General Logistics Department of the People's Liberation Army owns and operates a large international conglomerate known as Xinxing Corporation, which has a representative office in the United States;

(4) the People's Armed Police, which is partially controlled by the People's Liberation Army, is responsible for the occupation and suppression of dissent in Tibet and the execution of prisoners throughout China, provides guards for the forced labor camp system in Communist China, and owns and operates China Jingan Equipment Import and Export, which has a representative office in the United States;

(5) the export of products by these entities allows the People's Liberation Army to earn hard currency directly, which in turn can be and is used to modernize its forces without being reflected in official reports of military spending;

(6) consumers in the United States are ordinarily unaware that revenues from the products they are purchasing from or through such entities contribute to the financial benefit of the People's Liberation Army;

(7) trade with the People's Liberation Army effectively is a subsidy of military operations of the People's Republic of China that is inconsistent with our national security; and

(8) free trade in world markets is based on the assumption that the import and export of goods and services are conducted by independent enterprises responding to profit incentives and market forces, and commercial activities by the People's Liberation Army are fundamentally inconsistent with these precepts;

Whereas, with regard to Communist Chinese military activity and weapons

proliferation

(1) it has been reported that United States intelligence has estimated that Communist Chinese military industries have become a leading supplier of illicit precursor chemicals for use in Iran's chemical weapons program;

(2) in contravention of Communist China's commitment to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the China National Nuclear Corporation, a Communist Chinese military industry, sold materials critical to the production of enriched uranium to a non-NPT signatory, Pakistan;

(3) China National Precision Instrument Import-Export Company, a Communist Chinese military industry, sold nuclear-capable missiles to Pakistan;

(4) China Great Wall Industry Corporation, a Communist Chinese military industry, sold nuclear-capable missiles to Pakistan;

(5) Poly Group, a People's Liberation Army owned company, sold $1,200,000,000 worth of arms to the military rulers of Myanmar (Burma);

(6) In contravention of the United Nations embargo, China North Industries Corporation (Norinco), a Communist Chinese military industry, sold chemicals critical to the manufacture of nuclear weapons to Iraq;

(7) Poly Group and Norinco, Communist Chinese military industries, attempted to sell 2,000 AK 47 rifles, 20,000 AK 47 bipods, 4,000 30 round ammunition magazines, and 2 machinegun silencers, and offered for sale 300,000 silenced machineguns and "Red Parakeet" missiles (stingers), RPGs (rocket propelled grenades), 60mm mortars, and handgrenades to United States law enforcement

authorities conducting a so-called "sting" operation;

(8) according to the May 21, 1996, United States Customs Service affidavit against the Communist Chinese representatives of Norinco and Poly Group, at paragraph 96, one of the Communist Chinese representatives bragged that a "Red Parakeet" missile-which he was offering for sale in the United States "could take out a 747";

(9) these and other enterprises owned by the People's Liberation Army and the Communist Chinese military industries regularly export a variety of products to the United States, including clothing, toys, shoes, hand tools, fish, minerals, and chemicals;

(10) the People's Liberation Army implemented an unprovoked, dangerous, and aggressive campaign to intimidate Taiwan in July of 1995, and again before Taiwan's first direct presidential election in March of 1996, with military maneuvers, live-fire exercises, and missile tests in close proximity to that island democracy; and

(11) the People's Liberation Army seized territory claimed by the Philippines and threatened the United States Navy's right of free passage in the South China Sea;

Whereas, with respect to human rights(1) according to the United States Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights for 1995, the Government of Communist China "continued to commit widespread and well-documented human rights abuses, in violation of internationally accepted norms, stemming both from the authorities' intolerance of dissent and the inadequacy of legal safeguards for basic freedoms. Abuses included arbitrary and lengthy incommunicado detention, forced confessions, torture, and mistreatment of prisoners. . . . The Government continued severe restrictions on freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, religion, privacy, movement, and worker rights";

(2) in April 1996, the Communist Chinese Government launched a major anticrime campaign called "Strike Hard" carried out nationwide by the Public Security Bureau (PSB), and in Tibet and Xinjiang (East Turkestan) also by the People's Armed Police, which has included large scale arbitrary arrests, detentions with minimal legal protection, and swift executions;

(3) the current anticrime campaign has targeted political, religious and labor activists in addition to common criminals in Tibet, Xinjiang, and in the whole of Communist China;

(4) the Communist Government has ordered a crackdown on unofficial religious believers by the Religious Affairs Bureau and the Public Security Ministry, requiring all local congregations to register with the Religious Affairs Bureau or risk the legal dismantling of the congregation and official harassment, fines and arrest;

(5) according to Asia Watch, the Communist Chinese authorities in Tibet have launched a repressive campaign against religious practice and the Public Security Bureau and PLA have been involved in violent suppression of dissent in Tibet and Xinjiang, resulting in the death or imprisonment of over one thousand Tibetans and Uighurs this year;

(6) the Ministry of Public Security has imposed new regulations to strengthen controls over Internet use, the State Council must approve "interactive" networks, and the official Communist Chinese news agency (Xinhua) has been put in charge of supervising all foreign wire services selling economic information to Communist China, censoring their reports for "false economic news and attacks on Communist China";

(7) Wei Jingsheng, the leading Chinese pro-democracy activist, was sentenced on December 13, 1995, to a second 14-year prison

term, after a sham trial in which he was denied access to counsel of his choice and given access to the actual charges against less than two days before trial;

(8) on November 21, 1995, the Government of the People's Republic of China announced the arrest of Wei Jingsheng and its intention to try him for "attempt[ing] to overthrow the government";

(9) the government had previously imprisoned Wei from 1979 until 1993 on a charge of "spreading counterrevolutionary propaganda" for his peaceful participation in the Democracy Wall movement;

(10) during his long imprisonment Wei was subjected to torture and other ill treatment which left him in extremely poor health:

(11) far from advocating an "overthrow" of the Government of China, Wei has been a strong advocate of nonviolence and a peaceful transition to democracy; and

(12) Wei was regarded as a leading contender for the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize, having been nominated by parliamentarians throughout the world, including 58 members of the United States Congress;

Whereas, with respect to Communist Chinese trade and economic policy

(1) the United States Trade Representative's 1996 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers notes that "China continued to use standards and certification practices which the United States and other trading partners regard as barriers to trade";

(2) the report indicates that "Despite its commitment under the 1992 market access Memorandum of Understanding to publish all laws and regulations affecting imports, some regulations and a large number of directives have traditionally been unpublished, and there is no published, publicly available national procurement code in China";

(3) the report finds that "China's market for services remains severely restricted";

(4) these practices limiting American access to Communist China's market have contributed to an increase in the United States trade deficit with China from $10 million in 1985 to $33,807,000,000 in 1995, according to the United States Department of Commerce;

(5) these unfair trade practices and tariff and non-tariff barriers result in lost opportunities for American companies and lost jobs for American workers, and harm the United States economy;

(6) the failure of Communist China to stop the piracy of intellectual property, including music, videos, books, and software required by the January 16, 1992, agreement on intellectual property rights, is evidenced by the necessity of further agreements (signed on March 11, 1995 and June 17, 1996), and the threat of over $2,000,000,000 in sanctions as a means of achieving as yet hopedfor compliance with the agreements;

(7) according to the United States Trade Representative's 1996 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, investment restrictions by Communist China are "abundant";

(8) under so-called "export performance requirements," Communist Chinese authorities frequently force foreign manufacturers operating in Communist China to export 50 to 70 percent (and sometimes more) of their goods to other markets, as a condition of approving the investment;

(9) two-thirds of Communist China's exports are, in fact, manufactured by foreign firms operating in Communist China;

(10) the export performance requirements imposed on foreign investment by the Communist Chinese government serve to undercut domestic producers employing millions of Americans;

(11) Communist China has failed to liberalize its foreign exchange market, and to make the Yuan fully convertible;

(12) Communist China maintains two exchange rates for the Yuan, an official rate for Chinese citizens and a swap rate for foreigners, and regularly manipulates the exchange rate to the advantage of domestic exporting industries;

(13) even with the establishment of currency swap markets, this gap between the official and swap rates serves as (a) a subsidy for Communist China's exporters to the United States, totaling nearly $15,000,000,000 in 1993, and (b) a nontariff barrier to United States exports, artificially raising the price of exports in Communist China's market;

(14) Communist China received over $4,000,000,000 in multilateral loans from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank;

(15) the United States is the largest shareholder in these banks, and thus can exercise considerable leverage over loans to Communist China; and

(16) Communist China has continued to insist that Taiwan not be admitted to the WTO unless it is admitted simultaneously, notwithstanding the differences in the status of their compliance with the criteria for WTO membership;

Whereas given the number and gravity of these issues, the debate over Communist China's most-favored-nation trade status cannot bear the weight of the entire bilateral relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China; and

Whereas these issues should be promptly addressed by appropriate legislation: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, The Committee on International Relations, the Committee on National Security, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Banking and Financial Services will each hold hearings on the matters described in the preamble to this resolution insofar as those matters fall within their respective jurisdictions and, if appropriate, report legislation addressing these matters to the House of Representatives not later than September 30, 1996.

When said resolution was considered. After debate,

Pursuant to House Resolution 463, the previous question was considered as ordered.

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

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. HOBSON, announced that the yeas had it.

Mr. COX objected to the vote on the ground that a quorum was not present and not voting.

A quorum not being present,

The roll was called under clause 4, rule XV, and the call was taken by electronic device.

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a time during further consideration in the Committee of the Whole a request for a recorded vote on any amendment. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may reduce to not less than five minutes the time for voting by electronic device on any postponed question that immediately follows another vote by electronic device without intervening business, provided that the time for voting by electronic device on the first in any series of questions shall be not less than fifteen minutes. After the reading of the final lines of the bill, a motion that the Committee of the Whole rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted shall, if offered by the majority leader or a designee, have precedence over a motion to amend. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto the final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

SEC. 2. The amendment considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole as follows:

Page 8, line 18, strike "proceeds from the sale of".

Page 8, line 20, strike "credited as offsetting collections to this account so as to result" and insert in lieu thereof "disposed of in a manner resulting".

Page 8, line 22, strike the comma after the figure and all that follows through "Act" on page 9, line 1.

Page 11. line 18, strike "$2,742,602,000" and insert in lieu thereof "$1,642,500,000".

Page 27, line 4, strike "$400,000,000" and insert in lieu thereof "$460,000,000".

Page 48, line 12, strike the colon and all that follows through "funds" on line 15.

When said resolution was considered. After debate,

On motion of Ms. GREENE, the previous question was ordered on the resolution to its adoption or rejection and under the operation thereof, the resolution was agreed to.

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

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¶181.34

COMMITTEE ELECTION-MAJORITY Mr. GOSS, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution (H. Res. 467):

Resolved, that the following named Member be, and he is hereby, elected to the following standing committee of the House of Representatives:

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Mr. BAKER of Louisiana.

When said resolution was considered and agreed to.

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

181.35 HOUR OF MEETING

On motion of Mr. GOSS, by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12 o'clock noon today.

181.36 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT—

SPACE ACTIVITIES

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, laid before the House a message from the President, which was read as follows:

To the Congress of the United States:

I am pleased to transmit this report on the Nation's achievements in aeronautics and space during fiscal year 1995, as required under section 206 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2476). Aeronautics and space activities involved 14 contributing departments and agencies of the Federal Government, and the results of their ongoing research and development affect the Nation in many ways.

A wide variety of aeronautics and space developments took place during fiscal year 1995. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully completed seven Space Shuttle flights. A Shuttle program highlight was the docking of the Shuttle Atlantis with the Russian space station Mir.

NASA launched three Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELV), while the Department of Defense (DOD) successfully conducted five ELV launches. These launches included satellites to study space physics, track Earth's weather patterns, and support military communications. In addition, there were 12 commercial launches carried out from Government facilities that the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST), within within the Department of Transportation (DOT), licensed and monitored.

NASA continued the search for a more affordable space launch system for the coming years with its Reusable Launch Vehicle program. NASA hopes to develop new kinds of launch technologies that will enable a private launch industry to become financially feasible.

In aeronautics, activities included development of technologies to improve performance, increase safety, reduce engine noise, and assist U.S. in

our

dustry to be more competitive in the world market. Air traffic control activities focused on various automation systems to increase flight safety and enhance the efficient use of airspace. Scientists made some dramatic new discoveries in various various space-related fields. Astronomers gained new insights into the size and age of our universe in addition to studying our solar system. Earth scientists continued to study the complex interactions of physical forces that influence weather and environment and reached new conclusions about ozone depletion. Agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, used remote-sensing technologies to better understand terrestrial changes. Microgravity researchers conducted studies to prepare for the long-duration stays of humans that are planned for the upcoming International Space Station.

International cooperation, particularly with Russia, occurred in a variety of aerospace areas. In addition to the Shuttle-Mir docking mission and the Russian partnership on the International Space Station, U.S. and Russian personnel also continued close cooperation on various aeronautics projects.

Thus, fiscal year 1995 was a very successful one for U.S. aeronautics and space programs. Efforts in these areas have contributed significantly to the Nation's scientific and technical knowledge, international cooperation, a healthier environment, and a more competitive economy.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

THE WHITE HOUSE, June 26, 1996. The message, together with the accompanying papers, was referred to the Committee on Science.

¶81.37 APPOINTMENT OF FUNERAL

COMMITTEE OF THE LATE HONORABLE

BILL EMERSON

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, by unanimous consent, announced the Speaker did appoint, pursuant to the provisions of House Resolution 459, the following Members to the funeral committee of the late Honorable Bill Emerson, on the part of the House: Messrs. CLAY, GINGRICH, GEPHARDT, BOEHNER, SKELTON, VOLKMER, HANCOCK, Ms. DANNER, Mr. TALENT, Ms. MCCARTHY, Messrs. MONTGOMERY, HALL of Ohio, LEWIS of California, HUNTER, ROBERTS, WOLF, KANJORSKI, MCNULTY, POSHARD, MORAN, Mrs. LINCOLN, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mrs. CUBIN, and Mr. LATHAM.

Ordered, That the Clerk notify the Senate of the foregoing appointments.

181.38 SENATE ENROLLED BILL SIGNED

The SPEAKER announced his signature to an enrolled bill of the Senate of the following title:

S. 1903. An Act to designate the bridge, estimated to be completed in the year 2000, that replaces the bridge on Missouri highway 74 spanning from East Cape Girardeau, Illinois, to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the

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

182.15 PROVIDING FOR THE

ADJOURNMENT OF THE TWO HOUSES

Mr. DIAZ-BALART, pursuant to House Resolution 465, submitted for consideration the following concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 192):

occurs

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That when the House adjourns on the legislative days of Thursday, June 27, 1996, or Friday, June 28, 1996, pursuant to a motion made by the Majority Leader or his designee, it stand adjourned until noon on Monday, July 8, 1996, or until noon on the second day after Members are notified to reassemble pursuant to section 2 of this resolution, whichever concurrent first; and that when the Senate recesses or adjourns at the close of business on Thursday, June 27, 1996, Friday, June 28, 1996, Saturday, June 29, 1996, or Sunday, June 30, 1996, pursuant to a motion made by the Majority Leader or his designee in accordance with this resolution, it stand recessed or adjourned until noon on Monday, July 8, 1996, or until such time of that day as may be specified by the Majority Leader or his designee in the motion to recess or adjourn, or until noon on the second day after Members are notified to reassemble pursuant to section 2 of this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first.

SEC. 2. The Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate, acting jointly after consultation with the Minority Leader of the House and the Minority Leader of the Senate, shall notify the Members of the House and Senate, respectively, to reassemble whenever, in their opinion, the public interest shall warrant it.

When said concurrent resolution was agreed to.

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

Ordered, That the Clerk notify the Senate thereof.

182.16 PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE

Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida, rose to a question of the privileges of the House and submitted the following resolution (H. Res. 468):

Whereas the Constitution of the United States places upon the House of Representatives the responsibility to regulate the conduct of its own Members;

Whereas the House has delegated that responsibility, in part, to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, which is charged with investigating alleged violations. of any law, rule, regulation or other standard of conduct by a Member of the House; Whereas the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has failed to discharge that duty with regard to serious allegations of wrongdoing by the Speaker of the House; Whereas, although an outside counsel has been appointed to investigate the Speaker, the Committee has failed to allow that outside counsel to investigate serious charges concerning the Speaker's political action committee, GOPAC, and its relationship to several tax-exempt organizations;

Whereas a formal complaint concerning these charges has been languishing before the Committee for more than six months; Whereas new evidence of violations of federal tax law-in addition to the information contained in the formal complaint-has also

been recently reported by investigative journalists around the country;

Whereas the failure to take action on these matters has raised serious questions about the impartiality of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct: Therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is hereby instructed to immediately transmit the remaining charges against Speaker Gingrich to the outside counsel for his investigation and recommendations.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, ruled that the resolution submitted did present a question of the privileges of the House under rule IX.

Mr. ARMEY moved to lay the resolution on the table.

The question being put, viva voce, Will the House lay the resolution on the table?

The SPEAKER pro tempore, Mr. LAHOOD, announced that the yeas had

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