[House Report 106-64] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 106th Congress Report 1st Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 106-64 _______________________________________________________________________ MAKING EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1999, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES _______ March 17, 1999.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______________________________________________________________________ Mr. Young of Florida, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following R E P O R T together with DISSENTING AND ADDITIONAL VIEWS [To accompany H.R. 1141] The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes. Bill Highlights The bill recommended by the Committee includes $687,000,000 of emergency relief from the devastating impact of Hurricanes Mitch and Georges for several Latin American countries and of which $10,000 is for relief from the recent earthquake in Colombia. It also includes $80,000,000 for additional border costs related to Hurricane Mitch for the Immigration and Naturalization Service and $194,900,000 to reimburse the Department of Defense for transportation costs already sustained in providing initial assistance in response to this hurricane. The bill includes $100,000,000 for economic support and foreign military financing for Jordan. The bill includes $152.4 million for direct and guaranteed farm operating loans that will provide a loan authorization of $1,095,000,000. Additionally, the bill includes several minor non-emergency appropriations for various miscellaneous activities that are within the Committee's regular spending allocation. Finally, all spending in the bill is offset with recessions included therein. TITLE I EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS CHAPTER 1 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farm Service Agency salaries and expenses The Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, (Public Law 105-277) provided $40,000,000 in Department of Agriculture (USDA) emergency salaries and expenses funds. This funding was in recognition of the administrative burden placed on USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) by the disaster assistance provisions in that bill. FSA now estimates that it will require an additional $42,753,000 to support additional temporary staffing for five months in order to deliver the disaster assistance provisions fully. This proposal would not fund additional permanent staff. This entire amount has been requested by the President, and has been designated by the President as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. agricultural credit insurance fund program account The Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-277) provided $2,800,000,000 in Department of Agriculture (USDA) farm loans supported by more than $121,000,000 in credit subsidies. This funding is expected to be depleted for all farm loan programs by April 15, 1999. The Department of Agriculture projects a need for an additional $105,609,000 in credit subsidies in order to provide an additional $1,095,000,000 in loans, as follows: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program Budget authority Loan level ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Farm operating loans: Direct.................................................... $12,635,000 $185,000,000 Guaranteed................................................ 16,169,000 185,000,000 ------------------------------------------------- Subtotal................................................ 28,804,000 370,000,000 ================================================= Farm ownership loans: Direct.................................................... 29,940,000 200,000,000 Guaranteed................................................ 5,565,000 350,000,000 ------------------------------------------------- Subtotal................................................ 35,505,000 550,000,000 ================================================= Emergency loans........................................... 41,300,000 175,000,000 ================================================= Total................................................... 105,609,000 1,095,000,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition, the Department estimates that it will require an additional $4,000,000 for administrative expenses to carry out these loan programs. These amounts are required in order to respond to unprecedented demand for agricultural credit due to persistently low commodity prices. In FY 1998, Department of Agriculture loan programs served 26,000 farmers. Funds provided in Public Law 105-277 supported an increase in that number for FY 1999 to 31,000. The amount recommended in this bill will allow the Department of Agriculture to assist more than 12,000 additional farmers in need of capital, bringing the total to over 43,000 in FY 1999. This entire amount has been requested by the President, and has been designated by the President as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. CHAPTER 2 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Immigration and Naturalization Service Salaries and Expenses enforcement and border affairs The Committee recommends that $80,000,000 in emergency funding be made available until expended for 2,945 additional detention beds for the detention of criminal aliens from Central America and illegal aliens from Central America apprehended at or near the border. The Committee understands that these funds are necessary to prevent criminal aliens from Central America from being released into the community while awaiting deportation and to provide for detention space at or near the border for apprehended illegal aliens from Central America. This is connected with the Administration's determination to delay returns to countries severely impacted by Hurricane Mitch. The need for emergency detention space is in large part a direct result of INS's failure to plan for and request in a timely fashion sufficient detention space to meet its statutory requirements and represents the latest in the long and continuing series of management failures by the INS. The Committee has determined that, given the INS's inability to timely identify its detention needs and effectively manage its resources, that all funds made available for the INS under this Act should be administered by the Attorney General. Section 303 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that certain criminal aliens be detained by the INS after they have served their criminal sentence and throughout the removal procedures. That provision also contained a 2-year transition before all designated categories of criminal aliens were required to be detained. In light of this statutory requirement, INS has failed to adequately identify its detention needs and to request the necessary funds to prevent criminal aliens from being released (or from being placed into detention), and to support the border enforcement strategy in which both the Congress and the Administration have heavily invested resources. This is not the first time that INS has not planned ahead and not requested sufficient detention space to house criminal and illegal aliens. In fiscal year 1997, Congress provided program increases of over $114,000,000, $70,000,000 over the Administration's request, for funds for detention due to the then-shortage of detention space which resulted in INS releasing criminal and illegal aliens. In fiscal year 1998, Congress provided over $178,000,000 for detention and related costs, including construction funds for expanding INS detention facilities, representing the full amount that the Administration requested for such costs. In fiscal year 1999, the first year that the mandatory criminal alien detention rules became fully effective, the INS requested no funds for detention spaces for either contract facilities or from State and local prisons (except for juvenile detention), the most expedient form of obtaining immediate, additional detention space. With the exception of requesting activation funds for a 400-bed facility which is due to open this fiscal year--which the Congress provided--INS chose to request funds for construction of future detention space, thereby providing no relief to its now critical detention problem. Further, on August 6, 1998, a reprogramming request was submitted by the Administration for INS which included transferring $25,000,000 from detention funding to free up funds for its naturalization initiative. While Congress ultimately provided funding for the naturalization initiative in the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for fiscal year 1999, it did not approve the transfer of $25,000,000 from detention funds, and instead provided that amount in direct appropriations. Therefore, in fiscal year 1999, INS actually has $25,000,000 more in detention funds than it would have if Congress had funded the naturalization initiative in the manner it was requested. And yet, INS still finds itself in emergency straits and has had the audacity to suggest that Congress did not provide the necessary resources. On October 1, 1998, the first day of fiscal year 1999, the mandatory detention provision from the 1996 Immigration Act became fully effective. In October, after the mandatory detention rules became effective, the INS approached Congress to request statutory relief from the mandatory detention provision, stating that it did not have enough detention space to fulfill the mandates of the law. This last-minute request is evidence that the INS once again did not identify, plan for, nor timely communicate its detention needs and was hoping to be bailed out by the Congress. Given the choice of providing emergency funding or allowing criminal aliens to be released in this country for lack of detention space, the Committee has approved the emergency funding. In addition to administering these funds, the Attorney General is expected to take all necessary actions to correct the continuing saga of INS mismanagement. CHAPTER 3 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE--MILITARY The President requested $188,500,000 in emergency supplemental fiscal year 1999 appropriations for the Department of Defense to cover the costs of disaster relief efforts in Central America resulting from Hurricanes Mitch and Georges. The Committee recommends $194,900,000, which includes the amounts requested by the President plus an additional $6,400,000 to meet requirements identified by the Department of Defense subsequent to transmittal of the President's request. Of the amounts in this chapter, $132,500,000 is to replenish funds diverted from various defense appropriations accounts to support emergency response efforts. The remaining $62,400,000 is to support planned National Guard and Reserve training in the region, including reconstruction, engineering and medical services. The following table provides details, by appropriations account, of the emergency supplemental appropriations in this chapter for disaster relief. FISCAL YEAR 1999 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUPPLEMENTAL [In millions of dollars] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Committee Budget request recommendation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hurricanes MITCH and GEORGES Relief: Military Personnel: Army Reserve.................. 2.9 8.0 Army National Guard........... 6.0 7.3 Air National Guard............ 1.0 1.0 --------------------------------- Total....................... 9.9 16.3 ================================= Operation and Maintenance: Army.......................... 69.5 69.5 Navy.......................... 16.0 16.0 Marine Corps.................. 0.3 0.3 Air Force..................... 8.8 8.8 Defense-Wide: JCS (CINC Initiative Fund) 20.0 20.0 OSD....................... 26.5 26.5 Overseas Humanitarian, 37.5 37.5 Disaster, and Civic Aid...... --------------------------------- Total....................... 178.6 178.6 ================================= Total....................... 188.5 194.9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER 4 The Committee recommends emergency supplemental appropriations of $687,000,000 as the United States share of the international recovery efforts in the Central American and Caribbean nations devastated by Hurricanes Mitch and Georges in late 1998. This amount includes $10,000,000 in assistance to victims of the January, 1999, earthquake in Colombia. The Committee also recommends supplementals totaling $100,000,000 for Jordan. Hurricanes Mitch and Georges The Committee recommendation reflects the compassion extended by the people of the United States to our neighbors in Central and South America and the Caribbean who have suffered greatly from the recent catastrophic natural disasters in the region. The Committee recognizes that the purpose of this emergency supplemental assistance is twofold. First, this funding draws upon the best traditions of the American public in providing generous humanitarian support to help alleviate suffering of those in dire need. Second, the Committee recognizes that this reconstruction assistance strengthens U.S. national security by supporting the economic growth of these nascent democracies and deterring the possibility of increased illegal immigration into the U.S. The toll from these disasters, in both human and economic terms, was staggering. On September 20, 1998, Hurricane Georges struck the Eastern Caribbean, inflicting significant damage to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and other parts of the Eastern Caribbean, including Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts and St. Nevis. Georges left more than 400 dead and up to $2 billion in economic damage in its wake. Between October 26 and 31, 1998, Hurricane Mitch struck Central America. It ranks as one of the worst hurricanes ever to hit the region. Mitch resulted in more than 9,000 dead, 9,000 missing, 13,000 injured, and at least 3 million people displaced. The financial devastation was enormous as well: according to the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the costs to repair damaged or destroyed infrastructure in Central America is at least $8.5 billion. Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras particularly hard. According to AID, more than one-third of Honduras' schools were damaged or destroyed. Much of the country's road and bridge infrastructure was destroyed, severely hampering relief efforts. Nearly 70,000 homes were damaged or destroyed requiring the evacuation of 2.1 million people, many of whom remain homeless today. In Nicaragua, the rains and floods caused landslides leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless and without food. Hurricane Mitch caused significant damage in El Salvador and Guatemala as well. Most recently, on January 25, 1999, a catastrophic earthquake, registering 6.0 on the Richter scale, struck northern Colombia. The region hardest hit includes the cities of Armenia, Calarca and Pereira. This powerful earthquake and its aftershocks killed nearly 1,000 people, injured more than 4,000, left 4,000 missing and 250,000 homeless. The earthquake caused an estimated $1.5 billion in damage. The Committee recognizes the urgency in providing relief to those affected by these disasters. In fact, the United States has already begun that effort. Since the devastation caused by these disasters, the United States has already committed more than $300 million in urgently needed humanitarian assistance, primarily for food, medical supplies, and to transport commodities. The supplemental funds are urgently needed to help reduce the risk of widespread public health problems, to assist in the re-opening of schools and to help ensure that needed agricultural inputs are widely available prior to the spring planting season. The President's Emergency Request On February 16, 1999, the President transmitted to Congress an emergency supplemental funding request for $687,000,000 in new budget authority for fiscal year 1999 for relief and reconstruction assistance and for other purposes. The President's entire supplemental funding request was presented to Congress as an emergency, pursuant to the Balance Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. The Committee conducted a public hearing on the request on February 24, 1999. At the hearing, concern was expressed about the lack of detailed justification regarding use of the requested funds. Subsequent to the hearing, the Office of Management and Budget coordinated the provision of additional justification documents to the Committee. The Committee also notes that the Inspector General of the Agency for International Development is working with the Committee to ensure Congress is in a position to conduct proper oversight of the use of these funds. A bipartisan Committee delegation visited Honduras between March 5 and March 7, accompanied by General Charles Wilhelm, Commander in Chief, U.S. Southern Command. The delegation met with Honduras President Carlos Flores and fully discussed the supplemental request as it pertains to Honduras. The delegation also met with Hondurans from all walks of life and visited reconstruction activities throughout the country. The President's request for relief and reconstruction includes the following:$283 million to assist economic development efforts by repairing rural roads, by providing micro-credit loans, and by providing basic agricultural inputs, such as seeds, tools and fertilizer to farmers. $136 million to reconstruct and rehabilitate hospitals and health clinics, to provide water and sanitation services, and to provide disease control and prevention. $64 million for technical assistance for environmental management and disaster mitigation. $55 million to build, repair, and re-equip schools, provide school supplies and to build 6,000 housing units. $41 million for debt restructuring and relief, including a $25 million contribution to the recently created Central America Emergency Trust Fund and $16 million for the cost of reducing Honduras' bilateral debt to the United States. $25 million to partially replenish AID's international disaster assistance contingency account. $12 million for anti-corruption programs. $10 million for anti-crime and anti-drug programs. $3 million for outreach programs to the U.S. private sector. $42 million for reconstruction assistance in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and other Eastern Caribbean nations affected by Hurricane Georges. $10 million for earthquake recovery efforts in Colombia. BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE Funds Appropriated to the President Agency for International Development International Disaster Assistance The Committee has provided $25,000,000 for the International Disaster Assistance account as requested by the President. These funds will partially replenish funds expended in response to Hurricanes Mitch and Georges and the earthquake in Colombia. According to USAID, it has spent $35,000,000 from this account in response to Hurricane Mitch alone. The Committee notes that the International Disaster Assistance account is a contingency account, not a program account. As such, it is designed to respond to unanticipated disasters and not to supplement AID's regular programs. Other Bilateral Economic Assistance Economic Support Fund The Committee recommendation includes $50,000,000 for economic support for Jordan. This is the amount requested by the President on an urgent basis in his transmittal of January 19, 1999. The Committee strongly supports the provision of this assistance as an expression of America's support for Jordan and its people. The late King Hussein was a strong proponent of stability in the region and was a courageous promoter of the Middle East Peace Process. A stable transition in Jordan is essential to promoting U.S. interests in Middle East peace and stability. The United States has played a leadership role in mobilizing broad international support for Jordan in the wake of King Hussein's death. The Committee believes that provision of this assistance will enable the United States to continue to provide strong support for King Abdullah and Jordan, and to leverage contributions from the Gulf States, G-7 partners, and the European Union in the form of additional trade and financial support for Jordan, including the provision of debt relief. These funds will also play a crucial role in maintaining Jordan's progress on economic reform. The Committee strongly supports the full fiscal year 2000 request for Jordan contained in the President's transmittal and expects to favorably consider it in subsequent legislation. The entire amount recommended for Jordan in fiscal year 1999 has been offset with rescissions in this act. For technical reasons it is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Balanced Budget Act of 1985. Central America and the Caribbean Emergency Disaster Recovery Fund The Committee recommends $621,000,000 for a new Central America and the Caribbean Emergency Disaster Recovery Fund. The President requested an additional amount of $621,000,000 for the Economic Support Fund. The Committee believes establishing this new fund, rather than comingling these funds with previously appropriated funds, will help ensure that this emergency supplemental is used solely to meet the requirements associated with Hurricanes Georges and Mitch and the earthquake in Colombia. Creation of a separate account allows the Committee greater ability to conduct proper oversight of these emergency funds. To preserve flexibility within this account, the Committee has not recommended that funds be earmarked for specific purposes.However, these funds should be used to meet the most urgent requirements including: Infrastructure repair and restoration including roads, bridges, potable water systems, schools, and health clinics. Development of rural areas and small municipalities, including refurbishment of farm-to-market roads, bridges, and levees, restoration of agricultural storage and processing facilities, and provision of credit for small farmers and businesses. Electric power capacity restoration, including priority attention to mitigating the adverse effects of the February 1999 fire at the El Cajon Dam power generating plant in Honduras. Microcredit programs targeted to the needs of small businesses and farmers, with a special emphasis on opportunities that can reduce poverty in households headed by women; and Environmental reparation and protection, including technology transfers in support of reforestation and agro- forestry. The Committee supports inclusion of the U.S. private sector in efforts to help relevant government agencies and nongovernmental organizations in the region monitor the use of aid funds in order to prevent corruption and misuse. The Committee also intends that funds be allocated in ways that promote the decentralization of decision making and the involvement of private citizens. Funds should be channeled through municipal governments to the extent practicable to strengthen the capacity and role of local governments. The Committee further expects that AID missions will seek substantial input from citizens organizations which reflect the diversity of social and political opinions during the reconstruction process. The Committee also commends the efforts of returned Peace Corps volunteers who have volunteered to assist in the Central America reconstruction effort. Sufficient funds should be made available to the Crisis Corps in Central America to support the community projects undertaken by the Corps in cooperation with nongovernmental organizations active in the region. Hurricane Mitch has severely damaged the North Coast and Guanaja and other Bay Islands. Essential infrastructure repairs are needed to support the resumption of agricultural exports and eco-tourism. While U.S. businesses are committed to spending in excess of $100,000,000 of their own funds in this region, much smaller amounts are required to support rapid repair of public infrastructure, especially bridges, dams, and levies. The Committee recommends that the Executive branch include these Honduras public sector requirements in its reconstruction plans. The Committee recognizes that the Administration's request incorporates many of these priorities, but strongly urges that these types of projects take priority over other initiatives proposed by the administration. Efforts in these areas will directly benefit U.S. national interests by helping restore the economic viability of these nations, thereby slowing the process of migration. The Committee has included language requiring that funds in this account be made available subject to the provisions of chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act, which governs the use of the Economic Support Fund. Further, these funds may only be utilized subject to the provisions of title V of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Act, 1999, as contained in Public Law 105-277, except for section 558. All funds in this account are subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committee on Appropriations and the ceiling on population planning activities or other population assistance contained in section 580 of the 1999 Act. The Committee expects that, to the extent practicable, contracts and grants should be awarded to U.S. private organizations and individuals, especially those linked with indigenous Central American counterparts, provided that such a preference does not delay or hinder the delivery of assistance. The Committee includes bill language which prohibits funds from being used for nonproject assistance. Of the funds made available from this account, the Committee has provided for the transfer of up to $5,000,000 to the administrative account of AID for the purpose of implementing disaster relief and reconstruction projects. In addition, up to $2,000,000 may be transferred to AID's Inspector General for the purpose of auditing and monitoring the use of these supplemental funds. The Committee is informed that without these additional funds the Inspector General would be forced to postpone or forego entirely certain financial and performance audits elsewhere in the world in order to ensure these supplemental funds were adequately monitored. Given the Committee's lack of confidence in the ability of AID's New Management System (NMS) to accurately track agency expenditures in general, there is particular concern that these supplemental appropriations be audited thoroughly by the Inspector General. The Committee has learned that the Colombian National Police (CNP) expended nearly $500,000 conducting airborne rescue and support operations in response to the recent earthquake. CNP aircraft transported food, medical supplies and other urgent humanitarian aid, as well as injured persons, in support of relief efforts. The Committee is aware that these funds were originally dedicated to counter-narcotics efforts and encourages the Administration to make available funds from within this account directly to the Colombian National Police to replenish CNP funds expended for earthquake relief. The President requested the entire amount of the funds recommended under this account as an emergency requirement under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. However, his designation would only affect funds appropriated under the Economic Support Fund. Due to the fact the Committee is proposing a new account for disaster recovery activities in Central America and the Caribbean, for technical reasons the recommendation includes bill language requiring a Presidential designation of the funding as an emergency requirement. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Debt Restructuring The Committee is recommending $41,000,000 for debt restructuring as requested by the President. These funds will be utilized for two purposes: $16,000,000 will be made available for the budget cost of reducing Honduras' bilateral debt owed to the United States beyond the reduction provided for in the regular fiscal year 1999 Act and up to $25,000,000 will be made available to a multilateral Central America Emergency Trust Fund to help Central American governments cover the costs of debt service owed to the World Bank, the Inter- American Development Bank and other international financial institutions. The Committee is aware that, in addition to this assistance, the Administration intends to defer all bilateral debt obligations to the U.S. from Honduras and Nicaragua over the next two years. The Committee notes that the Foreign Operations Act for fiscal year 1999 already provided funds for debt reduction of 50 percent of the debt owed by the government of Honduras to be forgiven. The $16,000,000 provided in this Act would allow reduction of 67 percent of Honduras' debt owed to the United States. The Committee is aware that prior to Hurricane Mitch, Nicaragua was classified by the World Bank as a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). Foreign debt for Nicaragua stands at $6,100,000,000 including a substantial debt stock owed to the former Soviet Union and to Libya. The Committee expects that no U.S. funds will be used to repay debt owed to these nations. According to the Treasury Department, total foreign debt for Honduras is $3,600,000,000, including $1,300,000,000 owed to bilateral creditors. The Committee urges the Administration to encourage other bilateral creditors to reduce or forgive outstanding debt owed by these nations. The Committee urges the U.S. executive directors at the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and other relevant international financial institutions to exercise caution when considering large new lending programs for the affected countries. The provision of new loans to governments that cannot service existing debt is a questionable practice. MILITARY ASSISTANCE Funds Appropriated to the President foreign military financing program The Committee recommends $50,000,000 for grant military assistance to Jordan. This is the amount requested by the President on an urgent basis in his transmittal of January 19, 1999. The Committee strongly supports the provision of this assistance as an expression of America's support for Jordan and its people. The late King Hussein was a strong proponent of stability in the region and was a courageous promoter of the Middle East Peace Process. A stable transition in Jordan is essential to promoting U.S. interests in Middle East peace and stability, and the United States should continue to provide strong support to King Abdullah and Jordan. These funds will play a crucial role in improving Jordan's military readiness and modernization objectives, help Jordan to defend its borders, and strengthen U.S./Jordanian bilateral military ties. The Committee strongly supports the full fiscal year 1999, fiscal year 2000, and fiscal year 2001 requests for Jordan contained in the President's transmittal. These total $300 million in both the Economic Support Fund and the Foreign Military Financing Program. The Committee expects to favorably consider the outyear requests in subsequent legislation. The entire amount recommended for Jordan in fiscal year 1999 has been offset with rescissions in this Act. For technical reasons it is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Balanced Budget Act of 1985. united states army corps of engineers The Committee commends the work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in response to Hurricane Mitch. The Corps maintains field offices in Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, and Colombia which greatly enhanced its ability to respond quickly to these natural disasters. The Committee intends that the Department of State and AID will utilize the planning, engineering, design, environmental, and technical capabilities of the Corps when considering reconstruction projects. Further, the Committee expects that the State Department and AID will use the Corps to support disaster recovery projects in Central America including: rural farm-to-market road and bridge building; storm drain and levee reconstruction; rehabilitation of health clinics and homes; watershed stabilization and soil conservation activities; and water and sanitation programs which directly strengthen child survival efforts. donor coordination and burden sharing In December 1998, donor nations and the leaders of Central American nations convened in Washington, D.C. to discuss reconstruction efforts in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. At this Consultative Group meeting, $6.3 billion in emergency aid and reconstruction support was pledged. The Committee is aware that the President'ssupplemental request accounts for only 17 percent of these worldwide assistance pledges and supports other nations' promises of aid. The Committee requests AID and State, not less than 5 days following the conclusion of the next scheduled donor's meeting in May, report to the Committee on the status of donor coordination and burdensharing efforts. mine clearing The Committee is concerned that the floods and mudslides caused by Hurricane Mitch may have shifted the location of anti-personnel mines previously identified in Central America, rendering new areas potentially unsafe. The rapid identification of the current location of landmines, and their safe removal is essential to subsequent road and bridge construction and renewal of productive agricultural activity. The Committee supports the request of the Inter-American Defense Board for additional mine detection dogs and handlers to be sent to Central America in conjunction with the emergency response to Hurricane Mitch. role of women in reconstruction efforts The Committee recognizes the devastating impact that Hurricane Mitch had on the region generally, but in particular, its effect on women. Fully one-third of the households that lost homes are headed by women. The primary borrowers in many micro-credit programs wiped out by the disaster are women. Women occupied many of the jobs lost in the agricultural and textile sectors. Finally, the bulk of the short-term employment opportunities generated by the recovery effort, such as construction and road building, are generally the kind from which women are barred. Therefore, the Committee expects that all agencies involved in carrying out programs funded with this emergency assistance will take the specific needs of women into account as programs are designed and implemented. In addition, the needs of women creditors should be taken into account as new micro-credit programs are designed and existing micro- credit institutions are restructured. GENERAL PROVISION--THIS CHAPTER Sec. 301. For the remainder of fiscal year 1999, the Committee allows the President to exercise his authority under section 506(a)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to drawdown up to $75,000,000 in Defense Department articles, services and military education and training without any such drawdown being counted against the ceiling limitation of that section. CHAPTER 5 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Reconstruction and Construction The Committee recommends $5,611,000 for emergency repairs in the Caribbean National Forest in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Georges and other natural disasters. These funds are also to be made available to repair damages to the International Institute of Tropical Forestry. CHAPTER 6 OFFSETS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Public Law 480 Program and Grant Accounts (Rescission) The Committee recommends a rescission of $30,000,000 from funds appropriated for the cost of direct credit agreements for Public Law 480 title I credit for fiscal year 1999. After this rescission, $146,596,000 remains available for this purpose. The availability of carryover funds from previous years and the Administration's recently announced food aid program for Russia will keep title I activity at the level provided for in the fiscal year 1999 regular appropriations. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Atomic Energy Defense Activities other defense activities (rescission) Funding of $525,000,000 was provided to the Department of Energy in P.L. 105-277, the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, for Russian programs relating to the disposal of excess plutonium and uranium from nuclear weapons. The agreements between the United States and Russia to establish these programs have not yet been finalized, and it is anticipated that not all of the funding will be required in fiscal year 1999. EXPORT AND INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE Funds Appropriated to the President trade and development agency (rescission) The Committee recommends the rescission of $5,000,000 from funds made available under this heading in Public Law 105-277. Additional funds have been made available to the Trade and Development Agency from other appropriations accounts. BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE Funds Appropriated to the President Agency for International Development Development Assistance (Rescission) The Committee recommends the rescission of $40,000,000 from prior year appropriations for development assistance. Other Bilateral Economic Assistance Economic Support Fund (Rescission) The Committee recommends rescission of $17,000,000 from the unobligated balances of the Economic Support Fund. Assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States (Rescission) The Committee recommends the rescission of $20,000,000 from the unobligated balances of funds available for East-Central Europe. Assistance for the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Rescission) The Committee recommends a rescission of $25,000,000 from unobligated balances of over $1,000,000,000 available from funds appropriated for the independent states of the former Soviet Union. MILITARY ASSISTANCE Funds Appropriated to the President Peacekeeping Operations (Rescission) The Committee recommends a rescission of $10,000,000 from the funds appropriated for voluntary international peacekeeping operations in Public Law 105-277. MULTILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE Funds Appropriated to the President International Financial Institutions Contribution to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Global Environment Facility (Rescission) The Committee recommends rescission of $25,000,000 from the United States contribution to the Global Environmental Program administered by the World Bank. Reduction in Callable Capital Appropriations (Rescission) The Committee recommends the rescission of a total of $648,000,000 from the balances of unobligated funds appropriated prior to 1980 for callable capital stock of the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. Since 1980, the United States has subscribed to $32,835,963,000 in callable capital stock for the same multilateral development banks. All of the $32,835,963,000 was approved in appropriation acts, but none of it was actually appropriated or scored as budget authority, as before. The Committee's recommendation to reduce callable capital previously approved is not without precedent. It does not signal any change in the Committee's support for the multilateral development banks. International Organizations and Programs (Rescission) The Committee recommends a rescission of $10,000,000 from the funds appropriated for international organizations and programs in Public Law 105-277. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Payments to Air Carriers (Airport and Airway Trust Fund) (Rescission Of Contract Authorization) The Committee recommends a rescission of $815,000 in contract authority provided for ``Small community air service'' by Public Law 101-508 for fiscal years prior to fiscal year 1998. This rescission has no effect on the essential air service program. FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION State Infrastructure Banks (Rescission) The Committee recommends a rescission of $6,500,000 from the state infrastructure bank program. These funds are in excess of the funds necessary to support those states currently participating in the program. FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION Trust Fund Share of Transit Programs (Highway Trust Fund) (Rescission of Contract Authorization) The Committee recommends a rescission of $665,000 in contract authority from the trust fund share of transit programs provided in Public Law 102-240 under 49 U.S.C. 5338(a)(1). These funds are in excess of the annual obligation limitation placed on the program and are not available for obligation in fiscal year 1999. Interstate Transfer Grants--Transit The Committee recommends a rescission of $600,000 in unobligated balances of interstate transfer grants--transit. The Committee directs the Federal Transit Administration to reduce only those available balances for projects for which no current program plan is in place for the obligation of funds. GENERAL PROVISION--THIS TITLE The Committee bill includes section 1001, which reduces the amounts made available in Public Law 105-277 by $40,000,000. This action is recommended in order to provide offsets for the bill. Details regarding this adjustment may be found in a classified annex accompanying the Committee report. TITLE II SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS AND RESCISSIONS CHAPTER 1 THE JUDICIARY Supreme Court of the United States Salaries and Expenses The Committee recommends $921,000 to remain available until expended for salaries and expenses of the Supreme Court of the United States, as requested. This is to provide an additional 36 police officers under the jurisdiction of the Court to enhance the capability of the police in order to assure coverage of the building under standards comparable to those recently adopted by the Capitol police with respect to public buildings under their protection. These funds represent one- quarter year of salary and benefits plus funds for associated training, supplies and equipment. DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND RELATED AGENCIES RELATED AGENCY United States Information Agency buying power maintenance (rescission) The Committee recommends a rescission of $20,000,000 from unobligated balances under this heading. The balances in this account result from exchange rate gains over the past several years, and exceed the potential requirements on the fund prior to the consolidation of the Agency into the Department of State on October 1, 1999. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operations, research, and facilities and fisheries finance program account The Committee does not recommend funding requested for the Operations, Research, and Facilities and the Fisheries Finance Program accounts. The supplemental request included $5,000,000 for these programs, $3,120,000 for the Fisheries Finance Program account to fund a vessel buy-out in the Northeast inshore cod fishery in the Gulf of Maine and $1,880,000 and 20 full-time-equivalent employees for Operations, Research and Facilities for scientific and management activities in connection with this fishery. In the fiscal year 1999 Appropriations Act, the Committee already provided $5,000,000 in emergency funding for emergency disaster assistance for individuals and communities impacted by declines in the Northeast multispecies fishery, including the Gulf of Maine. To date, NOAA has not provided a spending plan, nor obligated any of this fund. In fiscal year 1999, the Committee also provided significant increases for fisheries management programs, including the northeast region for scientific and management activities. In addition, the Committee understands that the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires that an industry-wide referendum be conducted and an implementation plan approved with set time periods for public comment and consideration in order to implement a vessel buyout. These actions have not been initiated, and therefore any buyout could not be undertaken in fiscal year 1999. RELATED AGENCY Federal Communications Commission General Provision The Committee does not recommend adoption at this time of a requested provision to repeal the provision of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 that requires the auction of spectrum between 746-806 megahertz to be conducted in 2001, and instead requiring that the competitive bidding process be started in 1999, and conducted in such a way as to ensure that all proceeds are deposited not later than September 30, 2000. The intent of the requested provision is to accelerate this auction, thereby shifting the collection of receipts to fiscal year 2000. The Office of Management and Budget anticipates $2.6 billion in fiscal year 2000 receipts resulting from this provision, and a decrease of $1.3 billion in receipts in each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002. However, it is not clear that the adoption of this provision would result in the deposit of receipts before fiscal year 2001, so the rationale for inclusion of this provision has not been established. CHAPTER 2 UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM The Committee recommends $3,000,000 for necessary expenses for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom as authorized by title II of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-292). These funds shall remain available until expended. EXPORT AND INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE export-import bank of the united states (rescission) The Committee recommends the rescission of $25,000,000 from prior year unobligated balances intended for the tied-aid war chest. CHAPTER 3 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management Management of Lands and Resources (Rescission) The Committee recommends the rescission of $6,800,000 from Management of Lands and Resources. The funds are to be taken from the Automated Lands and Minerals Record System (ALMRS) program. The issue of continued funding for the ALMRS program is under review and these funds, which were appropriated in fiscal year 1998, exceed current requirements. Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians Federal Trust Programs The Committee recommends $21,800,000 for Federal Trust Programs. Within the funds provided $6,800,000 is to implement the Trust Management Improvement Project High Level Implementation Plan to ensure that the Department of the Interior meets its fiduciary obligations to Native Americans and $15,000,000 to support costs associated with ongoing litigation involving the Department of the Interior and approximately 300,000 holders of Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust accounts. The $15,000,000 will support document production, a court-appointed Special Master, and statistical sampling of trust accounts as a means of providing a baseline for settlement purposes. CHAPTER 4 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations The Committee recommends a reduction of $21,000,000 in this account, instead of the reduction of $5,700,000 requested by the President. Part of the reduction, $16,000,000, is taken in the unemployment insurance contingency fund; the revised amount for the fund would be $164,933,000. This fund is used to supplement the base administrative allocations to the States. Based on continued low unemployment rates, the full amount of the contingency appropriation is not needed to fund State administrative workload. The President requested a reduction of $5,700,000. In addition, the Committee recommends a reduction of $5,000,000 in excess funds in the unemployment insurance postage account. State postage costs are expected to be lower than originally estimated. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Resources and Services Administration federal capital loan program for nursing (rescission) The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,800,000 from unobligated balances in the Federal Capital Loan Program for Nursing account. The program has been inactive for more than eight years. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION education research, statistics and improvement (rescission) The Committee recommends a rescission of $6,800,000 from the Fund for the Improvement of Education. The Committee is aware that only $2,000,000 of the $10,000,000 originally included in this account for an evaluation of voluntary national test development is actually needed in fiscal year 1999 to carry out this activity. The recommended rescission level assumes that the Department of Education will transfer $1,200,000 of the $10,000,000 from the Fund for the Improvement of Education program to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities program for a payment to the University of the District of Columbia. It is the Committee's understanding that this transfer is subject to (1) a determination by the Secretary that such an award will not violate the intent of Section 324(g) of Title III of the Higher Education Act and (2) the Secretary's receipt of a properly completed application from the University of the District of Columbia as required under Section 325 of Title III of such Act. RELATED AGENCY Corporation for Public Broadcasting The Committee provides $48,000,000 for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio to proceed with negotiations for a public radio satellite replacement. Of this total, $30,600,000 is provided in fiscal year 1999 and $17,400,000 is provided as a fiscal year 2000 advance. In 1998, the satellite servicing the Public Radio Satellite System failed unexpectedly, and the system is currently operating on a temporary back-up satellite that will become unavailable in Fall 1999. Public radio needs to make contractual arrangements with a satellite vendor in Spring 1999 to ensure continuity of services to public radio listeners. The President requested this supplemental in his fiscal year 2000 budget submission. CHAPTER 5 CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL Capitol Buildings and Grounds house office buildings House Page Dormitory--The bill contains $3,760,000 to renovate and furnish the House-owned property at 501 First Street, S.E., for the purpose of relocating a dormitory necessary to accommodate the House pages. The pages currently occupy two floors at the O'Neill House Office Building which have been converted to dormitory space. That building has been determined to have several structural and life safety deficiencies. A recent audit conducted by the House Inspector General has revealed fire safety issues and the Architect of the Capitol has long held that the building is not structurally suited for its current use. The facilities at 501 First Street are suited for conversion to dormitory space. The building was originally constructed as a residence hall, and its most recent use included a day care center. The basic mechanical and life safety features of the building are satisfactory and within the various regulations that govern comparable applications. It is expected that the Architect of the Capitol will consult with the House Office Building Commission, the House Page Board, and other appropriate authorities as the design work progresses. O'Neill House Office Building--The bill contains $1,800,000 necessary to correct life safety, particularly fire-related, deficiencies in the O'Neill House Office Building. The Architect of the Capitol and the House Inspector General have identified several items that require immediate remedial attention such as extending the sprinkler system, updating the fire escapes and elevators, pressurizing stairwells, and replacing the alarm system. Although the Architect has advised that the O'Neill building is not suitable in the long run for continued use as an office building, the Committee believes these improvements should be made to protect the building occupants until more satisfactory space can be found. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--THIS CHAPTER Two administrative provisions are included. One provision adjusts certain leadership allowances and the second provision allows leadership offices to utilize appropriated funds for any official, authorized purpose. The latter provision is comparable to authority recently provided to all House Members with respect to the Members' Representational Allowances. CHAPTER 6 POSTAL SERVICE Payments to the Postal Service Fund 1999 appropriation...................................... $71,195,000 1999 supplemental estimate.............................. 29,000,000 Committee recommendation................................ 29,000,000 The Committee recommends an appropriation of $29,000,000 for reimbursements to the Postal Service as authorized by 39 U.S.C., 2401(d). EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT Unanticipated Needs (rescission) The Committee recommends a rescission of $10,000,000 from amounts previously appropriated under this heading in Public Law 101-130, the Fiscal Year 1990 Dire Emergency Supplemental to Meet the Needs of Natural Disasters of National Significance, as proposed by the President. All of the funds were transferred to Departments and agencies to carry out necessary activities. These funds are no longer needed. CHAPTER 7 Court of Veterans Appeals salaries and expenses The Court of Veterans Appeals requested supplemental appropriations of $372,000. The Committee has determined there is not justification for additional funding at this time, but is evaluating the additional funding in the context of the fiscal year 2000 legislation. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Community Planning and Development community development block grants The Committee has included new bill language which makes a technical adjustment to the amount of funds made available for two Economic Development Initiative grants in Public Law 105- 276. The Committee notes that this technical change has no budgetary impact. Management and Administration office of inspector general The Committee recommends extending the time period for expending funds from one year to two years, as proposed by the Administration. The extension is needed to implement the HUD Anti-fraud initiative created by Congress in fiscal year 1998. GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS ACT The Committee bill includes section 2002, which prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from discounting loan deficiency payments under the Agricultural Market Transition Act for club wheat, and compensates club wheat producers who received discounted loan deficiency payments. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Citrus Canker Eradication The citrus industry in the state of Florida is threatened by the spread of citrus canker, which has the potential for devastating impacts on commercial production. This extremely contagious bacterial disease has been spread by hurricane and other storm systems. The disease now threatens the entire industry, which contributes $8,000,000,000 annually in economic impact and provides for 121,000 jobs. The impact of the spread of citrus canker is $200,000,000 annually in increased production costs and market restrictions. Detection and eradication of the disease is possible with existing methods and technology. The Committee urges the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an emergency eradication program, using the authorities and funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation. Further, the Committee directs the Secretary to report not later than March 31, 1999, on the Department's plans for addressing this emergency. Russian Food Aid Based on past experience with regard to U.S. commodity shipments to Russia, the Committee is seriously concerned about the likelihood of diversion in the distribution of the current $1,200,000,000 Russian food aid package which was negotiated by the Executive Branch. The Committee urges the Secretary of Agriculture to implement swiftly the provisions of the sales agreement that allow suspension of shipments if and when diversions occur. In addition, the Secretary should ensure that sufficient staff is available for oversight, monitoring and control procedures to minimize potential misuses and improper losses of food commodities provided under the three food aid agreements between the Governments of the United States and the Russian Federation. The Committee expects the Secretary to directly involve the Inspector General in auditing these shipments. The Secretary of Agriculture shall report to the Committee by June 15, 1999, regarding his efforts to increase oversight and monitoring; the extent to which other federal agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations have contributed to the monitoring effort; the number and frequency of spot-checks and their findings; how the agency handled reports of diversions; and the extent to which the distribution of commodities was coordinated with local government officials and private farming organizations. The Committee also expects the Secretary to report on how the food aid package was coordinated with the State Department to meet our strategic goals in the region and the involvement of the Interagency Task Force assembled by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to oversee these shipments. The Secretary shall also report on how this and subsequent food aid shipments contribute to the development and reform of private agriculture in the Newly Independent States. Commodity Credit Corporation The Committee is concerned that the Committee on Agriculture has not remedied the problems associated with the section 11 cap for CCC reimbursements, which will result in NRCS ceasing technical assistance work for the Conservation Reserve Program and furloughing about 800 field staff after the current carryover funds are expended in May 1999. The Committee urges the Secretary of Agriculture to work with the Congress to remedy the problems associated with the section 11 cap. TITLE III TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS The Committee has included several provisions that would correct errors and insert clarifying language into the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-277). Due to the large volume of this law and the relative short amount of time available to develop the final version of it, a few errors were made and the intent of the managers was not clearly provided in a few instances. The provisions in this title would correct these problems. Changes in the Application of Existing Law The bill includes several appropriations that are not authorized by law and as such may be constructed as legislative in nature. The bill includes several emergency appropriation and contingent emergency appropriation designations that may be construed as legislative in nature. Pursuant to clause 3(f) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill which directly or indirectly change the application of existing law. Language is included under Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Salaries and Expenses, providing that the funding provided is to be administered by the Attorney General. Language is included under Department of State and Related Agencies, Related Agencies, United States Information Agency, Buying Power Maintenance that rescinds previously appropriated funds. Under General Provisions--This Chapter in Chapter 6, Title I, language is include that would reduce previously appropriated Department of Defense funds. Language is included in the bill which rescinds budget authority under the heading Atomic Energy Defense Activities. Under ``International Disaster Assistance'', funds are authorized for reconstruction assistance, as well as disaster relief and rehabilitation. Under ``Central America and the Caribbean Emergency Disaster Recovery Fund'', funds are appropriated subject to the provisions of chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act, and (except for section 558), subject to title V of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1999; funds are also available notwithstanding such provisions of law regulating the making, performance, amendment, or modification of contracts as the Administrator of the Agency for International Development may specify, subject to a report in writing to the Committees on Appropriations at least 5 days prior to the use of this authority; in addition, authority is provided to allow for the transfer of funds to other accounts for administration, audits and inspections of the funds appropriated under this paragraph; finally, funds are provided subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. Under ``Debt restructuring'', funds are authorized to be used as a contribution to the Central America Emergency Trust Fund. Under ``Foreign Military Financing Program'', the requirement for repayment of funds is waived notwithstanding sections 23(b) and 23(c) of the Arms Export Control Act. Under ``Economic Support Fund'', $17,000,000 are rescinded from funds appropriated in Public Law 105-277 and in prior acts making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs. Under ``Global Environment Facility'', $25,000,000 are rescinded from funds appropriated in Public Law 105-277. Language is included under the Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary that rescinds $815,000 in contract authority provided for ``Small community air service'' by Public Law 101-508 for fiscal years prior to fiscal year 1998. Language is included under the Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration that rescinds $6,500,000 from the state infrastructure bank program. Language is included under the Department of Transportation, Federal Transmit Administration that rescinds $665,000 in contract authority from the trust fund share of transit programs provided in Public Law 102-240, and rescinds $600,000 in unobligated balances from the interstate transfer grants-transit program. Under sec. 301, language is included that provides that the value of articles, services, and military education and training drawn down by the President as of November 15, 1998, pursuant to section 506(a)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act, does not count against the ceiling limitation of that section. Under ``Department of Agriculture, Public Law 480 Program and Grant Accounts'', $30,000,000 are rescinded from funds appropriated in Public Law 105-277. Language is included that reduces previously appropriated funds for Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide. Language is included under Bureau of Land Management, Management of Lands and Resources, Department of the Interior, that rescinds previously appropriated funds. Language is included under the Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, that reduces previous appropriations. Language is included under the Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, that rescinds previous appropriations. Language is included under the Education Research, Statistics and Improvement, Department of Education, that rescinds previous appropriations. Language is included under the Corporation for Public Broadcasting requiring that funds appropriated be made available to National Public Radio for acquisition of satellite capacity. Section 2002--Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from discounting loan deficiency payments under the Agriculture Market Transition Act for club wheat, and compensates club wheat producers who received discounted loan deficiency payments. Section 3709 of the Revised Statutes is waived for certain renovation projects. There is an increase in the authorization for certain leadership offices and authority for leadership offices to utilize appropriated funds for staff and other expense purposes, at their discretion. The latter authority is comparable to that given to all House members with their office allowances. Language is included under Executive Office of the President, Unanticipated Needs that rescinds previous appropriations. Language is included under the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, extending the time period for expending funds from one year to two years. Language is included under the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Planning and Development, Community Development Block Grants changing the manner in which previously appropriated funds were applied to certain grants. Under ``Export-Import Bank of the United States'' $25,000,000 in unobligated balances are rescinded. Under ``Trade and Development Agency'', of the funds appropriated for this account in Public Law 105-277, $5,000,000 are rescinded. Under ``Development Assistance'', of the funds appropriated for this account in Public Law 105-118 and in prior acts making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs, $40,000,000 are rescinded. Under ``Assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States'', $20,000,000 in unobligated balances are rescinded. Under ``Assistance for the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union'' $25,000,000 in unobligated balances are rescinded. Under ``Peacekeeping Operations'', of the funds appropriated for this account in Public Law 105-277, $10,000,000 are rescinded. Under ``Reduction in Callable Capital Appropriations'', a total of $648,000,000 in funds appropriated for callable capital stock for three international financial institutions are rescinded. Under ``International Organizations and Programs'', of the funds appropriated for this account in Public Law 105-277, $10,000,000 are rescinded. In Title III, the following technical changes to the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-277) are included: Section 3001(a). Makes a correction to an authorization reference for the Rural Community Advancement Program in the Agriculture Appropriations Act by inserting section 1926d of 7 U.S.C., makes a correction to the application of the rural utilities program by referencing sections 306(a)(2) and 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, and deletes two extraneous references to the same Act. Section 3001(b). Makes one of the provisions of section 718 of the Agriculture Appropriations Act consistent with the rest of the section with respect to legislative permanency. Section 3001(c). Makes a correction to section 747 of the Agriculture Appropriations Act by changing a section number from 302 to 203. Section 3001(d). Makes a correction to section 763 of the Agriculture Appropriations Act by changing the authorization reference for disaster research and prevention associated with commerce and trade activities. Section 3002. Extends the availability of the anti-drug supplemental emergency appropriation for the Agricultural Research Service similar to the other accounts in this part of the bill. Section 3003(a). Inserts a correct account title of the Foreign Operations Act for special assistance to Burma. Section 3003(b). Makes a correction in section 587 of the Foreign Operations Act by changing a referenced law citation. Section 3003(c). Makes a correction to section 594(a) of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act by changing a subparagraph reference to a subsection reference. Section 3003(d). Makes a correction to section 594(b) of Foreign Operations Appropriations Act by changing a subparagraph reference to a subsection reference. Section 3003(e). Makes a correction to section 594(e) of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act by changing the identification criteria of foreign countries receiving certain assistance. Section 3005(a). Makes a correction to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service appropriations paragraph of the Interior Appropriations Act by correcting the citation of the base legislation in the Marine Mammal Protection Act that was to be amended. Section 3005(b). Makes a correction to section 354(a) of the Interior Appropriations Act by correcting the citation of the base legislation in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act that was to be amended. Section 3006(a). Makes a correction to the Federal Unemployment Benefits and Allowances appropriations paragraph of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations (L-HHS) Act by making a technical correction to the description of the duration of the applicability of the appropriation. Section 3006(b). Corrects an appropriation amount for the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the L- HHS Act. Section 3006(c). Removes an allocation of funds for a certain Head Start Program in the L-HHS Act. Section 3006(d). Inserts two allocations of funds for Public Health Service activities in the L-HHS Act. Section 3006(e). Inserts an allocation of funds related to special education in the L-HHS Act. Section 3006(f). Corrects the amount of an allocation of funds for Public Health and Social Services Emergency activities in the L-HHS Act. Section 3006(g). Corrects an allocation of funds for the Goals 2000 program in the L-HHS Act. Section 3006(h). Corrects an allocation of funds for national leadership activities under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act in the L-HHS Act and designates an amount for tribally controlled vocational institutions. Section 3006(i). Inserts a clarification of the availability of certain Higher Education funds in the L-HHS Act. Section 3006(j). Inserts two allocations of Education Research, Statistics, and Improvement funds in the L-HHS Act. Section 3006(k). Inserts a qualification on the expenditure of Reading Excellence funds in the L-HHS Act. Section 3006(l). Makes the section 510(3) of the L-HHS Act consistent with the rest of the section with respect to legislative permanency. Section 3006(m). Makes technical and conforming changes to the table of contents of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Section 3008. Inserts a provision that insures that funding is available through the end of the fiscal year for the National Advanced Driving Simulator Program. Section 3009. Inserts a qualification on the expenditure of funds for the Capitol security that were included in Division B, Title II, Chapter 6. Section 3011. Extends the availability of funds transferred to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in two appropriations paragraphs of the Commerce, Justice Act. In Title III, additional corrections to legislation amended by the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, are included, as follows: Section 3004. Corrects a date included in the International Financial Institutions Act for the submission of a report on the financial operations of the IMF. Section 3007. Makes a correction to a citation in 5 U.S.C. 5595(b). Section 3010. Re-designates a section number in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Appropriations Not Authorized by Law Pursuant to clause 3(f) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following table lists the appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not authorized by law: Department of Agriculture Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service, S&E Department of Defense--Military Reserve Personnel, Army National Guard Personnel, Army National Guard Personnel, Air Force Operation and Maintenance, Army Operation and Maintenance, Navy Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps Operation and Maintenance, Air Force Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid Agency for International Development International Disaster Assistance Economic Support Fund Central America and the Caribbean Emergency Disaster Recovery Fund Department of the Treasury Debt Restructuring Foreign Military Financing Program Corporation for Public Broadcasting Rescissions Pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following table is submitted describing the rescissions recommended in the accompanying bill: Rescissions recommended in the bill Amounts recommended Department and activity for rescission Department of Agriculture, Public Law 480 Program and Grant Accounts...................................... $30,000,000 Department of Energy, Atomic Energy Defense Activities, Other Defense Activities............................ 150,000,000 Export and Investment Assistance: Funds Appropriated to the President, Trade and Development Agency................................ 5,000,000 Bilateral Economic Assistance: Funds Appropriated to the President, Agency for International Development......................... 40,000,000 Other Bilateral Economic Assistance................. Economic Support Fund........................... 17,000,000 Assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States........................................ 20,000,000 Assistance for the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union........................... 25,000,000 Military Assistance, Funds Appropriated to the President, Peacekeeping Operations.................. 10,000,000 Multilateral Economic Assistance: Funds Appropriated to the President: International Financial Institutions, Contribution to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Global Environment Facility.......................... 25,000,000 Reduction in Callable Capital Appropriations.... 648,000,000 International Organizations and Programs........ 10,000,000 Department of Transportation: Office of the Secretary, Payments to Air Carriers (Airport and Airway Trust Fund)................... 815,000 Federal Highway Administration, State Infrastructure Banks............................................. 6,500,000 Federal Transit Administration, Trust Fund Share of Transit Program, (Highway Trust Fund)............. 665,000 Federal Transit Programs, Interstate Transfer Grants--Transit................................... 600,000 United States Information Agency, Buying Power Maintenance......................................... 20,000,000 Export and Investment Assistance, Export-Import Bank of the United States................................... 25,000,000 Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Management of Lands and Resources................... 6,800,000 Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Federal Capital Loan Program for Nursing.................... 2,800,000 Department of Education, Education, Research, Statistics, and Improvement......................... 6,800,000 Executive Office of the President, Funds Appropriated to the President, Unanticipated Needs.................. 10,000,000 Comparison With the Budget Resolution Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as amended, requires that the report accompanying a bill providing new budget authority contain a statement detailing how that authority compares with the reports submitted under section 302 of the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget for the fiscal year. This information follows: [In millions of dollars] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Remaining section 302(a) This bill allocation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Discretionary: Budget authority.................... 201 -840 Outlays............................. -213 -2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Five-Year Outlay Projections In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as amended, the following table contains five-year projections associated with the budget authority provided in the accompanying bill: Millions Budget Authority........................................ 191 Outlays: 1999................................................ 428 2000................................................ 247 2001................................................ 129 2002................................................ 59 2003 and beyond..................................... 9 Assistance to State and Local Governments In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as amended, the financial assistance to State and local governments is as follows: Millions Budget Authority........................................ 7 Fiscal year 1999 outlays resulting therefrom............ 10 Constitutional Authority Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives states that: Each report of a committee on a bill or joint resolution of a public character, shall include a statement citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in the Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint resolution. The Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to report this legislation from Clause 7 of Section 9 of Article I of the Constitution of the United States of America which states: No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of Appropriations made by law . . . Appropriations contained in this Act are made pursuant to this specific power granted by the Constitution. Compliance With Clause 3 of Rule XIII (Ramseyer Rule) In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): The accompanying bill would amend Division B, Title I, Chapter 1 of Public Law 105-277, as follows: Division B, Title I, Chapter 1, Public Law 105-277 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE * * * * * * * OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE * * * * * * * Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide (including transfer of funds) For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', [$1,496,600,000] $1,456,600,000, to remain available for obligation . . . * * * * * * * The accompanying bill would amend Title I of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999, as follows: DIVISION A, SECTION 101(f) (PUBLIC LAW 105-277) DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration * * * * * * * State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations For authorized administrative expenses, $162,097,000, together with not to exceed [$3,132,076,000] $3,111,076,000 (including not to exceed $1,228,000 which may be used for amortization payments to States which had independent retirement plans in their State employment service agencies prior to 1980), which may be expended from the Employment Security Administration account in the Unemployment Trust Fund including the cost of administering section 1201 of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, section 7(d) of the Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended, section 461 of the Job Training Partnership Act, the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, the Immigration Act of 1990, and the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and of which the sums available in the allocation for activities authorized by title III of the Social Security Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 502-504), and the sums available in the allocation for necessary administrative expenses for carrying out 5 U.S.C. 8501-8523, shall be available for obligation by the States through December 31, 1999, except that funds used for automation acquisitions shall be available for obligation by States through September 30, 2001; and of which $162,097,000, together with not to exceed $746,138,000 of the amount which may be expended from said trust fund, shall be available for obligation for the period July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000, to fund activities under the Act of June 6, 1933, as amended, including the cost of penalty mail authorized under 39 U.S.C. 3202(a)(1)(E) made available to States in lieu of allotments for such purpose, and of which [$180,933,000] $164,933,000 shall be available only to the extent necessary for additional State allocations to administer unemployment compensation laws to finance increases in the number of unemployment insurance claims filed and claims paid or changes in a State law: Provided, That to the extent that the Average Weekly Insured Unemployment (AWIU) for fiscal year 1999 is projected by the Department of Labor to exceed 2,629,000, an additional $28,600,000 shall be available for obligation for every 100,000 increase in the AWIU level (including a pro rata amount for any increment less than 100,000) from the Employment Security Administration Account of the Unemployment Trust Fund: Provided further, That funds appropriated in this Act which are used to establish a national one-stop career center network may be obligated in contracts, grants or agreements with non-State entities: Provided further, That funds appropriated under this Act for activities authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended, and title III of the Social Security Act, may be used by the States to fund integrated Employment Service and Unemployment Insurance automation efforts, notwithstanding cost allocation principles prescribed under Office of Management and Budget Circular A-87. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Management and Administration Office of Inspector General Public Law 105-276 is amended in the paragraph under this heading as follows: For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General in carrying out the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended $81,910,000, to remain available until September 30, 2000, of which $22,343,000 shall be provided from the various funds of the Federal Housing Administration and $10,000,000 shall be provided from the amount earmarked for Operation Safe Home in the ``Drug Elimination Grants for Low-Income Housing'' account: Provided, That the Inspector General shall have independent authority over all personnel issues within the Office of Inspector General. The accompanying bill would amend the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, as follows: OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED AND EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999 * * * * * * * DIVISION A--OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS * * * * * * * AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999 * * * * * * * TITLE III RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Office of the Secretary for Rural Development * * * * * * * rural community advancement program (including transfers of funds) For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1926a, 1926c, 1926d, and 1932, except for sections 381E-H, 381N, and 381O of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009f), $722,686,000, to remain available until expended, of which $29,786,000 shall be for rural community programs described in section 381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act; of which $645,007,000 shall be for the rural utilities programs described in section 381E(d)(2), 306C, and 306D of such Act[, as provided in 7U.S.C. 1926(a) and 7 U.S.C. 1926C]; and of which $47,893,000 shall be for the rural business and cooperative development programs described in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided, That of the amount appropriated for the rural business and cooperative development programs, not to exceed $500,000 shall be made available for a grant to a qualified national organization to provide technical assistance for rural transportation in order to promote economic development: Provided further, That not to exceed $16,215,000 shall be for technical assistance grants for rural waste systems pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of such Act; and not to exceed $5,300,000 shall be for contracting with qualified national organizations for a circuit rider program to provide technical assistance for rural water systems: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $33,926,000 shall be available through June 30, 1999, for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by Public Law 103-66, of which $1,844,000 shall be for rural community programs described in section 381E(d)(1) of such Act; of which $23,948,000 shall be for the rural utilities programs described in section 381E(d)(2) of such Act; of which $8,134,000 shall be for the rural business and cooperative development programs described in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act. * * * * * * * TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS * * * * * * * Sec. 718. Hereafter, none of the funds made available in [this Act] annual appropriations Acts may be used to provide assistance to, or to pay the salaries of personnel to carry out a market promotion/market access program pursuant to section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623) that provides assistance to the United States Mink Export Development Council or any mink industry trade association. * * * * * * * Sec. 747. None of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act for any fiscal year may be used to carry out section [302] 203(h) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622(h)) unless the Secretary of Agriculture inspects and certifies agricultural processing equipment, and imposes a fee for the inspection and certification, in a manner that is similar to the inspection and certification of agricultural products under that section, as determined by the Secretary: Provided, That this provision shall not affect the authority of the Secretary to carry out the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.), or the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.). * * * * * * * Sec. 763. In implementing section 1124 of subtitle C of title XI of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall: (a) * * * (b) transfer to the Secretary of Commerce for obligation and expenditure (1) $15,000,000 for programs pursuant to title IX of Public Law 91-304, as amended, of which six percent may be available for administrative costs; (2) $5,000,000 for the Trade Adjustment Assistance program as provided by the Trade Act of 1974, as amended; and (3) $7,000,000 for disaster research and prevention pursuant to section 402(d) of [Public Law 94-265] Public Law 104-297; and * * * * * * * DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999 * * * * * * * TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE * * * * * * * Legal Activities Salaries and Expenses, General Legal Activities For expenses necessary for the legal activities of the Department of Justice, not otherwise provided for, including not to exceed $20,000 for expenses of collecting evidence, to be expended under the direction of, and to be accounted for solely under the certificate of, the Attorney General; and rent of private or Government-owned space in the District of Columbia, $466,840,000; of which not to exceed $10,000,000 for litigation support contracts shall remain available until expended: Provided, That of the funds available in this appropriation, not to exceed $17,834,000 shall remain available until expended for office automation systems for the legal divisions covered by this appropriation, and for the United States Attorneys, the Antitrust Division, and offices funded through ``Salaries and Expenses'', General Administration: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $1,000 shall be available to the United States National Central Bureau, INTERPOL, for official reception and representation expenses: Provided further, That $813,333 of funds made available to the Department of Justice in this Act shall be transferred by the Attorney General to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States and shall remain available until September 30, 2000: Provided further, That any transfer pursuant to the previous provision shall be treated as a reprogramming under section 605 of this Act and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the procedures set forth in that section. * * * * * * * TITLE IV--DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND RELATED AGENCIES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Administration of Foreign Affairs * * * * * * * Salaries and Expenses For expenses necessary for the general administration of the Department of State and the Foreign Service, provided for by law, including expenses authorized by section 9 of the Act of August 31, 1964, as amended (31 U.S.C. 3721), and the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as amended, $355,000,000: Provided, That, of this amount, $813,333 shall be transferred to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States and shall remain available until September 30, 2000. * * * * * * * FOREIGN OPERATIONS EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999 * * * * * * * TITLE II--BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE Funds Appropriated to the President Agency for International Development * * * * * * * Burma Of the funds appropriated under the [headings ``Economic Support Fund'' and] headings ``Child Survival and Disease Programs Fund'', ``Economic Support Fund,'' and ``Development Assistance'', not less than $6,500,000 shall be made available to support democracy activities in Burma, democracy and humanitarian activities along the Burma-Thailand border, and for Burmese student groups and other organizations located outside Burma: Provided, That funds made available for Burma- related activities under this heading may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law: Provided further, That the provision of such funds shall be made available subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. * * * * * * * TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS * * * * * * * Aid Office of Security Sec. 587. (a) Establishment of Office.--There shall be established within the Office of the Administrator of the Agency for International Development, an Office of Security. Such Office of Security shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law except section 207 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 and section 103 of Public Law [199-339] 99-399, have the responsibility for the supervision, direction, and control of all security activities relating to the programs and operations of that Agency. * * * * * * * Reporting Requirements Sec. 594. (a) Notification.--No less than 15 days prior to the export to any country identified pursuant to [subparagraph (C)] subsection (c) of any lethal defense article or service in the amount of $14,000,000 or less, the President shall provide a detailed notification to the Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Relationsof the Senate and the Committees on Appropriations and International Relations of the House of Representatives. (b) Content of Notification.--A detailed notification transmitted pursuant to [subparagraph (a)] subsection (a) shall include the same type and quantity of information required of a notification submitted pursuant to section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(b)). (c) Countries Defined.--This section shall apply to any country that is-- (1) identified in section [521 of the annual appropriations Act for Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs] 520 of this Act, or comparable provisions in a subsequent appropriations Act; or (2) currently ineligible, in whole or in part, under an annual appropriations Act to receive funds for International Military Education and Training or under the Foreign Military Financing Program, excluding high- income countries as defined pursuant to section 546(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. * * * * * * * DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999 * * * * * * * TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR * * * * * * * administrative provisions Appropriations and funds available to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall be available for purchase of not to exceed 104 passenger motor vehicles, of which 89 are for replacement only (including 38 for police-type use); repair of damage to public roads within and adjacent to reservation areas caused by operations of the Service; options for the purchase of land at not to exceed $1 for each option; facilities incident to such public recreational uses on conservation areas as are consistent with their primary purpose; and the maintenance and improvement of aquaria, buildings, and other facilities under the jurisdiction of the Service and to which the United States has title, and which are used pursuant to law in connection with management and investigation of fish and wildlife resources: Provided, That notwithstanding 44 U.S.C. 501, the Service may, under cooperative cost sharing and partnership arrangements authorized by law, procure printing services from cooperators in connection with jointly produced publications for which the cooperators share at least one-half the cost of printing either in cash or services and the Service determines the cooperatoris capable of meeting accepted quality standards: Provided further, That the Service may accept donated aircraft as replacements for existing aircraft: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Interior may not spend any of the funds appropriated in this Act for the purchase of lands or interests in lands to be used in the establishment of any new unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System unless the purchase is approved in advance by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in compliance with the reprogramming procedures contained in Senate Report 105-56: Provided further, That hereafter the Secretary may sell land and interests in land, other than surface water rights, acquired in conformance with subsections 206(a) and 207(c) of the Public Law 101-618, the receipts of which shall be deposited to the Lahontan Valley and Pyramid Lake Fish and Wildlife Fund and used exclusively for the purposes of such subsections, without regard to the limitation on the distribution of benefits in subsection 206(f)(2) of such law: Provided further, That [section 104(c)(50)(B) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407)] section 104(c)(5)(B) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (15 U.S.C. 1361-1407) is amended by inserting the words ``until expended'' after the word ``Secretary'' in the second sentence. * * * * * * * TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS * * * * * * * Sec. 354. (a) In General.--To reflect the intent of Congress set forth in Public Law 98-396, section 4(a)(2) of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act [(16 U.S.C. 544(a)(2))] (16 U.S.C. 544b(a)(2)) is amended-- (1) * * * * * * * * * * DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT 1999 * * * * * * * TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration * * * * * * * federal unemployment benefits and allowances For payments [during the current fiscal year] from October 1, 1998, through September 30, 1999 of trade adjustment benefit payments and allowances under part I; and for training, allowances for job search and relocation, and related State administrative expenses under part II, subchapters B and D, chapter 2, title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, $360,700,000, together with such amounts as may be necessary to be charged to the subsequent appropriation for payments for any period subsequent to September 15 of the current year. * * * * * * * TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES * * * * * * * Administration for Children and Families * * * * * * * children and families services programs (including rescissions) For carrying out, except as otherwise provided, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, the Head Start Act, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (including section 105(a)(2) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act), the Native American Programs Act of 1974, title II of Public Law 95-266 (adoption opportunities), the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-89), the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988, part B(1) of title IV and sections 413, 429A, 1110, and 1115 of the Social Security Act; for making payments under the Community Services Block Grant Act; and for necessary administrative expenses to carry out said Acts and titles I, IV, X, XI, XIV, XVI, and XX of the Social Security Act, the Act of July 5, 1960 (24 U.S.C. ch. 9), the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, title IV of the Immigration and Nationality Act, section 501 of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, sections 40155, 40211 and 40241 of Public Law 103-322 and section 126 and titles IV and V of Public Law 100-485, $6,032,087,000, of which $10,000,000 shall be used to establish Individual Development Accounts, for the purpose of encouraging low-income families and individuals to acquire productive assets, contingent upon enactment of authorizing legislation, and of which $20,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2000, shall be for grants to States for adoption incentive payments, as authorized by section 473A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670-679); of which $563,565,000 shall be for making payments under the Community Services Block Grant Act; and of which $4,660,000,000 shall be for making payments under the Head Start Act: Provided, That, [notwithstanding section 640(a)(6), of the funds made available for the Head Start Act, $337,500,000 shall be set aside for the Head Start Program for Families with Infants and Toddlers (Early Head Start): Provided further, That] to the extent Community Services Block Grant funds are distributed as grant funds by a State to an eligible entity as provided under the Act, and have not been expended by such entity, they shall remain with such entity for carryover into the next fiscal year for expenditure by such entity consistent with program purposes. * * * * * * * Office of the Secretary general departmental management For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided, for general departmental management, including hire of six sedans, and for carrying out titles III, XVII, and XX of the Public Health Service Act, and the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act, [$180,051,000] $188,051,000, together with $5,851,000, to be transferred and expended as authorized by section 201(g)(1) of the Social Security Act from the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund: Provided, That of the funds made available under this heading for carrying out title XVII of the Public Health Service Act, $1,000,000 shall be available until expended for extramural construction: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading for carrying out title XX of the Public Health Service Act, $10,831,000 shall be for activities specified under section 2003(b)(2), of which $9,131,000 shall be for prevention service demonstration grants under section 510(b)(2) of title V of the Social Security Act, as amended, without application of the limitation of section 2010(c) of said title XX: Provided further, That $890,000 shall be for a contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of all the available scientific literature examining the cause-and-effect relationship between repetitive tasks in the workplace and musculoskeletal disorders: Provided further, That said contract shall be awarded not later than January 1, 1999. * * * * * * * public health and social services emergency fund For expenses necessary to support activities related to countering potential biological disease and chemical threats to civilian populations, $216,922,000: Provided, That the entire amount is hereby designated by Congress to be emergency requirements pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended: Provided further, That the entire amount shall be available only to the extent that an official budget request for $216,922,000, that includes designation of the entire amount of the request as an emergency requirement as defined in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, is transmitted by the President to the Congress: Provided further, That of the amount provided under this heading, $51,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for pharmaceutical and vaccine stockpiling activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and $3,000,000 shall be for the renovation and modernization of the Noble Army Hospital facility at Fort McClellan, Alabama; and [$322,000] $180,000 shall be in payment to the health department of Calhoun County, Michigan: Provided further, That no funds shall be obligated until the Department of Health and Human Services submits an operating plan to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. * * * * * * * TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION * * * * * * * education reform For carrying out activities authorized by title III and IV of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, and sections 3122, 3132, 3136, and 3141 and parts B, C, and D of title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, $1,314,000,000, of which [$491,000,000] $459,500,000 for the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and $125,000,000 for the School-to-Work Opportunities Act shall become available on July 1, 1999 and remain available through September 30, 2000, and of which $87,000,000 shall be for section 3122: Provided, That none of the funds appropriated under this heading shall be obligated or expended to carry out section 304(a)(2)(A) of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, except that no more than $1,500,000 may be used to carry out activities under section 314(a)(2) of that Act: Provided further, That section 315(a)(2) of the Goals 2000 Act shall not apply: Provided further, That up to one-half of 1 percent of the amount available under section 3132 shall be set aside for the outlying areas, to be distributed on the basis of their relative need as determined by the Secretary in accordance with the purposes of the program: Provided further, That if any State educational agency does not apply for a grant under section 3132, that State's allotment under section 3131 shall be reserved by the Secretary for grants to local educational agencies in that State that apply directly to the Secretary according to the terms and conditions published by the Secretary in the Federal Register: Provided further, That $22,000,000 of the funds made available under section 3136 shall be for a competition consistent with the subjects outlined in the House and Senate reports and the statement of the managers, and that such competition should be administered in a manner consistent with the authorizing legislation and current departmental practices and policies: Provided further, That $9,850,000 of the funds made available for star schools shall be for a competition consistent with the language outlined in House and Senate reports and the statement of the mangers, and that such competition should be administered in a manner consistent with current departmental practices and policies: Provided further, That $8,000,000 shall be awarded to continue and expand the Iowa Communications Network statewide fiber optic demonstration project, and $800,000 shall be awarded to the School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks to enhance distance delivery of natural resources management courses; $350,000 shall be for multi-media classrooms for the rural education technology center at the Western Montana College in Dillon, Montana: Provided further, That of the funds made available for section 3136, $2,500,000 shall be to establish the RUNet 2000 project at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; $500,000 shall be for state-of-the-art information technology systems at Mansfield University, Mansfield, Pennsylvania; $1,000,000 shall be for professional development for technology training at the Krell Institute, Ames, Iowa; $850,000 shall be for Internet-based curriculum at the State of Alaska, Department of Education; $2,000,000 shall be for ``Magnet E-School'' technology training and curriculum initiative at the Hawaii Department of Education; $600,000 shall be for technology in the classroom pilot program for the Green Bay Public School System, Green Bay, Wisconsin; $250,000 shall be for the ``Passport to Chicago Community Network'' technology training project; $1,200,000 for LEARN North Carolina and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and $1,500,000 for the Iowa Department of Education for community college grants to low-income schools for technology. * * * * * * * reading excellence For necessary expenses to carry out the Reading Excellence Act, $260,000,000, which shall become available on July 1, 1999, and shall remain available through September 30, 2000: Provided, That up to one percent of the amount appropriated shall become available October 1, 1998 for peer review of applications. * * * * * * * special education For carrying out the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, $5,124,146,000, of which $4,879,885,000 shall become available for obligation on July 1, 1999, and shall remain available through September 30, 2000; Provided, That $1,500,000 shall be awarded to The Organizing Committee for The 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games and $1,500,000 to remain available until expended, shall be for preparation and planning and shall be awarded to The Organizing Committee of The 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games: Provided further, That $600,000 shall be for the Early Childhood Development Project of the National Easter Seal Society for the Mississippi Delta Region, which funds shall be used to provide training, technical support, services, and equipment to address personnel and other needs: Provided further, That $1,500,000 shall be for the recipient of funds provided by Public Law 105-78 under section 687(b)(2)(G) of the Act to provide information on diagnosis, intervention, and teaching strategies for children with disabilities. * * * * * * * vocational and adult education For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, $1,539,247,000, of which $1,535,147,000 shall become available on July 1, 1999 and shall remain available through September 30, 2000: Provided, That of the amounts made available for title II of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, $13,497,000 shall be used by the Secretary for national programs under title IV, without regard to section 451: Provided further, That, of the amounts made available for the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, [$6,000,000] $14,000,000 shall be for national leadershipactivities under section 243 and $6,000,000 shall be for the National Institute for Literacy under section 242: Provided further, That no funds shall be awarded to a State Council under section 112(f) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, and no State shall be required to operate such a Council: Provided further, That of the amounts made available for the Perkins Act, $4,100,000 shall be tribally controlled post-secondary vocational institutions under section 117. * * * * * * * higher education For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, section 121 and titles II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 and Public Law 102-73; $1,307,846,000, of which $13,000,000 for interest subsidies authorized by section 121 of the Higher Education Act, shall remain available until expended: Provided, That $16,723,000 shall be for Youth Offender Grants, of which $4,723,000, which shall become available on July 1, 1999, and remain available until September 30, 2000, shall be used in accordance with section 601 of Public Law 102-73 as that section was in effect prior to enactment of Public Law 105-220: Provided further, That funds available for part A, subpart 2 of title VII of the Higher Education Act shall be available to fund awards for academic year 1999-2000 for fellowships under part A, subpart 1 of title VII of said Act, under the terms and conditions of part A, subpart 1: Provided further, That $4,800,000, to be available until expended, shall be for Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts for activities authorized under Title III, part A, section 311(c)(2), of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended: Provided further, That of the funds made available under title VII, part B, $5,000,000 shall be awarded to the St. Petersburg Junior College for a demonstration of a national method for increasing access to four year degrees and work force training for students attending community college; $2,000,000 shall be for the Technology-Assisted Learning Campus in New Rochelle, New York for high-tech equipment; $250,000 shall be awarded to the Center for Urban Research and Learning, Loyola University, Chicago; $1,150,000 shall be awarded to the Southeast Community College in Letcher County, Kentucky; $3,000,000 shall be for the Oregon State University Distance Education Alliance; $1,000,000 shall be for the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks in Athens, Ohio; $6,000,000 shall be to establish the Robert J. Dole Institute for Public Service and Public Policy on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, Kansas; $1,000,000 shall be for the Oregon Institute of Public Service and Constitutional Studies at the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University; $2,150,000 shall be awarded to the College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point for technology-enhanced learning; $1,500,000 shall be for the Touro Law Center in Central Islip, New York for the use of technology to bridge the gap between legal education and the actual practice of law; $1,000,000 shall be for the International Center for Educational Technology andDistance Learning at Empire State College; $500,000 shall be for the University of Northern Iowa National Institute of Technology for Inclusive Education; $1,500,000 shall be for a demonstration project to expand the successful college student preparation at Prairie View A&M, Texas; $750,000 shall be to identify and provide models of alcohol and drug abuse prevention and education in higher education at the college level; $500,000 shall be for a teacher training program in experiential learning to be awarded to the Department of Language Teacher Education, School for International Training, Brattleboro, Vermont; and $1,000,000 shall be for the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois: Provided further, That $9,500,000 of the funds made available for title VII, part B shall be for a competition consistent with the subject areas outlined in the House and Senate reports and the statement of the managers, and that such competition should be administered in a manner consistent with current departmental practices and policies. * * * * * * * education research, statistics, and improvement For carrying out activities authorized by the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994, including part E; the National Education Statistics Act of 1994; section 2102 of title II, and parts A, B, I, and K and section 10601 of title X, and part C of title XIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, and title VI of Public Law 103-227, $664,867,000: Provided, That $25,000,000 shall be available to demonstrate effective approaches to comprehensive school reform to be allocated and expended in accordance with the instructions relating to this activity in the statement of managers on the conference report accompanying Public Law 105-78 and in the statement of the managers on the conference report accompanying this Act: Provided further, That the funds made available for comprehensive school reform shall become available on July 1, 1999, and remain available through September 30, 2000, and in carrying out this initiative, the Secretary and the States shall support only approaches that show the most promise of enabling children to meet challenging State content standards and challenging State student performance standards based on reliable research and effective practices, and include an emphasis on basic academics and parental involvement: Provided further, That $16,000,000 of the funds made available for title X, part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, shall be carried out consistent with the subject areas outlined in the House and Senate reports and the statement of the managers, and should be administered in a manner consistent with current departmental practices and policies: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under section 10601 of title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, $1,000,000 shall be used to conduct a violence prevention demonstration program: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under section 10601 of title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, $50,000 shall be awarded to the Center for Educational Technologies to conducta feasibility study and initial planning and design of an effective CD ROM product that would complement the book, We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution: Provided further, That, in addition to the $6,000,000 for Title VI of Public Law 103-227 and notwithstanding the provisions of section 601(c)(1)(C) of that Act, $1,000,000 shall be available to the Center for Civic Education to conduct a civic education program with Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and, consistent with the civics and government activities authorized in section 601(c)(3) of Public Law 103-227, to provide civic education assistance to democracies in developing countries. The term ``developing countries'' shall have the same meaning as the term ``developing country'' in the Education for the Deaf Act: Provided further, That of the amount provided for part A of title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, $2,000,000 shall be for a demonstration of full service community school sites in Charles County, Maryland, Westchester County, New York, Cranston, Rhode Island, and Skagit County, Washington; $2,000,000 shall be awarded to First Book for literacy programs; $1,750,000 shall be awarded to the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for teaching of science education using the arts; $350,000 shall be awarded to the School of Education at the University of Montana and the Montana Board of Crime Control for community-based initiatives to promote non-violent behavior in schools; $1,000,000 shall be awarded to the NetDay organization to assist schools in connecting K-12 classrooms to the Internet; $1,000,000 shall be awarded to the National Museum of Women in the Arts; $1,000,000 shall be awarded to Youth Friends of Kansas City to improve attendance and academic performance; $750,000 shall be awarded to the Thornberry Center for Youth and Families, Kansas City, Missouri to assist at-risk children; $400,000 shall be for Bay Shore, New York for Literacy Education and Assessment Partnerships; $1,150,000 shall be awarded to provide technology assistance and for operation of a math/science learning center in Perry County, Kentucky; $100,000 shall be for Presidio School District, Texas for library equipment and materials; $1,200,000 shall be for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education; $1,000,000 shall be for the Dowling College Global Learning Center at the former LaSalle Academy in New York for a master teacher training and education center; $10,000,000 for continuing a demonstration of public school facilities repair and construction to the Iowa Department of Education; and $1,000,000 shall be awarded to the Hechkscher Museum of Art, Long Island, New York for incorporating arts into education curriculum: Provided further, That of the amount provided for part I of title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, $500,000 shall be for after school programs for the Chippewa Falls Area United School System, Wisconsin; $400,000 shall be for after-school programs for the Wausau School System, Wisconsin; $350,000 shall be for the New Rochelle School System, New York, after- school programs; $100,000 shall be for the New York Hall of Science, Queens, New York, after-school program; $25,000 shall be for Louisville Central Community Centers Youth Education Program to support after- school programming; $25,000 shall be for Canaan's Community Development Corporation in Louisville,Kentucky for the Village Learning Center after-school program; $300,000 shall be for the Bay Shore Community Learning Wellness and Fitness Center for Drug Free Lifestyles in Bay Shore, New York; $2,500,000 shall be for an after school anti-drug pilot program in the Chicago Public Schools; and $400,000 shall be for the Green Bay, Wisconsin Public School System after school program: Provided further, That $10,000,000 of the funds provided for the national education research institutes shall be allocated notwithstanding section 931(c)(2)(B) of Public Law 103-227. * * * * * * * TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS * * * * * * * Sec. 510. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, hereafter-- (1) * * * * * * * * * * (3) no funds provided under this Act or subsequent Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts shall be available for the salary (or any part thereof) of an employee who is reassigned on a temporary detail basis to another position in the employing agency or department or in any other agency or department, unless the detail is independently approved by the head of the employing department or agency. * * * * * * * TITLE VIII--READING EXCELLENCE ACT * * * * * * * SUBTITLE IV--TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS * * * * * * * SEC. 405. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. (a) * * * * * * * * * * [(e) Other References to Title VII of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act.-- [(1) Table of contents.--The table of contents of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11421 et seq.) is amended by striking the items relating to title VII of such Act, except the items relating to the title heading, and subtitles B and C, of such title. [(2) Title VII.--The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (as amended by section 199(b)(1) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998) is further amended by inserting before subtitle B (relating to education for homeless children and families) the following: [``SUBTITLE VII--EDUCATION AND TRAINING''.] ``(e) Other References to Title VII of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act.--The table of contents of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.) is amended-- ``(1) by striking the items relating to title VII of such Act, except the item relating to the title heading and the items relating to subtitles B and C of such title; and ``(2) by striking the item relating to the title heading for title VII and inserting in lieu thereof the following: ``TITLE VII--EDUCATION AND TRAINING'.''. * * * * * * * DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999 * * * * * * * TITLE I DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION * * * * * * * NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION Operations and Research (highway trust fund) For expenses necessary to discharge the functions of the Secretary, to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund, $87,400,000 for traffic and highway safety under chapter 301 of title 49, U.S.C., and part C of subtitle VI of title 49, U.S.C., of which $58,558,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2001: Provided, That none of the funds appropriated by this Act may be obligated or expended to plan, finalize, or implement any rulemaking to add to section 575.104 of title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations any requirement pertaining to a grading standard that is different from the three grading standards (treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance) already in effect: Provided further, That notwithstanding other funds available in this Act for the National Advanced Driving Simulator Program, funds under this heading are available for obligation, as necessary, to continue this Program through September 30, 1999. * * * * * * * DIVISION B--EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS * * * * * * * TITLE II--ANTITERRORISM * * * * * * * CHAPTER 5 * * * * * * * CAPITOL POLICE BOARD Security Enhancements For the Capitol Police Board for security enhancements to the Capitol complex, including the buildings and grounds of the Library of Congress, $106,782,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such security enhancements shall be carried out in accordance with a plan or plans approved by the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate: Provided further, That the Capitol Police Board shall transfer to the Architect of the Capitol such portion of the funds made available under this heading as the Architect may require for expenses necessary to provide support for the security enhancements, subject to the approval of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate: Provided further, That the Capitol Police Board shall transfer to the Librarian of Congress such portion of the funds made available under this heading as the Librarian may require for expenses necessary to provide support for the security enhancements, subject to the approval of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate: Provided further, That the entire amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended: Provided further, That for purposes of carrying out the plan or plans described under this heading and consistent with the approval of such plan or plans pursuant to this heading, the Capitol Police Board shall transfer the portion of the funds made available under this heading which are to be used for personnel and overtime increases for the United States Capitol Police to the heading ``Capitol Police Board, Capitol Police, Salaries'' under the Act making appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year involved, and shall allocate such portion between the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives and the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate in such amounts as may be approved by the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. * * * * * * * TITLE V--COUNTER-DRUG ACTIVITIES AND INTERDICTION CHAPTER 1 Department of Agriculture agriculture research service ``Agriculture Research Service'', Department of Agriculture, $23,000,000, to remain available until expended, for additional counterdrug research and development activities: Provided, That the entire amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended: Provided further, That such amounts shall be available only to the extent an official budget request for a specific dollar amount that includes designation of the entire amount of the request as an emergency requirement as defined in such Act as transmitted by the President to the Congress. * * * * * * * ---------- SECTION 1706 OF THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ACT SEC. 1706. AUDITS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. (a) * * * (b) Reports.--Not later than [June 30] September 30, 1999, and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall prepare and submit to the committees specified in subsection (a), the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report on the financial operations of the Fund during the preceding year, which shall include-- (1) * * * * * * * * * * ---------- SECTION 5595 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE Sec. 5595. Severance pay (a) * * * (b) Under regulations prescribed by the President or such officer or agency as he may designate, an employee who-- (1) has been employed currently for a continuous period of at least 12 months; and (2) is involuntarily separated from the service, not by removal for cause on charges of misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency; is entitled to be paid severance pay in regular pay periods by the agency from which separated. However, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States may prescribe regulations to affect the application and operation of this section to the agencies specified in subsection (a)(1)(E) of this section. The Architect of the Capitol may prescribe regulations to effect the application and operation of this section to the agency specified in subsection (a)(1)(F) of this section. The Public Printer may prescribe regulations to effect the application and operation of this section to the agency specified in subsection [(a)(1)(G)] (a)(1)(C) of this section. ---------- SECTION 3027 OF THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY SEC. 3027. APPORTIONMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FORMULA GRANTS. (a) * * * * * * * * * * (c) Continuation of Operating Assistance to Certain Larger Urbanized Areas.-- (1) * * * * * * * * * * (3) Services for elderly and persons with disabilities.--In addition to assistance made available under paragraph (1), the Secretary may provide assistance under section 5307 of title 49, United States Code, to a transit provider that operates 20 or fewer vehicles in an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 to finance the operating costs of equipment and facilities used by the transit provider in providing mass transportation services to elderly and persons with disabilities, provided that such assistance to all entities shall not exceed $1,000,000 annually. * * * * * * * Full Committee Votes Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(a)(1)(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and those voting against, are printed below: rollcall no. 1 Date: March 11, 1999. Measure: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill, FY 1999. Motion by: Mr. Young of Florida. Description of motion: To add several appropriations to the bill, most notably appropriations for direct and guaranteed farm operating loans, and to add or adjust several rescissions that totaled $990,480,000. Ms. Kaptur demanded the question be divided. This vote was on agreeing to everything in the motion except the rescissions. Results: Adopted 56 yeas to 0 nays. Members Voting Yea Members Voting Nay Mr. Aderholt Mr. Bonilla Mr. Boyd Mr. Callahan Mr. Clyburn Mr. Cramer Mr. Cunningham Ms. DeLauro Mr. DeLay Mr. Dickey Mr. Dicks Mr. Dixon Mr. Edwards Mrs. Emerson Mr. Farr Mr. Forbes Mr. Frelinghuysen Mr. Hinchey Mr. Hobson Mr. Jackson Ms. Kaptur Ms. Kilpatrick Mr. Kingston Mr. Knollenberg Mr. Kolbe Mr. Latham Mr. Lewis Mrs. Lowey Mrs. Meek Mr. Miller Mr. Murtha Mr. Nethercutt Mrs. Northup Mr. Obey Mr. Olver Mr. Packard Mr. Pastor Ms. Pelosi Mr. Peterson Mr. Porter Mr. Price Mr. Regula Mr. Rogers Ms. Roybal-Allard Mr. Sabo Mr. Serrano Mr. Skeen Mr. Sununu Mr. Taylor Mr. Tiahrt Mr. Visclosky Mr. Walsh Mr. Wamp Mr. Wicker Mr. Wolf Mr. Young Full Committee Votes Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(a)(1)(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and those voting against, are printed below: rollcall no. 2 Date: March 11, 1999. Measure: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill, FY 1999. Motion by: Mr. Young of Florida. Description of Motion: To add several appropriations to the bill, most notably appropriations for direct and guaranteed farm operating loans, and to add or adjust several rescissions that totaled $990,480,000. Ms. Kaptur demanded the question be divided. This vote was on agreeing to the rescissions included in the motion. Results: Adopted 34 yeas to 26 nays. Members Voting Yea Members Voting Nay Mr. Aderholt Mr. Boyd Mr. Bonilla Mr. Clyburn Mr. Callahan Mr. Cramer Mr. Cunningham Ms. DeLauro Mr. DeLay Mr. Dicks Mr. Dickey Mr. Dixon Mrs. Emerson Mr. Edwards Mr. Forbes Mr. Farr Mr. Frelinghuysen Mr. Hinchey Ms. Granger Mr. Hoyer Mr. Hobson Mr. Jackson Mr. Istook Ms. Kaptur Mr. Kingston Ms. Kilpatrick Mr. Knollenberg Mrs. Lowey Mr. Kolbe Mrs. Meek Mr. Latham Mr. Moran Mr. Lewis Mr. Murtha Mr. Miller Mr. Obey Mr. Nethercutt Mr. Olver Mrs. Northup Mr. Pastor Mr. Packard Ms. Pelosi Mr. Peterson Mr. Price Mr. Porter Ms. Roybal-Allard Mr. Regula Mr. Sabo Mr. Rogers Mr. Serrano Mr. Skeen Mr. Visclosky Mr. Sununu Mr. Taylor Mr. Tiahrt Mr. Walsh Mr. Wamp Mr. Wicker Mr. Wolf Mr. Young Full Committee Votes Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(a)(1)(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and those voting against, are printed below: rollcall no. 3 Date: March 11, 1999. Measure: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill, FY 1999. Motion by: Mr. Sabo. Description of motion: To strike all emergency appropriation and contingent emergency appropriation designations from the bill. Results: Rejected 21 yeas to 34 nays. Members Voting Yea Members Voting Nay Mr. Clyburn Mr. Aderholt Ms. DeLauro Mr. Bonilla Mr. Edwards Mr. Boyd Mr. Farr Mr. Callahan Mr. Hinchey Mr. Cunningham Mr. Hoyer Mr. Dickey Mr. Jackson Mrs. Emerson Ms. Kaptur Mr. Forbes Ms. Kilpatrick Mr. Frelinghuysen Mrs. Lowey Ms. Granger Mrs. Meek Mr. Hobson Mr. Moran Mr. Istook Mr. Obey Mr. Kingston Mr. Olver Mr. Knollenberg Mr. Pastor Mr. Kolbe Ms. Pelosi Mr. Latham Mr. Price Mr. Lewis Ms. Roybal-Allard Mr. Miller Mr. Sabo Mr. Murtha Mr. Serrano Mrs. Northup Mr. Visclosky Mr. Packard Mr. Peterson Mr. Porter Mr. Regula Mr. Rogers Mr. Skeen Mr. Sununu Mr. Taylor Mr. Tiahrt Mr. Walsh Mr. Wamp Mr. Wicker Mr. Wolf Mr. Young Offset Folios 68 to 80 Insert here DISSENTING VIEWS The minority members of the Appropriations Committee find this supplemental very troubling for a number of reasons. It contains several provisions that were added at the last minute at the direction of the Republican House leadership, which threaten both American economic security and our nation's ability to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists. It also demonstrates that the Republican leadership in the House has decided to continue exercising direct interference in the decision making process of the House committee system despite repeated statements to the contrary. Finally, it raises serious questions as to whether the Republican leadership is sincere in its stated goal of moving legislation in a responsible and timely manner. how a strategy for consensus became another partisan battleground On Monday, March 1, Chairman Young circulated proposed legislative language for a relatively small but time sensitive supplemental appropriations bill. Following consultations with committee members, House leaders and representatives of the executive branch, Chairman Young had decided in mid-February to move only the most pressing of the Administration's requests for fiscal 1999 supplemental funds. It was expected that his package would receive broad bipartisan support and could be passed prior to the Easter recess. It contained $956 million in assistance to deal with hurricane damage in Central America and the Caribbean (including $80 million to help the Immigration and Naturalization Service meet the increased challenges of illegal immigration brought on by those hurricanes and $10 million for earthquake damage in Columbia) and $100 million to help support the new Government in Jordan. The funds provided for Jordan were not considered emergency in nature and were therefore required to be offset by reductions in spending from other areas of the budget. The requested disaster relief funding clearly fell within the emergency spending definitions of the Budget Act and did not require offsets. On Tuesday, March 2, House Republican leaders decided that on further reflection the Young package should include the President's $154 million request for emergency agricultural assistance and directed that these funds be offset by cuts in other parts of the budget. But the bombshell did not come until Wednesday, March 3rd. With less than 24 hours left before the scheduled mark-up of the Young package before the full Appropriations Committee, House Republican leaders reversed themselves on the issue of requiring offsets for hurricane disaster assistance. The leadership decided that while assistance provided to Central America by the U.S. military would not be required to be offset, the roughly 75% of the package to reimburse AID and other non-defense agencies wouldrequire offsets. The prospect of finding nearly another $800 million in spending cuts halfway through the fiscal year meant that the committee meeting scheduled for the following day had to be canceled and that the prospects for quick action on the supplemental had all but vanished. The morning on which the committee meeting had been scheduled, Roll Call Newspaper carried the headline: DeLay Planning Attack on Supplemental Spending Bill. The story quoted an aide to Republican Whip Tom DeLay saying, ``DeLay plans to jump back into the ring and become Clinton's worst nightmare on Capitol Hill.'' Roll Call continued, ``He started yesterday with a phone call to Appropriations Chairman Bill Young (R- Fla.) to inform him that the $1 billion-plus emergency spending bill for Jordan and hurricane-damaged South American countries is deal on arrival unless drastic changes are made.'' While the cause of the abrupt change in signals by the House Republican leaders may or may not be fairly reflected by this story, the results of that change can be more clearly documented. finding offsets The direction given by Republican leaders to find offsets for the emergency hurricane relief resulted in several new rescissions being added to the bill. The first involved elimination of $648 million in funds appropriated some years ago to guarantee the solvency of the multilateral development banks. The second involved elimination of $150 million appropriated last fall to permit the continued disarming of Russian nuclear weapons and safe disposition of the highly enriched uranium and plutonium coming from those weapons. The majority has argued that neither of these rescissions would negatively affect U.S. policy. Closer examination has proven this to be untrue on both counts. Rescinding a portion of our guarantee to international banks The majority argued that rescinding the $648 million appropriated to guarantee the U.S. commitment to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Inter American Development Bank in no way reduced the legal or moral responsibility of the U.S. to meet those commitments. While that may be true in a strictly legal and technical sense, it is also true that other member nations and many investors around the world are increasingly uneasy about the willingness of the U.S. and particularly, the U.S. Congress to make good on its legal and moral commitments. These same investors watched the Congress repeatedly refuse to provide the International Monetary Fund with a needed infusion of capital through the depths of the Asian financial crisis and are also aware that the Congress continues to refuse to provide the funds necessary to pay off the billion-plus in back debts to the United Nations. There are three multilateral development banks (MDBs) for which the United States has appropriated funds to ensure that lenders to the banks will be repaid in the event that substantial portions of the bank's own loans failed to be repaid. These banks include theWorld Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Inter American Development Bank and they are responsible for sustaining financial stability and growth in precisely those portions of the world where American markets are being threatened by lack of confidence in both public and private financial institutions. The MDBs collect guarantees for debt repayment (known as callable capital) from member countries. These guarantees allow them to sell bonds on world capital markets at close to the same borrowing costs that the member countries themselves would have to pay. They are then able to use the proceeds of their bond sales to make loans in the developing world that would be otherwise prohibitively expensive to the borrowers. In the 50 years since this system was started, hundreds of billions of dollars have flowed into developing countries and created new businesses that have generated the income to repay the loans. All bonds that have been issued by these institutions have been repaid on time and no country has ever had to actually pay a dime of callable capital to any of the MDBs. The world economy has expanded by at least four fold in that time and the richest markets for American products have been in these developing economies. This system has been highly effective but it is also highly dependent on trust. The critical link in the system is the perception by commercial bankers throughout the world (who are the principal buyers of bonds issued by the MDBs) that bonds offered by these institutions are almost certain to be repaid. That certainty is already in some jeopardy. Less than two years ago Asian Development Bank bonds could be sold with yields of only three hundredths of a percentage point higher than World Bank bonds. Perceived difficulties in loan repayment in that portion of the world have pushed Asian Bank bond yields up to more than thirty hundredths of a percentage point above World Bank bonds. Similar concerns are affecting issues by the Inter American Bank and the World Bank itself. As developing countries are forced to refinance existing debt at higher and higher rates their prospects of repayment decline and the whole system becomes increasingly shaky. The proposed rescission of American appropriated callable capital that is contained in this supplemental adds a new element of uncertainty to the system. The United States has guaranteed $44 billion in bond issues to these three banks, $12 billion with monies that have actually been appropriated. If the Congress reduces the appropriated portion of this guarantee is it an indication that the United States is less willing to meet its declared obligations? If the steely eyed analysts who protect the capital of the world's great money center banks believe that there is even the slightest increase in the probability that the guarantee on these bonds won't be kept, it will place significant upward pressure on MDB interest rates and destabilize currencies and markets in developing countries around the world. This is precisely why the Secretary of the Treasury immediately responded to this proposal by informing the Committee that he would recommend that this entire supplemental be vetoed, if this provision is included. This provision should be stricken from the legislation now before it raises any more questions about either the banks or this Congress. If the Republican leadership insists on offsetting the emergency disaster relief, and there is an alternative cut of $648 millionthat can be made, they should place that cut before the House now. Otherwise we are either wasting our time on legislation that is going nowhere or simply voting on a placeholder which denies the House the opportunity to know what the real cut will be before this legislation is sent to the Senate. Rescinding funds for securing weapons grade nuclear material The committee has argued that while it has no intention of allowing nuclear materials to get into the wrong hands, none of the $525 million appropriated for the safe disposition of fissionable material from Russia in the last Congress could be spent in the current fiscal year. They have indicated that they would appropriate the money for next year if there is an indication that it can be spent. This information has proven to be flatly in error. The Department of Energy will obligate a total of $325 million of the funds in this account next week following the visit to Washington of Russian Foreign Minister, Yevgeny Primakov. During his visit, Minister Primakov is scheduled to sign an agreement with the U.S. to ensure the sale of Russian highly enriched uranium. The pending supplemental will not be enacted in time to block the signing of that agreement. The remaining $200 million in this account is intended to help finance an agreement to encourage Russia to continue to dismantle nuclear warheads and to provide for the safe disposition of plutonium extracted from dismantled Russian nuclear weapons. Negotiations for that agreement are now underway and it is hoped that they can be completed by next fall. It is hard to imagine a single budget reduction that would be less in the interest of the American people than removing $150 million of this $200 million from the negotiating table. Such a move would certainly leave Russian negotiators with the understandable perception that the Congress may refuse to provide the funds required by the agreement. Their willingness to make the necessary concessions to reach agreement could be significantly curtailed. It is difficult to find assessments of the political and security situation in Russia that do not indicate control over nuclear weapons and the materials from which they are made is not becoming increasingly problematic. Press accounts indicate that employees of the installations that house these materials, including the guards, have in many instances not been paid in months. At the same time there is every indication that countries such as Iran and terrorist organizations such as the Bin Laden group are intensifying efforts to penetrate Russian security and gain access to such weapons. Russian criminal organizations may also decide to profit from the opportunity that these illegal exports offer. It is absolutely mind boggling to consider why a political party that wishes to make missile defense a central issue in the coming year would not want to also do whatever can be done to keep fissionable materials out of the hands of rogue states and terrorists. While we should guard against conventional threats such as air and missile attacks, we should also be mindful that the most likely threat to the American people at the current time is through non-conventional means. In either case, we need to keep nucleartechnology out of the hands of those who would use it against us whether they intend to deliver it on the tip of a missile or in the back of a truck. the cost of another slow response The original intention of Chairman Young to proceed with a supplemental bill containing a very limited number of items and no offsets for the largest position of the bill dealing with natural disasters was to pass the legislation quickly so that funds could reach those in need in a timely fashion. The decision by Republican leaders to demand offsets delayed Committee action on the measure by one week. Because of the legislative schedule, it resulted in delaying floor action by at least two weeks. Because of the scheduled two week Congressional recess, it will delay a possible conference on the bill by about a month. In addition, it will in all probability make agreement between the House and Senate far more difficult to reach since the Senate is quite likely to object to many of the House offsets. Finally, even if the Senate does acquiesce to some of the House offsets, it will make agreement on a bill that the President will sign far more difficult. This is extremely unfortunate given the importance of timeliness will respect to two major spending items in the bill. Many American farmers are facing one of the most serious challenges to their continued existence since the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s. The collapse in Asian markets has also brought about a collapse in foreign demand for American farm products. This coupled with a continued high level of production has brought about a collapse in commodity prices. Farmers are not only losing money, they have suddenly found that bankers are wary of lending when wheat, corn, soybeans and other commodities are selling at record low prices. For that reason, the President has requested that the Congress appropriate $110 million to finance about $1.1 billion in additional farm loans and loan guarantees needed for spring planting. The federal farm credit programs act as lenders of last resort, and natural and economic disasters in farm country have led to far greater demand for these loans and guarantees than would normally be expected. As a result, major federal farm credit programs began running low on lending authority in December, and four of the six programs have now virtually exhausted all lending ability. Another is expected to run out of funds only a few days after Congress returns from its Easter recess. The planting season has already begun in some states, and it is clear that it will be planting time in much of the country by the time a conference can get to work on this legislation in April. If things don't go quickly at that point, Congress could be providing farmers with needed spring planting funds about the same time the first tomatoes start to turn red in South Texas. The hurricane disaster assistance for Central America is no less time sensitive. The United States is already seeing a stream of illegal immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua and other parts of Central America crossing U.S. borders. But officials in this administration and in affected countries warn that that stream could quickly become aflood if assistance efforts are not significantly expanded before the beginning of the rainy season in May. The misery brought on by the delaying of a full-scale relief effort in Central America could easily spill over into communities across North America. The prospect of massive numbers of illegal immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua would not only have economic and social impacts, but direct budget impacts as well. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that localities must provide education to the children of all residents, regardless of immigrant status. The Urban Institute, based on a study of eight states with the largest immigrant populations, estimates that 22% of all illegal immigrants are children who are enrolled in public schools at an annual cost of well over $4000 per pupil. Illegal immigrants are also eligible for emergency medical services and some will run afoul of the law with an average annual cost of incarceration of $22,000 per inmate. The failure of the Congress to provide these funds in a timely manner could also greatly weaken the political stability of these countries and their recent movement toward democracy. It will weaken our national influence in the region and reduce our ability to work cooperatively with those governments for more effective drug interdiction and more fair and productive trade relations. the accounting game Perhaps the great irony of the strategy which Republican leaders now pursue with respect to this bill is that it is supposed to be more responsible from a budget standpoint. Despite the fact that those who have studied federal budgeting over the years have come to the conclusion that unanticipated emergency needs cannot reasonably be offset with spending cuts once a fiscal year is already underway (Richard Darman, President Bush's Director of OMB, was the author of the current rule) some elements of the Republican caucus continue to insist on this approach supposedly because it will protect the projected size of government surpluses. But as Congressman Sabo quite eloquently pointed out in the full committee debate on this legislation, these offsets have little or no connection to the surplus. They were in fact selected because they were funds that had been appropriated but the committee staff expected that they might never be spent. As a result their rescission will not reduce outlays and will have no impact on projected surpluses in this or any future year. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that all of the new spending authority in this legislation will increase outlays and reduce the size of the fiscal 1999 surplus by $445 million. The two items added to offset the Central American hurricane relief will probably reduce outlays by $0. If the reduction in American appropriated guarantees to the international banks sparks enough panic that massive defaults on bank loans take place we could face an equally massive increase in outlays flowing from our other commitments to those institutions. But under no circumstance would the rescission of these funds reduce outlays. If the committee is to be taken at its word on the funding for a plutonium agreement (that these funds will be appropriated as soon as an agreement is reached), there are only two possibilities. First, if no agreement is reached the funds will never be used and no outlay will occur. In the second instance, an agreement will be reached and the committee will make good on its promise and provide the funds which will outlay at the same rate whether the money is left in the treasury or is rescinded. This fight is really over a shell game--a shell game created to fool some in the public and perhaps some in the Majority party who do not understand the intricacies of government accounting. In the end this shell game offers no prospect of protecting the surplus but it does offer the prospect for serious mischief. It could destabilize the already fragile economies of Asia and Latin America. It could expose American cities to the threat of nuclear weapons that have reached the wrong hands because we did not do all that was necessary to secure Russian plutonium. It already has delayed funds desperately needed by American farmers and Central American relief workers to prevent the enormous problems which they face from growing much worse in the coming weeks and months. Dave Obey. ADDITIONAL VIEWS This first major budget bill of the new 106th Congress is a major disappointment. Despite the pressing need for expeditious passage of this vital emergency appropriations package to help struggling U.S. farmers and our Central American neighbors, the House has become bogged down by partisanship and phony rhetoric about budgetary offsets for this emergency assistance. I fear that this bill reflects the same tired old partisan policies that haunted the last Congress. Rejecting the recommendation of our Committee chairman, the majority leadership insisted on controversial ``offsets'' for this bill that make dubious political points and will provoke a veto fight. The predictable delay and needless controversy this will cause simply adds to the anguish of innocent men, women, and children in Central America whose homes, schools, and jobs have been wiped out by hurricanes and earthquake. The fact is, contrary to the Senate majority leader's recent assertion that ``there is no engine for this train'' and that assistance to American farmers and Central American disaster relief must be delayed for weeks, there is overwhelming support to provide this relief quickly. If the Republican congressional leadership would follow its rhetoric and reach out to the middle, I believe it would find an overwhelming number of Democrats ready to vote for this aid as an emergency appropriation. a budgetary sham Instead, we have been treated to misleading and plainly wrong assertions that the spending in this bill must be and is fully offset to protect Social Security and Medicare. This is a poorly conceived ruse. No respectable economist would say that the added outlays of this emergency bill (equaling about four one-hundredths of one percent of the expected 10-year surplus) jeopardizes the viability of the Social Security trust fund. Even so, the Republican leadership chose to make this argument and used it to justify some highly questionable program cuts that do not save much money, but could have far reaching negative effects on the world economy and on programs to combat nuclear terrorism. I would give the Republican leadership some limited credit for holding to such a rigorous standard if, in fact, they produced a bill that lived up to their rhetoric. But, in fact, the bill doesn't come close to meeting the Republicans' own standard of offsetting new emergency spending. According to the CBO, this bill as written by the Republican leadership would spend an additional $445 million more than it saves in FY 1999. Over the next five fiscal years, FY 1999-2004, the bill spends a total of $876 million more than it saves.Over time, this bill will never save as much as it spends. CBO Estimates of Spending in This Bill Millions FY 1999 additional spending (outlays) $606 FY 1999 spending reductions (outlays) -161 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ________________________________________________ Total new spending.......................................... 445 There are two principal reasons for this. First, no attempt is made to offset $195 million ($64 million in FY 1999 outlays) provided in the bill to reimburse Defense Department expenses for providing disaster assistance in Central America. These funds are simply taken out of the surplus. While I have no quarrel with the decision to provide additional funding to reimburse the Defense Department without offset, it does beg the question why humanitarian assistance provided by one agency of government should be treated differently than humanitarian assistance provided by another agency of government. The one clear message this arbitrary budget policy sends is to give the administration the clear incentive to use our military first and often in these kinds of situations, since that is the only way this Congress seems willing to meet its responsibility to provide extra emergency funds. Secondly, the Republican leadership insisted on inserting a dangerous provision in this bill that backs away from $648 million worth of binding ``callable capital'' commitments used to guarantee bonds of the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the InterAmerican Development Bank. These ``full faith and credit'' obligations are essentially insurance reserves for the World Bank and other multilateral institutions allowing these banks to borrow at highly favorable rates. Because of this, these banks can cheaply finance billions of dollars worth of viable economic recovery projects in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and elsewhere. These projects strengthen the overall global economy and expand demand for US exports. The rescission of callable capital could raise the cost of borrowing for these institutions, thereby slowing down the flow of capital to regions of the world struggling to recover from the economic turbulence of the last several years. Besides being highly questionable economic policy, this action is nonsensical budget policy. The Congressional Budget Office acknowledges that, inasmuch as these obligations have never been ``called'' and no money has really been spent due to these obligations, the $648 million so-called spending reduction in this bill will result in no real spending savings. This $648 million rescission included in the bill is expected to have no effect whatsoever on the federal budget surplus in FY 1999 or in the future. The callable capital rescission represents the very worst kind of policy in this bill. It risks damaging the world economy. It purports to pay for other necessary appropriations when it does not. It is simply perplexing that the majority party would choose to proceed with this approach. honesty in rhetoric amendment There is one real and simple test to prove whether the majority really believes it has offset the spending in this bill. If all spending is truly offset, there is no need to include bill language designating each new appropriation in the bill an ``emergency'' under the Balanced Budget Act of 1985. Such a designation exempts an appropriation from the budget caps, and therefore from any requirement to be offset by other reductions. If the majority truly believed the new spending in its bill is paid for, they should have no trouble eliminating the ``emergency'' designations in the bill. If the new spending in this bill is not fully offset, then the promises of the majority to offset funds in this bill to save funding for Social Security and Medicare have not been met. I offered an amendment in full committee (Roll Call #3) to remove this designation. It failed due to opposition from the majority, although it was never clearly stated why the majority was so strongly against it. when should we offset supplemental spending? The test for this bill should be simple: Are the proposed expenditures for new loans to American farmers and ranchers, for Central American disaster recovery, and to support the Middle East peace process urgent, unforeseen, and essential? If so, they qualify as emergency appropriations and should be treated as such. If not, they should be offset. I believe that we should expeditiously provide emergency assistance to American farmers and disaster victims in Central America. However, I cannot support the phony budgetary offsets contained in this bill. They are doubly harmful because they have the potential to undermine some of our nation's vital international goals, and they produce no meaningful budgetary savings. Martin O. Sabo.