U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

67–524 CC WASHINGTON : 2000

H.R. 2909, THE INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION ACT

OF 1999

MARKUP

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED SIXTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

MARCH 22, 2000

Serial No. 106–157

Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations

(

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/international—relations

(II)

COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York, Chairman

WILLIAM F. GOODLING, Pennsylvania

JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa

HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois

DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey

DAN BURTON, Indiana

ELTON GALLEGLY, California

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida

CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina

DANA ROHRABACHER, California

DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois

EDWARD R. ROYCE, California

PETER T. KING, New York

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio

MARSHALL ‘‘MARK’’ SANFORD, South

Carolina

MATT SALMON, Arizona

AMO HOUGHTON, New York

TOM CAMPBELL, California

JOHN M. MCHUGH, New York

KEVIN BRADY, Texas

RICHARD BURR, North Carolina

PAUL E. GILLMOR, Ohio

GEORGE RADANOVICH, California

JOHN COOKSEY, Louisiana

THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado

SAM GEJDENSON, Connecticut

TOM LANTOS, California

HOWARD L. BERMAN, California

GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York

ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American

Samoa

MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ, California

DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey

ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey

SHERROD BROWN, Ohio

CYNTHIA A. MCKINNEY, Georgia

ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida

PAT DANNER, Missouri

EARL F. HILLIARD, Alabama

BRAD SHERMAN, California

ROBERT WEXLER, Florida

STEVEN R. ROTHMAN, New Jersey

JIM DAVIS, Florida

EARL POMEROY, North Dakota

WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York

BARBARA LEE, California

JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York

JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Pennsylvania

RICHARD J. GARON, Chief of Staff

KATHLEEN BERTELSEN MOAZED, Democratic Chief of Staff

KRISTEN GILLEY, Professional Staff Member

JILL N. QUINN, Staff Associate

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C O N T E N T S

Page

Markup of H.R. 2909, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 1999. A bill to provide

implementation by the United States of Hague Convention on Protection

of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, and for

other purposes ...................................................................................................... 1

APPENDIX

Prepared statements:

The Honorable Benjamin A. Gilman, a Representative in Congress from the

State of New York and Chairman, Committee on International Relations .... 14

The Honorable Earl Pomeroy, a Representative in Congress from the State

of North Dakota ................................................................................................... 18

Bills and amendments:

H.R. 2909 .................................................................................................................. 21

Amendment offered by Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman, Hon. Sam Gejdenson,

Hon. Richard Burr, Hon. William Delahunt, Hon. Cass Ballenger, and

Hon. Earl Pomeroy (approved) ..................................................................... 68

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H.R. 2909, THE INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION

ACT

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2000

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS,

Washington, DC.

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in room

2200, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman

(Chairman of the Committee) presiding.

Chairman. GILMAN. The Committee will come to order.

The Committee meets in open session today, pursuant to notice,

to consider H.R. 2909, the Intercountry Adoption Act of the year

2000.

I regret that we were delayed. That was due to a meeting of the

Democratic Caucus, and we are now ready to proceed.

The Chair lays the bill before the Committee. The Clerk will report the title of the bill.

[The bill appears in the appendix.]

Ms. BLOOMER. H.R. 2909, a bill to provide for implementation by

the United States of the Hague Convention on protection of children and cooperation in respect of intercountry adoption and further purposes.

Chairman. GILMAN. The Clerk will read the bill for amendment.

Ms. BLOOMER. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Section 1, Short Title: Table of Contents, (a) Short Title——

Chairman. GILMAN. The bill will be considered as having been

read. I have an amendment at the desk, which the Clerk will report.

Ms. BLOOMER. Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R.

2909, offered by Mr. Gilman, Mr. Gejdenson, Mr. Burr, Mr.

Delahunt, Mr. Ballenger, and Mr. Pomeroy.

[The amendment of Mr. Gilman appears in the appendix.]

Chairman. GILMAN. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered as original text

for the purposes of amendment, and that it be considered as having

been read, and be open to amendment at any point. Is there any

objection?

[No response.]

If there is no objection, so ordered.

I will now recognize myself for 5 minutes on the amendment to

open the discussion.

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Today we are marking up H.R. 2909, the Intercountry Adoption

Act of the year 2000. This bipartisan bill has strong Congressional

support, a total of 45 co-sponsors.

May we have order, please.

We will be considering an amendment in the nature of a substitute that reflects bipartisan and bicameral participation. The

purpose of this bill is to provide the Department of State with the

necessary authorities to implement the Hague Convention on the

protection of children and cooperation in respect of intercountry

adoption.

As a signatory to this Convention, our Nation must now meet the

obligations of the Convention, which requires the creation of a central authority to administer the new duties. The legislation designates the State Department as the central authority.

Senator Helms also introduced implementing legislation, Senate

682; and Mr. Burr of North Carolina introduced the companion bill

in the House, H.R. 2342. A major element in the Helms-Burr bill,

giving total responsibility to the State Department, has been accommodated in this substitute. We appreciate Mr. Burr’s interest

and attention to this measure.

There have been significant differences between the House and

the Senate bills. However, both Committees, intent on enacting the

legislation this year, reconcile those differences and produce a substitute amendment.

We appreciate the input received from many outside groups, the

many individuals, and the administration, who made important

contributions to this substitute. We are also very grateful for the

many letters of support we have received for this substitute provision.

I say with confidence that we have before us a solid bill, a bill

that will enable the State Department to get started on performing

needed services to the thousands of Americans who each year adopt

children from overseas. We want those parents to have the best information and services available to them. This bill provides many

consumer protections to improve the intercountry adoption process

and to establish a consistent and reliable system that will be recognized by foreign nations.

This bill also has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee, to the Education and the Workforce Committee, and to the

Judiciary Committee. We have worked with those committees

throughout the process, and we hope they will also expeditiously

advance this bill.

We also have a letter from Senate sponsors of their bill, stating

their full support. I will read their short letter dated March 21st

addressed to myself and to Mr. Gejdenson, our Ranking Member.

Dear Ben and Sam: We understand that the House International Relations Committee will consider implementing legislation for the Intercountry Adoption Act on

Wednesday, March 22nd. We are pleased that you will be jointly bringing forward

a substitute bill—an amalgamation of both the House bill, H.R. 2909, and our Senate bill, Senate 682—representing a solid compromise that we believe will gain wide

support in both the House and Senate.

It is our intention to ensure that the same amendment is considered by the Foreign Relations Committee and the full Senate. The Foreign Relations Committee

will take up the legislation, as well as the treaty, on April 11th. We anticipate

speedy consideration of this very important legislation.

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We deeply appreciate your efforts and those of the staff for the many hours that

have been spent developing this compromise legislation. Signed, Senators Jesse

Helms and Mary Landrieu.

The Chair now recognizes the Ranking Minority Member, the

gentleman from Connecticut, Mr. Gejdenson.

Mr. GEJDENSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to commend

the Chairman for his efforts, coming together with this bipartisan

piece of legislation and an amendment that I think reaches a fair

compromise.

I am gratified that the bill has a provision which pushes to protect small but established community-based agencies. It has broad

support from children’s international groups, such as the Child

Welfare League of America. The American Academy of Adoption

Attorneys has endorsed the amendment. As you indicated, we have

the support from the Senate.

I would also particularly like to thank my chief counsel for working on this legislation, as well as Mark Agrast of Mr. Delahunt’s

staff who worked tirelessly and added considerably to the final

product, and as well Mr. Delahunt who always pulls his fair share

of the load and then some.

I hope we can move this quickly. It is a good bill and it achieves,

I think, what is the best interest of the families that adopt and the

children.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman. GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Gejdenson.

Before asking for other Members’ comments, I would like to call

on Susan Jacobs, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, for the State Department’s comments on the bill.

Ms. Jacobs, thank you for being here.

Ms. JACOBS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The State Department supports this bill, and we would like to

thank very much the efforts of the staff—Kristin Gilley, David

Abromowitz, Mark Agrast, and Cassie Bevin—for working so cooperatively with the State Department, with INS, and with HHS, on

this bill.

The only trepidation we have is taking on the accreditation process because it is not something that we have ever done before, and

we hope that your trust in us won’t be misplaced.

Chairman. GILMAN. Thank you very much.

[Laughter.]

Mr. Smith.

Mr. SMITH. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

I want to just say at the outset that I support the goals of the

Intercountry Adoption Act, which are to facilitate international

adoptions while protecting the best interests of the children involved. In general, I think the proposed act admirably promotes

these objectives.

I do, however, have a few reservations about the bill in its

present form, and I expect that when the bill is considered by the

full House other Members will also have ideas about how it can be

improved. I will, therefore, support reporting the bill out of committee today to advance the process of its consideration.

4

I strongly recommend, however, that the bill be considered under

a rule that will allow a reasonable number of amendments. Mr.

Chairman, I ask that you support such a rule.

Chairman. GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Smith.

I want to recognize the gentleman who has done a great deal of

work on this bill in trying to arrive at a compromise, Mr. Delahunt.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would like to start with a personal note. Two weeks from tomorrow—I think some might wonder why I have such a personal

interest in this particular legislation. Two weeks from tomorrow

my daughter, my younger daughter, who I know you have met, arrived in this country from Vietnam on—I know there are some

folks here with white hair that will have a memory of Operation

Baby Lift.

Some of you would remember the first plane that left the airport

in Saigon crashed, killing some 110 orphans. My daughter was on

the second plane. She arrived in this country 2 weeks from tomorrow, April 6th. So this particular bill has special meaning to me.

I am confident that the problems that have been associated with

international adoption, exorbitant fees in some cases, excessive red

tape, outright fraud, kidnappings, concealment of medical records

that should have been made available to potentially adoptive parents, improper inducements to relinquish parental rights, all of

those concerns that really are the object of the Convention will be

addressed by this particular legislation.

I would hope that once we report this bill out that the Chair

would consider putting this particular legislation on the fast track.

In any event——

Chairman. GILMAN. We will try our best, Mr. Delahunt.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Thank you, Mr. Gilman.

You know, this bill has come a long way. It has been truly an

odyssey, and I sincerely and genuinely want to thank you, Mr. Gilman, for your efforts, and to Sam Gejdenson. You both have done

extraordinary work. I also recognize my friend and colleague from

North Carolina, Mr. Burr, who has a genuine and sincere interest

in this issue. He and I have had many conversations on it.

Dave Camp, who serves on the Ways and Means Committee, and

is active in adoption issues, also has played a critical role. I

mean—and I think that it would be remiss not to again state the

fine work that your staff, represented by Kristin Gilley, and Mr.

Gejdenson’s staff, represented by David Abromowitz—they have

done just Herculean efforts to make this happen.

I would be remiss not to single out my own legislative director,

who has taken this particular measure on because he is aware of

my personal involvement in this issue, for what simply is extraordinary in terms of commitment, skill, and the ability to help broker

what I think is a very responsible compromise, which this amendment represents, on a variety of tough issues.

Every compromise involves some degree of sacrifice by all concerned. I am honestly very grateful that so many organizations,

representing such a broad spectrum of opinions, have been willing

to set aside their lingering reservations to give support to this

amendment. I think that speaks well of all of the stakeholders in

this particular effort.

5

I am particularly gratified by the progress that has been made

with regard to one of the most contentious provisions of the bill as

originally introduced, and that is the provision related to the disclosure of adoption records. To say that this is an emotionally

charged issue would be, at best, a serious understatement.

As an adoptive parent myself, I share the feelings of thousands

of parents about their children’s right to their birth records, whether for serious medical reasons or simply to satisfy the need that we

all have to understand who we are and what we are about. Personally, I support maximum responsible disclosure, but I also recognize that other people of good conscience feel differently.

The amendment deals with this issue rather simply. It simply

preserves the status quo. Convention records held in Federal immigration files will continue to be available to the extent—but only

to the extent permitted by current applicable Federal law. There is

no change whatsoever.

Access to all other adoption records will continue to be governed

by applicable State laws. Again, no change. This result reflects,

really, a hard won compromise. I don’t expect or suppose that those

with strong views on either side of the issue will greet this particular formulation with a chorus of hallelujahs. But I am satisfied

that it is a fair and balanced outcome which will enable the laws

to evolve as the State courts and the State legislatures continue to

grapple with this very complex and emotional issue.

It is now my hope that this amendment will be quickly approved

by both the Committee and the full House, without extraneous and

controversial amendments that could jeopardize the speedy enactment of this legislation and upset the comprehensive agreement

that has been worked out among the various House committees

and with our Senate colleagues.

Again, Mr. Chairman, I would be remiss if I didn’t note that Senator Biden, Senator Helms, and Senator Landrieu have really been

actively involved in this particular proposal. I applaud each and

every one of those Senators.

Prompt U.S. ratification and implementation of the Hague Convention is of enormous support to many thousands of children

throughout the world who cannot be placed for adoption in their

countries of origin. That is what we are talking about here. U.S.

ratification will signal to the rest of the world our willingness to

help provide homes for these children through intercountry adoption.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment in the nature

of a substitute, and look forward to its passage.

I yield back, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman. GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Delahunt, for your supportive remarks.

Mr. Burr, who has been one of the sponsors—of the early sponsors of this measure, we thank Mr. Burr for his good work on this

measure.

Mr. BURR. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I think it

is safe to say, in the 6 years that I have been fortunate enough to

be part of the Congress of the United States, I don’t think I have

seen an issue that was resolved as quickly and as effectively as the

differences that we had over the legislation introduced on the

6

House side. You are to be commended for your leadership, along

with Mr. Gejdenson.

But I also want to highlight my colleague, Mr. Delahunt, who

from day one looked at me and said, ‘‘Don’t worry. We can work

this out.’’ And for that I am eternally grateful because I think that,

in fact, as we have gone through this process everybody involved

had one thing in mind, and that was to make sure that those people who wanted to provide a loving home for a child had the opportunity to do it.

Let me say to my good friends from the State Department, I have

every degree of confidence in your ability——

[Laughter.]

Mr. BURR [continuing]. And wait enthusiastically to watch the

great success that you achieve.

Ms. JACOBS. Thank you.

Mr. BURR. It was clear from our hearings very early on that HHS

was not the appropriate agency, and I think for those that started

out that way their testimony quickly led to the lack of expertise.

Not to suggest that the expertise is already there at State, but

clearly the experience has been established in the past that will

make this an expertise.

It is my understanding that our colleagues from the Senate will

consider the same language when they mark up the legislation in

the Foreign Relations Committee. I am hopeful that we can now

proceed on a track that gets this legislation passed, signed into

law. Hopefully, we can get it done before this Congress adjourns,

and I look forward to working with each one of my colleagues on

making sure we do that.

I would like to also take this opportunity to thank the many individuals and groups who took the time to contact me with their concerns and comments about the process that we are engaged in. I

would especially like to thank those who were parents of adopted

children, who internationally adopted children who came in to talk

firsthand about the experience they went through, and how in a

perfect bill it should work. I think we have done everything to

reach that point that, in fact, they shared with us.

Despite our different approaches, Mr. Chairman, I think it is safe

to say that we did want the same thing, and that is to help those

who want nothing more than to provide a child with a loving home.

I believe this amendment, if accepted by the Committee, will provide them with at least some of the help they need.

I encourage my colleagues to support the substitute. I thank you

once again, and I yield back.

Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Chairman.

Chairman. GILMAN. Mr. Gejdenson.

Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Chairman, I would ask—you know, Members are kind of strewn around the Capitol at the moment. In order

to facilitate a quorum and not wanting to cut anybody off, but that

we would set, on the assumption that we have a quorum, that in

5 minutes we actually hold the vote.

That way Members, as they are being called, will hopefully be

more ready to come, knowing that they won’t be held up by an extended discussion. That if any other discussion occurs, we could do

7

it after the vote on the bill. Since there seems to be broad support

and no opposition in moving forward.

Chairman. GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Gejdenson. Without objection, within 5 minutes we will have a final vote on the measure.

Any further requests for discussion? Anyone have any further requests for discussion?

Mr. GEJDENSON. Move the amendment.

Chairman. GILMAN. If there are no further amendments, the previous question is ordered on the Gilman amendment in the nature

of a substitute, as amended.

The question is on agreeing to the Gilman amendment in the nature of a substitute. All in favor of the Gilman amendment in the

nature of a substitute, as amended, signify by saying aye.

[Ayes.]

Any opposed say no.

[No response.]

The amendment is agreed to.

We will take just a moment—recess—to give the Members an opportunity to respond to the request for attendance.

[Recess.]

Chairman. GILMAN. The gentleman from Nebraska is recognized

to offer a motion.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I move the Committee report the

bill H.R. 2909, as amended, with a recommendation that the bill,

as amended, do pass.

Chairman. GILMAN. The question is on the motion to report the

bill, as set forth by Mr. Bereuter, and reported favorably to the

House. All those in favor say aye.

[Ayes.]

All those opposed say no.

[No response.]

Mr. GEJDENSON. Ask for a recorded vote.

Chairman. GILMAN. Mr. Gejdenson asks for a recorded vote. All

in favor signify with a show of hands. It is a sufficient number.

Without objection, we will now proceed with the roll call. The Clerk

will call the roll.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Gilman.

Chairman. GILMAN. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Gilman votes aye.

Mr. Goodling.

Mr. GOODLING. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Goodling votes aye.

Mr. Leach.

[No response.]

Mr. Hyde.

[No response.]

Mr. Bereuter.

Mr. BEREUTER. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Bereuter votes yes.

Chairman. GILMAN. May we have a little order, please, so the

Clerk can hear the responses.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Smith.

Mr. SMITH. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Smith votes yes.

8

Mr. Burton.

[No response.]

Mr. Gallegly.

[No response.]

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen.

[No response.]

Mr. Ballenger.

Mr. BALLENGER. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Ballenger votes yes.

Mr. Rohrabacher.

[No response.]

Mr. Manzullo.

Mr. MANZULLO. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Manzullo votes yes.

Mr. Royce.

[No response.]

Mr. King.

Mr. KING. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. King votes yes.

Mr. Chabot.

Mr. CHABOT. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Chabot votes yes.

Mr. Sanford.

Mr. SANFORD. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Sanford votes yes.

Mr. Salmon.

[No response.]

Mr. Houghton.

[No response.]

Mr. Campbell.

[No response.]

Mr. McHugh.

Mr. MCHUGH. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. McHugh votes yes.

Mr. Brady.

[No response.]

Mr. Burr.

Mr. BURR. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Burr votes yes.

Mr. Gillmor.

Mr. GILLMOR. Yes.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Gillmor votes yes.

Mr. Radanovich.

[No response.]

Mr. Cooksey.

Mr. COOKSEY. Yes.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Cooksey votes yes.

Mr. Tancredo.

Mr. TANCREDO. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Tancredo votes yes.

Chairman. GILMAN. If I might interrupt our roll call a moment,

let me remind our Members that we have our very important oil

crisis price reduction measure on the floor in the early afternoon.

9

We will welcome all of our Members to be present at that time.

Thank you.

Please continue.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Gejdenson.

Mr. GEJDENSON. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Gejdenson votes yes.

Mr. Lantos.

[No response.]

Mr. Berman.

[No response.]

Mr. Ackerman.

[No response.]

Chairman. GILMAN. I ask our Members to stay until the vote is

complete, just in the event we have any problem.

Please continue.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Faleomavaega.

[No response.]

Mr. Martinez.

[No response.]

Mr. Payne.

Mr. PAYNE. Yes.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Payne votes yes.

Mr. Menendez.

[No response.]

Mr. Brown.

[No response.]

Ms. McKinney.

[No response.]

Mr. Hastings.

Mr. HASTINGS. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Hastings votes yes.

Chairman. GILMAN. We are asking our Members not to leave

until the roll call is over.

Ms. BLOOMER. Ms. Danner.

Ms. DANNER. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Ms. Danner votes yes.

Mr. Hilliard.

Mr. HILLIARD. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Hilliard votes yes.

Mr. Sherman.

Mr. SHERMAN. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Sherman votes yes.

Mr. Wexler.

[No response.]

Mr. Rothman.

Mr. ROTHMAN. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Rothman votes yes.

Mr. Davis.

[No response.]

Mr. Pomeroy.

Mr. POMEROY. Yes.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Pomeroy votes yes.

Mr. Delahunt.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Yes.

10

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Delahunt votes yes.

Mr. Meeks.

[No response.]

Ms. Lee.

Ms. LEE. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Ms. Lee votes yes.

Mr. Crowley.

[No response.]

Mr. Hoeffel.

Mr. HOEFFEL. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Hoeffel votes yes.

OK. Mr. Leach.

[No response.]

Mr. Hyde.

[No response.]

Chairman. GILMAN. The Clerk is calling the absentees.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Burton.

[No response.]

Mr. Gallegly.

[No response.]

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen.

[No response.]

Mr. Rohrabacher.

[No response.]

Mr. Royce.

[No response.]

Mr. Salmon.

Mr. SALMON. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Salmon votes yes.

Mr. Houghton.

[No response.]

Mr. Campbell.

[No response.]

Mr. Brady.

[No response.]

Mr. Radanovich.

[No response.]

Mr. Lantos.

[No response.]

Mr. Berman.

[No response.]

Mr. Ackerman.

[No response.]

Mr. Faleomavaega.

[No response.]

Mr. Martinez.

[No response.]

Mr. Menendez.

[No response.]

Mr. Brown.

[No response.]

Ms. McKinney.

[No response.]

Mr. Wexler.

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[No response.]

Mr. Davis.

Mr. DAVIS. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Davis votes yes.

Mr. Meeks.

[No response.]

Mr. Crowley.

Mr. CROWLEY. Aye.

Ms. BLOOMER. Mr. Crowley votes yes.

Chairman. GILMAN. The Clerk will read the tally.

Ms. BLOOMER. On this vote, there were 28 ayes and zero nays.

Chairman. GILMAN. Without objection, the bill is authorized. The

motion is agreed to. Without objection, the Chairman is authorized

to make motions under Rule 20 relative to going to conference on

this or a companion bill for the Senate. Without objection, the

Chief of Staff is authorized to make grammatical changes to the

bill.

Mr. Pomeroy.

Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to include a statement in the record.

Chairman. GILMAN. Without objection.

The Committee stands adjourned.

[Whereupon, at 10:58 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]

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A P P E N D I X

MARCH 22, 2000

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