I
#
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1785
To make various budget cuts and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 21, 1993
Mr. KNOLLENBERG introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly
to the Committees on Public Works and Transportation, Energy and
Commerce, House Administration, Natural Resources, Banking, Finance
and Urban Affairs, Government Operations, Agriculture, Ways and
Means, Post Office and Civil Service, Education and Labor, and Appro-
priations
A BILL
To make various budget cuts and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Deficit Reduction Act
of 1993’’.
SEC. 2. REDUCTION IN TRAVEL BUDGETS.
The annual travel budget for each non-defense execu-
tive branch agency (excluding the Postal Service) for fiscal
year 1994 shall not exceed an amount equal to 90 percent
•HR 1785 IH1S
provisions of chapters 5 and 6 of title 5, United
States Code, such rules and regulations as are nec-
essary or appropriate to administer and manage the
functions of the Department of Transportation.
(3) TRANSFER AND ALLOCATIONS OF APPRO-
PRIATIONS AND PERSONNEL.—Except as otherwise
provided in this section, the personnel employed in
connection with, and the assets, liabilities, contracts,
property, records, and unexpended balances of ap-
propriations, authorizations, allocations, and other
funds employed, used, held, arising from, available
to, or to be made available in connection with the
functions transferred by this section, subject to sec-
tion 1531 of title 31, United States Code, shall be
transferred to the Department of Transportation.
Unexpended funds transferred pursuant to this sec-
tion shall be used only for the purposes for which
the funds were originally authorized and appro-
priated.
(4) INCIDENTAL TRANSFERS.—The Director of
the Office of Management and Budget, at such time
or times as the Director shall provide, is authorized
to make such determinations as may be necessary
with regard to the functions transferred by this sec-
tion, and to make such additional incidental disposi-
•HR 1785 IH1S
tions of personnel, assets, liabilities, grants, con-
tracts, property, records, and unexpended balances
of appropriations, authorizations, allocations, and
other funds held, used, arising from, available to, or
to be made available in connection with such func-
tions, as may be necessary to carry out the provi-
sions of this section. The Director of the Office of
Management and Budget shall provide for the termi-
nation of the affairs of all entities terminated by this
section and for such further measures and disposi-
tions as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes
of this section.
(5) EFFECT ON PERSONNEL.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Except as otherwise
provided by this section, the transfer pursuant
to this section of full-time personnel (except
special Government employees) and part-time
personnel holding permanent positions shall not
cause any such employee to be separated or re-
duced in grade or compensation for 1 year after
the date of transfer of such employee under this
section.
(B) EXECUTIVE SCHEDULE POSITIONS.—
Except as otherwise provided in this section,
any person who, on the day preceding the effec-
•HR 1785 IH1S
tive date of this section, held a position com-
pensated in accordance with the Executive
Schedule prescribed in chapter 53 of title 5,
United States Code, and who, without a break
in service, is appointed in the Department of
Transportation to a position having duties com-
parable to the duties performed immediately
preceding such appointment shall continue to be
compensated in such new position at not less
than the rate provided for such previous posi-
tion, for the duration of the service of such per-
son in such new position.
(C) TERMINATION
OF
CERTAIN
POSI-
TIONS.—Positions whose incumbents are ap-
pointed by the President, by and with the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate, the functions of
which are transferred by this section, shall ter-
minate on the effective date of this section.
(6) SAVINGS PROVISIONS.—
(A) CONTINUING EFFECT OF LEGAL DOCU-
MENTS.—All orders, determinations, rules, reg-
ulations, permits, agreements, grants, contracts,
certificates, licenses, registrations, privileges,
and other administrative actions—
•HR 1785 IH1S
(i) which have been issued, made,
granted, or allowed to become effective by
the President, any Federal agency or offi-
cial thereof, or by a court of competent ju-
risdiction, in the performance of functions
which are transferred under this section,
and
(ii) which are in effect at the time this
section takes effect, or were final before
the effective date of this section and are to
become effective on or after the effective
date of this section,
shall continue in effect according to their terms
until modified, terminated, superseded, set
aside, or revoked in accordance with law by the
President, the Secretary of Transportation or
other authorized official, a court of competent
jurisdiction, or by operation of law.
(B) PROCEEDINGS NOT AFFECTED.—The
provisions of this section shall not affect any
proceedings, including notices of proposed rule-
making, or any application for any license, per-
mit, certificate, or financial assistance pending
before the Interstate Commerce Commission at
the time this section takes effect, with respect
•HR 1785 IH1S
to functions transferred by this section but such
proceedings and applications shall be continued.
Orders shall be issued in such proceedings, ap-
peals shall be taken therefrom, and payments
shall be made pursuant to such orders, as if
this section had not been enacted, and orders
issued in any such proceedings shall continue in
effect until modified, terminated, superseded, or
revoked by a duly authorized official, by a court
of competent jurisdiction, or by operation of
law. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed
to prohibit the discontinuance or modification
of any such proceeding under the same terms
and conditions and to the same extent that
such proceeding could have been discontinued
or modified if this section had not been enacted.
(C) SUITS
NOT
AFFECTED.—The provi-
sions of this section shall not affect suits com-
menced before the effective date of this section,
and in all such suits, proceedings shall be had,
appeals taken, and judgments rendered in the
same manner and with the same effect as if this
section had not been enacted.
(D) NONABATEMENT
OF
ACTIONS.—No
suit, action, or other proceeding commenced by
•HR 1785 IH1S
or against the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion, or by or against any individual in the offi-
cial capacity of such individual as an officer of
the Interstate Commerce Commission, shall
abate by reason of the enactment of this
section.
(E) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS RELATING
TO PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS.—Any ad-
ministrative action relating to the preparation
or promulgation of a regulation by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission relating to a func-
tion transferred under this section may be con-
tinued by the Department of Transportation
with the same effect as if this section had not
been enacted.
(7) TRANSITION.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation is authorized to utilize—
(A) the services of such officers, employ-
ees, and other personnel of the Interstate Com-
merce Commission with respect to functions
transferred to the Department of Transpor-
tation by this section; and
(B) funds appropriated to such functions
for such period of time as may reasonably be
•HR 1785 IH1S
needed to facilitate the orderly implementation
of this section.
(8) REFERENCES.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Reference in any other
Federal law, Executive order, rule, regulation,
or delegation of authority, or any document of
or relating to—
(i) the Chairman or the Commis-
sioners of the Interstate Commerce Com-
mission with regard to functions trans-
ferred under subsection (b), shall be
deemed to refer to the Secretary of Trans-
portation; and
(ii) the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion with regard to functions transferred
under subsection (b), shall be deemed to
refer to the Department of Transportation.
(B) POSITIONS.—Chapter 53 of title 5,
United States Code is amended—
(i) in section 5314, by striking
‘‘Chairman, Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion.’’; and
(ii) in section 5315, by striking
‘‘Members, Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion.’’.
•HR 1785 IH1S
(9) ADDITIONAL CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(A) RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION.—After
consultation with the appropriate committees of
the Congress and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, the Secretary of
Transportation shall prepare and submit to the
Congress recommended legislation containing
technical and conforming amendments to reflect
the changes made by this section.
(B) SUBMISSION TO THE CONGRESS.—No
later than 6 months after the effective date of
this section, the Secretary of Transportation
shall submit the recommended legislation re-
ferred to under subparagraph (A).
(11) REPEALER.—Chapter 103 of title 49,
United States Code, is repealed.
(12) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take
effect 180 days after the date of enactment.
SEC. 4. REDUCTION IN LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
The outlays for the legislative branch for fiscal year
1993 shall not exceed an amount equal to 85 percent of
the outlays for the legislative branch for fiscal year 1993.
SEC. 5. HELIUM RESERVES.
(a) REQUIREMENT TO SELL.—Subject to subsections
(b) and (c), the Secretary of the Interior shall sell to one
•HR 1785 IH1S
or more joint ventures as described in subsection (d) all
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to—
(1) the helium reserves established pursuant to
the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167 et seq.); and
(2) the facilities and accessories to the helium
reserves.
(b) CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary of the Interior
may not convey any interest in a helium reserve pursuant
to subsection (a) for less than the fair market value of
the interest conveyed, as determined by the Secretary of
the Interior.
(c) RETENTION FOR DEFENSE PURPOSES.—In con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
the Interior shall retain such helium reserves and facilities
and accessories to helium reserves as are necessary to pro-
vide for the defense and security of the United States in
time of war or national emergency.
(d) JOINT VENTURE.—Participants in the joint ven-
ture referred to in subsection (a) shall consist of—
(1) employees at the helium reserves and facili-
ties and accessories to helium reserves on the date
of enactment of this Act; and
(2) other persons.
•HR 1785 IH1S
SEC. 6. REDUCTION IN FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND
OVERHEAD COSTS EXCLUDING TRAVEL.
The administrative and overhead budget (excluding
travel expenses) for each non-defense executive branch
agency (excluding the Postal Service) for fiscal year 1995
shall not exceed an amount equal to 99 percent of the
budget level available to such agency for fiscal year 1994.
SEC. 7. REPEAL OF DAVIS-BACON ACT.
The Act of March 3, 1931 (known as the Davis-
Bacon Act) (40 U.S.C. 276a et seq.) is repealed.
SEC. 8. ELIMINATION OF HONEY PRICE SUPPORT AND
WOOL AND MOHAIR PRICE SUPPORT PRO-
GRAMS.
(a) ELIMINATION OF PROGRAMS.—
(1) HONEY PROGRAM.—Sections 207 and 405A
of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1446h and
1425a) are repealed.
(2) WOOL AND MOHAIR PROGRAM.—The Na-
tional Wool Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1781 et seq.) is
repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) AUTOMATIC
SPENDING
INCREASES.—Sec-
tion 256(a) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 906(a)) is
amended—
(A) by striking paragraph (1); and
•HR 1785 IH1S
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and
(3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.
(2) MARKETING ORDERS.—Section 8c(2)(B) of
the 
Agricultural 
Adjustment 
Act 
(7 
U.S.C.
608c(2)(B)), reenacted with amendments by the Ag-
ricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, is
amended by striking ‘‘honey’’ and ‘‘wool, mohair,’’.
(3) PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.—Section 1001(2)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C.
1308(2)) is amended—
(A) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by striking
‘‘(other than honey)’’; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (C).
(4) DESIGNATED
NONBASIC
AGRICULTURAL
COMMODITIES.—Section 201(a) of the Agricultural
Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1446(a)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘honey,’’.
(5) OTHER NONBASIC AGRICULTURAL COMMOD-
ITIES.—Section 301 of the Agricultural Act of 1949
(7 U.S.C. 1447) is amended by inserting after
‘‘nonbasic agricultural commodity’’ the following:
‘‘(other than honey, wool, or mohair)’’.
(6) DEFINITIONS.—Section 408(k) of the Agri-
cultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1428(k)) is amended
by striking ‘‘honey,’’ each place it appears.
•HR 1785 IH1S
(7) POWERS OF COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORA-
TION.—Section 5(a) of the Commodity Credit Cor-
poration Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c(a)) is amend-
ed by inserting after ‘‘agricultural commodities’’ the
following: ‘‘(other than honey, wool, or mohair)’’.
(c) TRANSITION.—The amendments made by this
section shall not affect the liability of any person under
any provision of law as in effect before the application of
the amendments in accordance with subsection (d).
(d) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—The amend-
ments made by this section shall apply beginning with the
marketing year that begins after the date of enactment
of this Act.
SEC. 9. SUBSTITUTION OF RENTAL VOUCHERS FOR PUBLIC
HOUSING CONSTRUCTION.
(a) TERMINATION
OF ASSISTANCE
FOR PUBLIC
HOUSING.—
(1) LOAN
AUTHORITY.—After September 30,
1993, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment may not enter into any new commitment to
make loans under section 4 of the United States
Housing Act of 1937 to public housing agencies for
the development or acquisition of public housing
projects by such agencies.
•HR 1785 IH1S
section 8(o) of such Act is authorized to be increased on
or after October 1, 1993, by the amount necessary to pro-
vide voucher assistance under such section for the same
number of families to be provided dwelling units in public
housing pursuant to amounts appropriated for fiscal year
1993 for public housing construction. Vouchers for rental
assistance provided with the amounts made available
under this subsection may be used for the rental of dwell-
ing units or costs of residency, as determined by qualified
voucher recipients.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the
terms ‘‘Indian housing authority’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘public
housing’’, and ‘‘public housing agency’’ have the meanings
given the terms in section 3(b) of the United States Hous-
ing Act of 1937.
SEC. 10. PROHIBITION OF HUD SPECIAL PURPOSE GRANTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other law,
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may
not obligate or expend any budget authority provided in
any appropriation Act for projects or activities of the De-
partment of Housing and Urban Development not pre-
viously authorized in law, including any budget authority
provided for special projects that are specified only in the
joint explanatory statement for the conference report ac-
companying the bill that was approved as such appropria-
•HR 1785 IH1S
tions Act. Any budget authority provided for any such
project or activity shall be considered to be rescinded im-
mediately upon the enactment of the Act providing such
budget authority, unless the provision of law providing
such budget authority explicitly provides that this section
shall not apply.
(b) 
FISCAL
YEAR
1993 
AMOUNTS.—Of 
the
$260,000,000 available for special projects in accordance
with the terms and conditions specified for such grants
in the committee of conference report and statement of
the managers (H. Rept. 102–902) accompanying H.R.
5679, and reserved from amounts appropriated under the
heading ‘‘HOUSING PROGRAMS—ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR ASSISTED HOUSING’’ under title II of the Depart-
ments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Devel-
opment, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act,
1993 (Public Law 102–389; 106 Stat. 1584), any
amounts not obligated or expended before the date of the
enactment of this Act are hereby rescinded. No amounts
appropriated by such Act may be obligated or expended
for any such special project on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
•HR 1785 IH1S
SEC. 11. COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR PUBLIC HOUSING
MODERNIZATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 14 of the United States Housing Act of 1937
(42 U.S.C. 1437l) is amended—
(1) in subsection (d)—
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
the end;
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(5) a description of the competitive bidding
procedures to be used by the public housing agency
for contracts for acquiring supplies and services
using assistance provided pursuant to subsection
(b).’’;
(2) in subsection (e)(1)—
(A) in subparagraph (G), by striking
‘‘and’’ at the end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (H) as
subparagraph (I); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (G)
the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(H) a description of the competitive bidding
procedures to be used by the public housing agency
for contracts for acquiring supplies and services
•HR 1785 IH1S
using assistance provided pursuant to subsection
(b).’’;
(3) by striking the 2d sentence of subsection
(e)(3)(A) and inserting the following new sentence:
‘‘A public housing agency may expend assistance for
any activities and work consistent with the approved
plan as the agency determines appropriate, but shall
comply with the competitive bidding procedures of
the agency established in accordance with the stand-
ards issued by the Secretary under subsection
(g)(2).’’; and
(4) in subsection (g)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(g)’’;
(B) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘that such
agency’’;
(C) by inserting before the period at the
end the following: ‘‘, and (B) in acquiring sup-
plies and services using assistance provided pur-
suant to subsection (b), has established and
complied with competitive bidding procedures in
accordance with the standards issued by the
Secretary under paragraph (2)’’; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
•HR 1785 IH1S
‘‘(2) Each public housing agency that receives assist-
ance under subsection (b) shall establish competitive bid-
ding procedures for expending such assistance for activi-
ties, work, supplies, and services for the purpose under
such subsection and shall expend such assistance in ac-
cordance with the procedures. The Secretary shall issue
regulations requiring and establishing standards for such
competitive bidding procedures.’’.
SEC. 12. DISCLOSURE OF TENANT INCOME FOR PURPOSES
OF ADMINISTRATING INCOME-BASED RENT
SUBSIDY PROGRAMS.
Subparagraph (D) of section 6103(l)(7) of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to disclosure of return
information) is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of
clause (vii), by striking the period at the end of clause
(viii) and inserting ‘‘; and’’ and by inserting after clause
(viii) the following new clause:
‘‘(ix) any program of assistance for
housing administered by the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development (I) that
provides assistance in the form of a grant,
contract, loan, loan guarantee, cooperative
agreement, interest subsidy, insurance, or
direct appropriation, and (II) under which
rent payments, with respect to all or some
•HR 1785 IH1S
of the units in the housing assisted, are
limited, restricted, or determined under
law or regulation based on the income of
the occupying families.’’.
SEC. 13. REDUCTION IN GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN.
Section 8432(c) of title 5, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)(A) by inserting ‘‘one-half
of’’ before ‘‘1 percent’’;
(2) in paragraph (2)(B)(i) by inserting ‘‘one-
half of’’ before ‘‘such portion’’; and
(3) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii) by striking ‘‘one-
half’’ and inserting ‘‘one-fourth’’.
SEC. 14. COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR RADIO SPECTRUM.
(a) COMPETITIVE BIDDING AUTHORIZED.—Section
309 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309)
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(j)(1)(A) The Commission shall use competitive bid-
ding for awarding all initial licenses or new construction
permits, subject to the exclusions listed in subsection
(j)(2). The Commission shall require potential bidders to
file a first-stage application indicating an intent to partici-
pate in the competitive bidding process and containing
•HR 1785 IH1S
such other information as the Commission finds necessary.
After conducting the bidding, the Commission shall re-
quire the winning bidder to submit a second-stage applica-
tion. Upon determining that such application is acceptable
for filing and that the applicant is qualified pursuant to
subsection (j)(1)(B), the Commission shall grant a permit
or license.
‘‘(B) No construction permit or license shall be grant-
ed to an applicant selected pursuant to subparagraph (A)
unless the Commission determines that such applicant is
qualified pursuant to section 308(b) and section 309(a)
of the Communications Act, on the basis of the informa-
tion contained in the first- and second-stage applications
submitted under subparagraph (A).
‘‘(C) Each participant in the competitive bidding
process is subject to the schedule of changes contained in
section 8 of the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 158).
‘‘(D) The Commission shall have the authority in
awarding construction permits or licenses under competi-
tive bidding procedures to (i) define the geographic and
frequency limitations and technical requirements, if any,
of such permits or licenses; (ii) establish minimum accept-
able competitive bids; and (iii) establish other appropriate
conditions on such permits and licenses that will serve the
public interest.
•HR 1785 IH1S
‘‘(E) The Commission shall, within eighteen months
after the date of enactment of this subsection, following
public notice and comment proceedings, adopt rules estab-
lishing competitive bidding procedures under this sub-
section, including the method of bidding and the basis for
payment (such as flat fees, fixed or variable royalties, com-
binations of flat fees and royalties, or other reasonable
forms of payment).
‘‘(2) Competitive bidding shall not apply to—
‘‘(A) license renewals;
‘‘(B) the United States Government and State
or local government entities;
‘‘(C) amateur operator services, public radio
broadcast services, public television broadcast serv-
ices, public safety services, and radio astronomy
services;
‘‘(D) private radio end-user licenses, such as
Specialized Mobile Radio Service (SMRS), maritime,
and aeronautical end-user licenses;
‘‘(E) any license grant to a non-United States
Government licensee being moved from its current
frequency assignment to a different one by the Com-
mission in order to implement the goals and objec-
tives underlying the ‘Emerging Telecommunications
Technologies Act of 1991’;
•HR 1785 IH1S
‘‘(F) any other service, class of services, or as-
signments that the Commission determines, after
conducting public comment and notice proceedings,
should be exempt from competitive bidding because
of public interest factors warranting an exemption.
‘‘(3) Monies received from competitive bidding pursu-
ant to this subsection shall be deposited in the general
fund of the United States Treasury, pursuant to the provi-
sions enacted in appropriations acts.’’.
(b) RANDOM SELECTION NOT TO APPLY WHEN
COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIRED.—Section 309(i)(1) of
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(i)(1))
is amended by inserting after ‘‘selection’’ the following: ‘‘,
except in instances where competitive bidding procedures
are required under section 309(j)’’.
(c) SPECTRUM ALLOCATION DECISIONS.—Section
303 of the Communications Act is amended to add a new
subsection (v):
‘‘(v) In making spectrum allocation decisions among
services that are subject to competitive bidding, the Com-
mission is authorized to consider as one factor among oth-
ers taken into account in making its determination, the
relative economic values and other public interest benefits
of the proposed uses as reflected in the potential revenues
•HR 1785 IH1S
that would be collected under its competitive bidding pro-
cedures.’’.
Æ
#HR 1785 IH1S——2