Copyright 1999 The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News
June 20, 1999, Sunday, FINAL EDITION
SECTION: NEWS, Pg. 3A
LENGTH: 749 words
HEADLINE:
VOTES IN CONGRESS
BYLINE: States News Service
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
Here is how Western New York's four members of the House of
Representatives and the state's two senators voted on key bills and amendments
last week. A "Y" means the member voted for the measure; an "N" means the member
voted against the measure; an "A" means the member did not vote.
Senate
Y2K suit protection -- The Senate Tuesday approved, 62-37, a
bill that would restrict punitive damages and class-action lawsuits against
businesses if problems arise with computers and other systems that are not fully
year 2000-compliant. The bill also would require consumers to wait 90 days
before they could file suits in such cases. Supporters said high-technology
companies need protection from such lawsuits. Opponents said the bill would
leave consumers without any recourse to recoup financial losses caused by the
Y2K bug.
Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D, Y; Sen. Charles E.
Schumer, D, N.
House
Aviation safety -- The House Tuesday
approved, 316-110, legislation providing $ 57 billion for aviation safety and
improvements. The bill would significantly increase spending for airport
construction and air traffic control facilities over the next five years.
Supporters said the funding will provide for much-needed improvements to
airport facilities. Opponents said the bill is too expensive and endangers other
spending programs and prospects for a tax cut.
Rep. Amo R. Houghton,
R-Corning, A; Rep. John J. LaFalce, D-Town of Tonawanda, Y; Rep. Jack F. Quinn,
R-Hamburg, Y; Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Clarence, Y.
Stiffer youth
penalties -- The House Wednesday passed, 249-181, an amendment to a larger
juvenile-justice bill that imposes stricter penalties on juveniles who commit
violent crimes. Under the bill, juveniles as young as 14 could be tried as
adults, and anyone caught with a gun with the intent to bring it to school could
face a maximum penalty of up to five years' incarceration.
Supporters
said the measures are necessary to prevent violent crimes, such as the deadly
school shooting in Colorado. Opponents said the bill was too strict and would
undermine the possible rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
Houghton,
A; LaFalce, N; Quinn, Y; Reynolds, Y.
Curbs on sales to juveniles -- The
House Wednesday rejected, 282-146, an amendment to a larger juvenile-justice
bill that would have made it illegal to distribute or sell sexually explicit or
violent materials to juveniles.
Supporters said the measure was
necessary to restrict juvenile access to materials that may contribute to
increased violent behavior. Opponents said the measure violated the free-speech
clause of the Constitution.
Houghton, A; LaFalce, N; Quinn, N; Reynolds,
Y.
Ten Commandments -- The House Thursday approved, 248-180, an
amendment to a larger juvenile-justice bill that gives states the power to post
the Ten Commandments inside school and court buildings.
Supporters said
the measure would help bring values back into both arenas and deter future
killing sprees like the one in Colorado. Opponents said the measure was a
violation of the separation of church and state.
Houghton, A; LaFalce,
Y; Quinn, Y; Reynolds, Y.
Youth-crime prevention -- The House Thursday
approved, 287-139, a juvenile-justice bill that gives $ 1.5 billion to state and
local governments to fight juvenile crime and to establish prevention programs.
Supporters said the measure calls for stricter punishment for juvenile
offenses in the wake of the deadly school shooting in Colorado. Opponents said
the bill did not properly address the problems facing juveniles today.
Houghton, A; LaFalce, N; Quinn, Y; Reynolds, Y.
Gun-check curbs
-- The House Thursday approved, 218-211, a measure that would limit background
checks on purchasers at gun shows to 24 hours. The measure also cuts back the
number of gun shows that are subject to federal investigation checks.
Supporters said it was important to limit the background checks because
some gun shows only last a few days and the measure was sufficient in making
sure that convicted felons do not have access to guns. Opponents said the bill
made buying guns easier and would do nothing to prevent convicts from getting
guns.
Houghton, A; LaFalce, N; Quinn, N; Reynolds, Y.
Three-day
gun checks -- The House Thursday rejected, 235-193, a measure that would have
provided three business days for criminal background checks on purchasers at gun
shows.
Houghton, A; LaFalce, Y; Quinn, Y; Reynolds, N.
LOAD-DATE: June 22, 1999 
