The House : Congressional Gold Medals

With a vote of 224 for and 186 against, the House fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass a bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the three prime movers behind the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.

The three, who served in Vietnam, are Robert Doubek, Jan Scruggs and Jack Wheeler.

The bill (HR 2591), previously approved by the Senate, required more than a simple majority because it was debated under short-cut rules that limit debate and prohibit floor amendments.

George Washington, Thomas Edison, Robert Frost and Winston Churchill are among the 121 recipients of the prestigious medal.

Supporter Frank Annunzio (D-Ill.) called the memorial bearing the names of about 58,000 U.S. troops killed in Vietnam a symbol of national reconciliation and said it “would not have been built without the hard work, faith and determination” of Wheeler, Scruggs and Doubek.

Opponent Tom Ridge (R-Pa.), himself a Vietnam veteran, said it was inappropriate to honor these three over “tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans whose very existences are literally profiles in courage” and countless other veterans who bear invisible wounds.

Members voting yes wanted to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Scruggs, Wheeler and Doubek.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Dixon (D) x Rep. Levine (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Housing Bill

The House passed, 340 for and 36 against, and sent to the Senate a bill (HR 1) extending for several years about 50 major housing and urban development programs, at a first-year cost of $15.7 billion. The bill’s most dramatic provision, endorsed by the Administration, would virtually halt construction of new public housing by diverting money for that purpose to the repair of existing units.

Also, to President Reagan’s liking, the bill sets up “enterprise zones” at 100 not-yet-named urban sites, expands a subsidy program that enables public housing tenants to buy their units, and addresses several administrative problems besetting the Federal Housing Administration.

However, Reagan has not ruled out a veto of the bill because of its price tag and its perpetuation of programs the Administration wants to terminate, such as Urban Development Action Grants and subsidies to help the poor and disabled upgrade privately owned living units.

Members voting yes favored the housing bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Dixon (D) x Rep. Levine (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x