After clearing several final small pieces of legislation, the House arround 3 p.m. wrapped up the 104th Congress and adjourned for the year. The Senate completed its final actions Thursday evening, and the House's work today officially ended the session.
All of the last bits of non-controversial legislation now are cleared for President Clinton's signature. The most significant of the dozen bills will force the White House to operate under labor laws that apply to the private sector and other public entities. Congress put itself under those laws in January.
Another measure makes improvements in the administration and operation of federal courts. Also included in the 11th-hour legislation is a bill that tries to stop the use of the drug Rohypnol in date-rapes, legislation to raise money for the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial and the adjournment resolution itself.
In addition, House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, released a proposed schedule for next year -- assuming Republicans retain control of Congress. The schedule calls for the 105th Congress to convene Jan. 7, with the counting of Electoral College votes two days later. The next president will be inaugurated Jan. 20, but Congress will take no action until Feb. 4.
After two weeks in session, the House will take a President's Week recess Feb. 14- 24. The Easter break is slated for March 21-April 7. The Memorial Day recess is scheduled for May 23-June 2, with June 27-July 7 set aside for the July 4 break. Armey projects the House will begin the August break the first of that month and return for the fall session Sept. 3.
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