House lawmakers would also like to see advisers forced to demonstrate that investments are suitable for their clients.

Some senators are pressing for higher spending, fewer of the local projects sought by House lawmakers and changes in the amounts distributed to the states.

Instead, a group of House lawmakers opposed to those sections succeeded in derailing their consideration.

House lawmakers have another chance to attack the provision on Tuesday, when they resume the debate.

House lawmakers approved an $81.4 billion emergency spending bill, mostly for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, by a vote of 388 to 43.

After a 17-year boycott, House lawmakers this spring finally urged the administration to rejoin a much less politicized organization.

But after lengthy negotiations with the cable industry, House lawmakers essentially gave their stamp of approval to exclusivity agreements.

He also prepared a daily bill summary for House lawmakers.

"It's clear that substantial progress has been made" in getting rates back to normal, he told House lawmakers in February.

Mr. Peterson's bill is one of several proposing to open coastal waters that House lawmakers are expected to consider before long.