[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1023-D1026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                       Saturday, September 28, 1996

[[Page D1023]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to Coast Guard Authorizations Conference Report.
      House passed Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act.
      House agreed to DOD Appropriations Conference Report.
      House passed Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act.
      House agreed to National Securities Improvement Act Conference 
      Report.
      House passed Veterans Health Care Reform, Disability, and 
      Benefits Acts.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S11611-S11813
Measures Introduced: Eight bills and three resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2153-2160, and S. Res. 303-305.
  Page S11720
Measures Passed:
  Amos F. Longoria Post Office Building: Committee on Governmental 
Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2700, to 
designate the building located at 8302 FM 327, Elmendorf, Texas, which 
houses operations of the United States Postal Service, as the ``Amos F. 
Longoria Post Office Building'', and the bill was then passed, after 
agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
  Page S11612
  Gregg (for Pryor) Amendment No. 5413, to clarify the provision of 
section 3626(b) of title 39, United States Code, defining an 
``institution of higher education''.
Page S11612
  Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Post Office Building: Senate passed S. 
2153, to designate the United States Post Office building located in 
Brewer, Maine, as the ``Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Post Office 
Building''.
  Pages S11612-13
   United States-Cambodia Relations: Senate agreed to S. Res. 285, 
expressing the sense of the Senate that enforcement of the Cambodian 
Genocide Justice Act, improvements in Cambodia's record on human 
rights, the environment, narcotics trafficking and the royal Government 
of Cambodia's conduct should be among the primary objectives of the 
United States in its relations with Cambodia, after agreeing to a 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  Pages S11638-40
  Medicaid Enrollment Waiver: Committee on Finance was discharged from 
further consideration of H.R. 3871, to waive temporarily the Medicaid 
enrollment composition rule for certain health maintenance 
organizations, and the bill was then passed, clearing the measure for 
the President.
  Page S11640
  Alaska Natives Study: Senate passed H.R. 3973, to provide for a study 
of the recommendations of the Joint Federal-State Commission on 
Policies and Programs Affecting Alaska Natives, clearing the measure 
for the President.
  Pages S11640-41
  National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week: Committee on the 
Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 300, to 
designate the week of November 3, 1996, as ``National Shaken Baby 
Syndrome Awareness Week'', and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                            Page S11641
  American Free Enterprise Day: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 291, to designate 
November 18, 1996, as ``American Free Enterprise Day'', and the 
resolution was then agreed to.
  Pages S11641-42
  CAA Labor-Management Relations: Senate agreed to S. Res. 304, 
approving certain regulations

[[Page D1024]]

to implement provisions of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 
relating to labor-management relations with respect to employing 
offices of the Senate and employees of the Senate.
  Page S11642
  Congressional Accountability Act Provisions: Committee on Rules and 
Administration was discharged from further consideration of H. Con. 
Res. 207, approving certain regulations to implement provisions of the 
Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 relating to labor-management 
relations with respect to covered employees, other than employees of 
the House of Representatives and employees of the Senate, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.
  Page S11642
  Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act: Committee on Veterans 
Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3118, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to reform eligibility for health 
care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, to authorize major 
medical facility construction projects of the Department, and to 
improve administration of health care by the Department, and the bill 
was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed 
thereto:
  Pages S11642-58
  Nickles (for Simpson) Amendment No. 5414, in the nature of 
substitute.
Pages S11642-58
  Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices: Senate passed S. 2130, to 
extend certain privileges, exemptions, and immunities to Hong Kong 
Economic and Trade Offices.
  Pages S11658-59
  Reclamation Recycling and Water Conservation Act: Senate passed H.R. 
3660, to make amendments to the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act, clearing the bill for the President. 
                                                            Page S11666
  Propane Education and Research Act: Senate passed H.R. 1514, to 
authorize and facilitate a program to enhance safety, training, 
research and development, and safety education in the propane gas 
industry for the benefit of propane consumers and the public, clearing 
the bill for the President.
  Pages S11666-67
  Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Authorization: Senate passed 
H.R. 2967, to extend the authorization of the Uranium Mill Tailings 
Radiation Control Act of 1978, clearing the bill for the President. 
                                                        Pages S11666-67
  Central Utah Project Completion Act: Senate passed H.R. 1823, to 
amend the Central Utah Project Completion Act to direct the Secretary 
of the Interior to allow for prepayment of repayment contracts between 
the United States and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District dated 
December 28, 1965, and November 26, 1985, clearing the bill for the 
President.
  Pages S11666-67
  Department of Energy Hydrogen Programs: Senate passed H.R. 4138, to 
authorize the hydrogen research, development, and demonstration 
programs of the Department of Energy, clearing the bill for the 
President.
  Page S11667
  Irrigation Project Contract Extension Act: Senate passed S. 1649, to 
extend contracts between the Bureau of Reclamation and irrigation 
districts in Kansas and Nebraska, after agreeing to committee 
amendments.
  Pages S11667-68
  Marine Mineral Resources Research Act: Senate passed S. 1194, to 
promote the research, identification, assessment, and exploration of 
marine mineral resources, after agreeing to a committee amendment in 
the nature of a substitute.
  Pages S11668-69
  Helium Recovery/Disposal: Senate passed H.R. 4168, to amend the 
Helium Act to authorize the Secretary to enter into agreements with 
private parties for the recovery and disposal of helium on Federal 
lands, clearing the measure for the President.
  Page S11669
  Energy Policy and Conservation Act Extension: Senate passed H.R. 
3868, to extend certain programs under the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act through September 30, 1996, after agreeing to the 
following amendment proposed thereto:
  Pages S11669-70
  Lott (for Murkowski) Amendment No. 5415, in the nature of a 
substitute.
Pages S11669-70
  DOE Standardization Act: Senate passed S. 1874, to amend sections of 
the Department of Energy Organization Act that are obsolete or 
inconsistent with other statutes and to repeal a related section of the 
Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974.
  Page S11670
  Health Professions Education Consolidation and Reauthorization Act: 
Senate passed S. 555, to amend the Public Health Service Act to 
consolidate and reauthorize health professions and minority and 
disadvantaged health education programs, after agreeing to a committee 
amendment in the nature of a substitute, and the following amendment 
proposed thereto:
  Pages S11670-95
  Lott (for Kassebaum) Amendment No. 5416, to make certain 
modifications.
Pages S11683-95
  Savings in Construction Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2779, 
to provide for soft-metric conversion, and the bill was then passed, 
after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                        Pages S11704-07

[[Page D1025]]


  Lott (for Burns) Amendment No. 5417, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                        Pages S11704-07
  Counting of Electoral Votes: Senate passed S. 2158, to set the time 
for counting electoral votes.
                                                            Page S11770
  Convening of the 105th Congress: Senate passed S. 2159, to set the 
time for the convening of the 105th Congress.
                                                        Pages S11770-71
  Private Relief: Senate passed H.R. 1031, for the relief of Oscar 
Salas-Velazquez, clearing the measure for the President.
                                                            Page S11771
  National Duck Calling Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 305, to designate 
Saturday, November 30, 1996, as ``National Duck Calling Day''. 
                                                            Page S11771
  Transportation Law: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from 
further consideration of H.R. 2297, to codify without substantive 
change laws related to transportation and to improve the United States 
Code, and the bill was then passed, clearing the measure for the 
President.
                                                            Page S11771
  Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 221, directing 
the Clerk of the House to make corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 
3159.
                                                            Page S11771
  Travel and Tourism Partnership Act: Senate passed H.R. 2579, to 
establish the National Tourism Board and the National Tourism 
Organization to promote international travel and tourism to the United 
States, clearing the measure for the President.
                                                            Page S11771
  National Film Preservation Foundation Act: Committee on the Judiciary 
was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1734, to reauthorize 
the National Film Preservation Board, and the bill was then passed, 
clearing the measure for the President.
                                                        Pages S11771-73
  Commending Hungary/Romania: Senate agreed to S. Res. 303, commending 
the Governments of Hungary and Romania on the occasion of the signing 
of a Treaty of Understanding, Cooperation and Good Neighborliness. 
                                                            Page S11774
  International Broadcasting Technology: Senate passed H.R. 3916, to 
make available certain Voice of America and Radio Marti multilingual 
computer readable text and voice recordings, clearing the measure for 
the President.
                                                            Page S11774
  Commission on Service Members and Veterans Transition Assistance: 
Senate passed S. 1711, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
improve the benefits programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, and to provide for a study of the Federal programs for 
veterans, after agreeing to a committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, and the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                        Pages S11774-94
  Nickles (for Simpson) Amendment No. 5418, in the nature of a 
substitute.
Pages S11779-85
  Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 229, directing 
the Secretary of the Senate to make corrections in the enrollment of S. 
1004.
                                                            Page S11794
  United States-Estonia Fishery Agreement: Senate passed H.R. 543, to 
approve a governing international fishery agreement between the United 
States and the Republic of Estonia, clearing the measure for the 
President.
                                                            Page S11803
  Trade Law Corrections: Senate passed H.R. 3815, to make technical 
corrections and miscellaneous amendments to trade laws, after agreeing 
to a committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and the 
following amendment proposed thereto:
                                                        Pages S11805-13
  Nickles (for Roth) Amendment No. 5419, to add a table of contents and 
make technical corrections.
Pages S11812-13
Coast Guard Authorizations Conference Report: Senate agreed to the 
conference report on S. 1004, to authorize appropriations for the 
United States Coast Guard, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                    Pages S11794-S11803
Fort Peck Rural County Water Supply System: Senate concurred in the 
amendment of the House to S. 1467, to authorize the construction of the 
Fort Peck Rural County Water Supply System, to authorize assistance to 
the Fort Peck Rural County Water District, Inc., a nonprofit 
corporation, and for the planning, design, and construction of the 
water supply system, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                        Pages S11804-05
Treaties Approved: The following treaties having passed through their 
various parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of 
the resolution of ratification, upon division, two-thirds of the 
Senators present and having voted in the affirmative, the resolutions 
of ratification were agreed to:
  Income Tax Convention with Kazakstan, with a proviso. (Treaty Doc. 
No. 103-33)
  Exchange of Notes Relating to the Tax Convention with Kazakstan, with 
a proviso. (Treaty Doc. No. 104-15)
  Taxation Protocol Amending Convention with Indonesia. (Treaty Doc. 
No. 104-32)
  Protocol Amending Article VIII of the 1948 Tax Convention with 
Respect to the Netherlands Antilles. (Treaty Doc. No. 104-23) 
                                                            Page S11659

[[Page D1026]]

Committee Authority: Committees were authorized to file special reports 
on non-legislative matters on Thursday, November 21, 1996, from 10 a.m. 
until 2 p.m.
  Page S11804
Messages From the House:
  Pages S11719-20
Statements on Introduced Bills:
  Pages S11720-31
Additional Cosponsors:
  Page S11731
Amendments Submitted:
  Page S11732-53
Additional Statements:
  Page S11754-64
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m., and adjourned at 7:08 p.m., 
until 10 a.m., on Monday, September 30, 1996. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Assistant Majority Leader in today's Record on 
page S11813.)