[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D516-D519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Wednesday, May 21, 1997

[[Page D516]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      House Committees ordered reported 10 sundry measures.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4781-S4923
Measures Introduced: Eight bills and two resolutions were introduced as 
follows: S. 771-778 and S. Res. 88 and 89.               
  Pages S4878-79
Measures Reported: Reports were made as follows:
  S. 459, to amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to extend 
certain authorizations, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. (S. Rept. No. 105-20)                            
Page S4878
Measures Passed:
  Majority Party Committee Appointments: Senate agreed to S. Res. 89, 
to constitute the majority party's membership on the Governmental 
Affairs committee for the 105th Congress, or until their successors are 
chosen.                                                      
  Page S4915
  Congressional Gold Medal to Mother Teresa: Senate passed H.R. 1650, 
to authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the 
Congress to Mother Teresa of Calcutta in recognition of her outstanding 
and enduring contributions through humanitarian and charitable 
activities, clearing the measure for the President.      
  Pages S4918-19
  Authorizing Use of Capitol Grounds: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 67, 
authorizing the 1997 Special Olympics Torch Relay to be run through the 
Capitol Grounds.                                             
  Page S4919
  New Mexico Trust Fund Protection: Senate passed S. 430, to amend the 
Act of June 20, 1910, to protect the permanent trust funds of the State 
of New Mexico from erosion due to inflation and modify the basis on 
which distributions are made from those funds.               
  Page S4919
Volunteer Protection Act: Senate concurred in the amendment of the 
House to S. 543, to provide certain protections to volunteers, 
nonprofit organizations, and government entities in lawsuits based on 
the activities of volunteers, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                         Pages S4915-18
Concurrent Budget Resolution: Senate continued consideration of S. Con. 
Res. 27, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States 
government for fiscal years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002, taking 
action on amendments proposed thereto, as follows:   
  Pages S4782-S4849, S4851-76, S4920
Adopted:
  By 98 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. 75), Domenici Modified Amendment No. 
307, to clarify the use of funds for health coverage for eligible 
children.                                                
Pages S4810-27
  Kerrey Amendment No. 312, to express the sense of the Senate on the 
need for long-term entitlement reforms.                  
Pages S4830-31
  Gramm Modified Amendment No. 317, to express the sense of the Senate 
on disaster assistance funding.                   
Pages S4834, S4847-48
  Brownback/Kohl Amendment No. 329, to express the sense of the Senate 
on enforcement of the bipartisan budget agreement.       
Pages S4848-49
  By a unanimous vote of 98 yeas (Vote No. 78), Mack Amendment No. 315, 
to express the sense of the Senate that the Federal commitment to 
biomedical research should be doubled over the next 5 years. 
                                               Pages S4833-34, S4861-69
  Domenici (for Feinstein) Amendment No. 341, to express the sense of 
the Senate that certain elderly legal aliens should continue to receive 
benefits during a redetermination transition period.     
Pages S4869-70
  Domenici (for Coverdell) Amendment No. 342, to express the sense of 
the Senate regarding retroactive taxes.                  
Pages S4870-71
  Domenici (for Dorgan/Hollings/Daschle) Amendment No. 343, to express 
the sense of the Senate on Social Security and balancing the budget. 
                                                             Page S4871

[[Page D517]]


  Domenici (for Daschle/Rockefeller) Amendment No. 344, to express the 
sense of the Senate in support of sufficient funding for veterans 
programs and benefits.                                   
                                                         Pages S4871-72
  Domenici (for Murray) Amendment No. 345, to express the sense of 
Congress concerning domestic violence.                       
                                                             Page S4872
                                                              Rejected:
  Hatch/Kennedy Amendment No. 297, to increase the excise taxes on 
tobacco products for the purpose of providing affordable health 
coverage for low- and moderate-income uninsured children and for 
additional deficit reduction. (By 55 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 76), 
Senate tabled the amendment.)                         
                                                      Pages S4782-S4828
  Gramm Amendment No. 318, to hold nondefense discretionary spending 
for fiscal years 1998 through 2002 to the same levels proposed in the 
President's fiscal year 1997 budget request. (By 68 yeas to 31 nays 
(Vote No. 77), Senate tabled the amendment.)      
                                                  Pages S4834-44, S4846
                                                               Pending:
  Murray/Wellstone Amendment No. 291, to express the sense of the 
Congress concerning domestic violence.                   
                                                         Pages S4831-32
  Inhofe Amendment No. 301, to create a point of order against any 
budget resolution for fiscal years after 2001 that causes a unified 
budget deficit for the budget year or any of the 4 fiscal years 
following the budget year.                                   
                                                             Page S4829
  Hollings Amendment No. 302, to express the sense of the Senate that 
the Highway Trust Fund should not be taken into account in computing 
the deficit in the budget of the United States.              
                                                             Page S4828
  Hollings Amendment No. 303, to express the sense of the Senate that 
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund should not be taken into account in 
computing the deficit in the budget of the United States. 
                                                         Pages S4828-29
  Hollings Amendment No. 304, to express the sense of the Senate that 
the Military Retirement Trust Funds should not be taken into account in 
computing the deficit in the budget of the United States. 
                                                         Pages S4828-29
  Hollings Amendment No. 305, to express the sense of the Senate that 
the Civil Service Retirement Trust Funds should not be taken into 
account in computing the deficit in the budget of the United States. 
                                                         Pages S4828-29
  Hollings Amendment No. 306, to express the sense of the Senate that 
the Federal Unemployment Compensation Trust fund should not be taken 
into account in computing the deficit in the budget of the United 
States.                                                  
                                                         Pages S4828-29
  Kerry Amendment No. 309, to allocate funds for early childhood 
development programs for children ages zero to six.      
                                                         Pages S4829-30
  Dorgan Amendment No. 310, to express the sense of the Senate that the 
Congress should continue efforts to reduce the on-budget deficit 
without counting Social Security surpluses.                  
                                                             Page S4830
  Warner/Baucus Amendment No. 311, to ensure that transportation 
revenues are used solely for transportation.                 
                                                             Page S4830
  Wellstone Amendment No. 313, to provide for increases in funding for 
Headstart and Early Start, child nutrition programs, and school 
construction, which will be paid for by reducing tax benefits to the 
top 2 percent of income earners in the United States as well as by 
reducing tax benefits that are characterized as corporate welfare or 
tax loopholes.                                           
Pages S4832-33
  Wellstone Amendment No. 314, to provide that Pell Grants for needy 
students should be increased.                                
Page S4833
  Abraham Amendment No. 316, to express the sense of the Senate that, 
to the extent that future revenues exceed the revenue aggregates, those 
additional revenues should be reserved for deficit reduction and tax 
cuts only.                                                   
Page S4834
  Gramm Amendment No. 319, to ensure that the discretionary limits 
provided in the budget resolution shall apply in all years. 
                                                         Pages S4834-35
  Gramm Amendment No. 320, to ensure that the 4.3 cents federal gas tax 
increase enacted in 1993 will be transferred to the Highway Trust Fund.
                                                         Pages S4834-35
  Faircloth Amendment No. 321, to express the sense of the Senate that 
a non-refundable tax credit for the expenses of an education at a 2-
year college should be enacted.                              
Page S4839
  Ashcroft Amendment No. 322, to add enforcement mechanisms to reflect 
the stated commitment to reach a balanced budget in 2002, to maintain a 
balanced budget thereafter, and to achieve these goals without raising 
taxes.                                                   
Pages S4839-40
  Ashcroft Amendment No. 323, to limit increases in the statutory limit 
on the debt to the levels in the budget resolution.          
Page S4840
  Bond Amendment No. 324, to express the sense of the Senate regarding 
the protection of children's health.                         
Page S4844
  Bond Amendment No. 325, to express the sense of the Senate concerning 
the Highway Trust Fund.                                      
Page S4844
  McCain/Hollings Amendment No. 326, to express the sense of the Senate 
that the Congress shall take such steps as necessary to reconcile the 
difference between actual revenues raised and estimates made and

[[Page D518]]

shall reduce spending accordingly if Spectrum Auctions raise less 
revenue than projected.                                      
Page S4845
  McCain/Mack Amendment No. 327, to express the sense of the Senate 
with respect to certain highway demonstration projects.      
Page S4845
  McCain Amendment No. 328, to express the sense of the Senate that the 
revenues generated to finance an intercity passenger rail fund under 
section 207 should not be appropriated before enactment of legislation 
to reauthorize and reform the National Rail Passenger Corporation. 
                                                             Page S4845
  Brownback/Kohl Amendment No. 329, to express the sense of the Senate 
on enforcement of the bipartisan budget agreement.
  Bumpers Amendment No. 330, to delay the effectiveness of the tax cuts 
assumed in the Budget Resolution until the Federal budget is balanced. 
                                                             Page S4847
  Bumpers Amendment No. 331, to ensure that the Medicare cuts that will 
be enacted are not used to pay tax cuts and that instead the tax cuts 
are completely paid for by the closure of tax loopholes.     
Page S4847
  Bumpers Amendment No. 332, to express the sense of the Senate that no 
budget reconciliation bill shall increase the Federal deficit. 
                                                             Page S4847
  Lautenberg (for Moseley-Braun) Amendment No. 333, to express the 
sense of the Senate regarding the use of budget savings. 
                                                         Pages S4846-47
  Lautenberg (for Moseley-Braun) Amendment No. 334, to express the 
sense of the Senate regarding the value of the social security system 
for future retirees.                                     
Pages S4846-47
  Lautenberg (for Dodd) Amendment No. 335, to ensure that the 
concurrent resolution conforms with the bipartisan budget agreement to 
restrict revenue reductions over a the ten-year period. 
                                                         Pages S4846-47
  Moseley-Braun Amendment No. 336, to provide $5 billion for school 
repair, renovation, modernization, and construction priorities, offset 
by closing tax loopholes.                                
Pages S4852-60
  Specter Amendment No. 338, to provide for a reduction in mandatory 
spending and an increase in discretionary spending relating to 
children's health.                                       
Pages S4906-07
  Specter Amendment No. 339, to provide for a reduction in mandatory 
spending and an increase in discretionary spending relating to 
children's health.                                       
Pages S4906-07
  Specter Amendment No. 340, to restore funding within the 
discretionary health function to maintain progress in medical research, 
offset by reductions in Federal agency administrative costs. 
                                                         Pages S4906-07
  Domenici (for Grams) Amendment No. 346, to require that the $225 
billion CBO revenue receipt windfall be used for deficit reduction and 
tax relief, and that non-defense discretionary spending be kept at a 
freeze baseline level.                                   
Pages S4872-73
  Domenici (for Coverdell) Amendment No. 347, to provide for parental 
involvement in prevention of drug use by children.       
Pages S4872-73
  Domenici (for Kyl) Amendment No. 348, to express the sense of the 
Senate that the budget resolution agreement does not foreclose the 
possibility of Congress adopting additional tax cuts in the future, so 
long as they are paid for.                               
Pages S4872-73
  Domenici (for Snowe/Coverdell) Amendment No. 349, to express the 
sense of the Senate relative to higher education tax relief and higher 
education expenses.                                      
Pages S4873-74
  Lautenberg (for Harkin) Amendment No. 350, to express the sense of 
the Senate supporting an increase in funding for defense 050 account 
funds dedicated for medical research.                    
Pages S4874-75
  Lautenberg (for Harkin/Bingaman) Amendment No. 351, to reduce the 
incentives to use tax gimmicks that artificially increase revenues in 
2002 in ways that make balancing the deficit more difficult after 2002.
                                                         Pages S4874-75
  Lautenberg (for Kohl/Kerry) Amendment No. 352, to express the sense 
of the Senate on early childhood education.              
Pages S4874-75
  Lautenberg (for Byrd) Amendment No. 353, to expand opportunities to 
access funding in the Highway Reserve fund.              
Pages S4874-75
  Lautenberg (for Biden) Amendment No. 354, to express the sense of the 
Senate regarding the extension of the Violent Crime Reduction Trust 
Fund through fiscal year 2002.                           
Pages S4874-75
  Lautenberg (for Boxer) Amendment No. 355, to express the sense of the 
Senate regarding tax cut benefits.                       
Pages S4874-76
  Robb Amendment No. 356, to express the sense of the Senate on Social 
Security and retirement savings.                             
Page S4920
Withdrawn:
  Jeffords Motion to recommit the resolution to the Committee on the 
Budget with instructions to report back forthwith with the following 
amendment:
  Jeffords/Coats Amendment No. 337 (to the Motion to recommit), to 
strike the reconciliation instruction for the Committee on Labor and 
Human Resources, and adjust the reconciliation instructions for the 
Committee on Finance to reflect an increase in revenues. (The amendment 
fell when the motion to recommit was withdrawn.)         
Pages S4860-61
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill on Thursday, May 22, 1997.         
Page S4875
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:

[[Page D519]]


  52 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.      
Pages S4919-20, S4923
Messages From the House:
                                                    Pages S4877-78
Measures Referred:
                                                        Page S4878
Measures Placed on Calendar:
                                                        Page S4878
Measures Read First Time:
                                                        Page S4878
Communications:
                                                        Page S4878
Executive Reports of Committees:
                                                        Page S4878
Statements on Introduced Bills:
                                                    Pages S4879-98
Additional Cosponsors:
                                                        Page S4898
Amendments Submitted:
                                                 Pages S4898-S4910
Notices of Hearings:
                                                        Page S4910
Authority for Committees:
                                                        Page S4910
Additional Statements:
                                                    Pages S4910-15
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--78)

                                           Pages S4827-28, S4846, S4868

Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 10:50 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, May 22, 1997. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S4920.)