[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D129-D130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                        Thursday, February 26, 1998

[[Page D129]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S1035-S1132
Measures Introduced: Ten bills and two resolutions were introduced, as 
follows: S. 1681-1690 and S. Res. 184 and 185.
  Page S1070
Measures Reported: Reports were made as follows:
  H.R. 1534, to simplify and expedite access to the Federal courts for 
injured parties whose rights and privileges, secured by the United 
States Constitution, have been deprived by final actions of Federal 
agencies, or other government officials or entities acting under color 
of State law; to prevent Federal courts from abstaining from exercising 
Federal jurisdiction in actions where no State law claim is alleged; to 
permit certification of unsettled State law questions that are 
essential to resolving Federal claims arising under the Constitution; 
and to clarify when government action is sufficiently final to ripen 
certain Federal claims arising under the Constitution, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. Res. 181, expressing the sense of the Senate that on March 2nd, 
every child in America should be in the company of someone who will 
read to him or her.
  S. 1244, to amend title 11, United States Code, to protect certain 
charitable contributions, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  S. 1605, to establish a matching grant program to help States, units 
of local government, and Indian tribes to purchase armor vests for use 
by law enforcement officers, with an amendment.
Pages S1068-69
Measures Passed:
  Read Across America Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 181, expressing the 
sense of the Senate that on March 2nd, every child in America should be 
in the company of someone who will read to him or her.
  Page S1130
  Onate Cuartocentenario: Senate agreed to S. Res. 148, designating 
1998 as the ``New Mexico Cuartocentenario'', the 400th anniversary 
commemoration of the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico. 
                                                         Pages S1130-31
Campaign Finance Reform: Senate continued consideration of S. 1663, to 
protect individuals from having their money involuntarily collected and 
used for politics by a corporation or labor organization, taking action 
on amendments proposed thereto, as follows:.
  Page S1045
Pending:
  McCain Amendment No. 1646, in the nature of a substitute.
  Lott Amendment No. 1649, to prohibit the use of funds by the Federal 
Communications Commission to impose or enforce requirements with 
respect to electioneering communications.
  Lott Amendment No. 1650 (to Amendment No. 1649), of a perfecting 
nature.
  Lott Amendment No. 1674 (to Amendment No. 1646), to prohibit the use 
of funds by the Federal Communications Commission to impose or enforce 
requirements with respect to electioneering communications.
  Lott Amendment No. 1675 (to Amendment No. 1674), of a perfecting 
nature.
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 52 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 16), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
failed to close further debate on Amendment No. 1646, listed above. 
                                                             Page S1045
  By 45 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 17), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
failed to close further debate on the bill.
Page S1045
  Subsequently, the bill, with certain of the pending amendments, was 
referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
ISTEA Authorization: Senate resumed consideration of S. 1173, to 
authorize funds for construction of highways, for highway safety 
programs, and for mass transit programs, with a modified committee 
amendment.
  Pages S1055-64
  By unanimous-consent agreement, the following pending amendments and 
the motion to recommit were withdrawn:

[[Page D130]]


  Chafee/Warner Amendment No. 1312, to provide for a continuing 
designation of a metropolitan planning organization.
Page S1055
  Chafee/Warner Amendment No. 1313, (to language proposed to be 
stricken by the committee, as modified), of a perfecting nature. 
                                                             Page S1055
  Chafee/Warner Amendment No. 1314 (to Amendment No. 1313), of a 
perfecting nature.
Page S1055
  Motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works, with instructions.
Page S1055
  Lott Amendment No. 1317 (to instructions of the motion to recommit), 
to authorize funds for construction of highways, for highway safety 
programs, and for mass transit programs.
Page S1055
  Lott Amendment No. 1318 (to Amendment No. 1317), to strike the 
limitation on obligations for administrative expenses.
Page S1055
  Subsequently, the modified committee amendment was further modified 
to reflect it as an amendment in the nature of a substitute (Amendment 
No. 1676), and subject to further amendments.
Pages S1055-56
Measure Returned to Senate Calendar:
  Reciprocal Trade Agreement/Fast Track: S. 1269, to establish 
objectives for negotiating and procedures for implementing certain 
trade agreements, was displaced upon the adoption of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of S. 1173, ISTEA Authorization, and was 
returned to the Senate calendar.
  Page S1055
Appointments:
  National Council on the Arts: The Chair, on behalf of the Majority 
Leader, pursuant to Public Law 105-83, announced the appointment of 
Senators Sessions and Collins to serve as members of the National 
Council on the Arts.
  Page S1130
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Hiram Arthur Contreras, of Texas, to be United States Marshal for the 
Southern District of Texas for the term of four years.
  Beverly Baldwin Martin, of Georgia, to be United States Attorney for 
the Middle District of Georgia for the term of four years.
  Robert A. Miller, of South Dakota, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the State Justice Institute for a term expiring September 
17, 2000.
  Randall Dean Anderson, of Utah, to be United States Marshal for the 
District of Utah for the term of four years.
Pages S1131-32
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Edward A. Powell, Jr., of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs (Management).
  Q. Todd Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy Commissioner of 
Patents and Trademarks.
Page S1132
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of the withdrawal of 
the following nomination: George Donohue, of Maryland, to be Deputy 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, which was sent to 
the Senate on June 26, 1997.
  Page S1132
Messages From the House:
  Page S1068
Measures Referred:
  Page S1068
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Pages S1069-70
Statements on Introduced Bills:
  Pages S1070-81
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S1081-82
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S1082-S1125
Notices of Hearings:
  Page S1125
Authority for Committees:
  Pages S1125-26
Additional Statements:
  Pages S1126-30
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total-17) 
                                                             Page S1045
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m., and adjourned at 6:14 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, February 27, 1998. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record, on 
Page S1132.)