[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 100 (Thursday, July 15, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D807-D808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Thursday, July 15, 1999

[[Page D807]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed Patients' Bill of Rights Act.
      House passed H.R. 1691, Religious Liberty Protection Act.
      House passed H.R. 2490, Treasury, Postal, and General Government 
      Appropriations Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S8531-S8697
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and fifteen resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1372-1382, and S. Res. 141-155. 
                                                         Pages S8630-31
Measures Reported: Reports were made as follows:
  S. Res. 142, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Small 
Business.
  S. Res. 143, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Armed 
Services.
  S. Res. 144, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on the 
Judiciary.
  S. Res. 145, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.
  S. Res. 146, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works.
  S. Res. 147, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  S. Res. 148, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Foreign 
Relations.
  S. Res. 149, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on the Budget.
  S. Res. 150, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Finance.
  S. Res. 151, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Veterans 
Affairs.
  S. Res. 152, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Rules and 
Administration.
  S. Res. 154, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on 
Governmental Affairs.
  S. Res. 155, authorizing expenditures by the Special Committee on 
Aging.
Measures Passed:
  Congratulating U.S. Women's Soccer Team: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
141, to congratulate the United States Women's Soccer Team on winning 
the 1999 Women's World Cup Championship.
  Pages S8534-35
  Patients' Bill of Rights Act: By 53 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 210), 
Senate passed S. 1344, to amend the Public Health Service Act, the 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to protect consumers in managed care plans and 
other health coverage, after taking action on the following amendments 
proposed thereto:
  Pages S8535-S8624
Adopted:
  By 53 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 206), Gregg Amendment No. 1250 (to 
Amendment No. 1243), to protect patients and accelerate their treatment 
and care.
Pages S8535-53
  By 54 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 207), Collins Amendment No. 1243 (to 
the language proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 1232), to expand 
deductibility of long-term care to individuals; expand direct access to 
obstetric and gynecological care; provide timely access to specialists; 
and expand patient access to emergency medical care. 
                                                     Pages S8535, S8577
  By 54 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 208), Frist (for Ashcroft) Amendment 
No. 1252 (to Amendment No. 1251), enhancing and augmenting the internal 
review and external appeal process, covering individuals in approved 
cancer clinical trials, improving point-of-service coverage, protecting 
individuals when a plan's coverage is terminated, and prohibiting 
certain group health plans from discriminating against providers on the 
basis of license or certification.
Pages S8564-77
  Wyden Amendment No. 1251 (to Amendment No. 1232), to prohibit the 
imposition of gag rules, improper financial incentives, or 
inappropriate retaliation for health care providers; to prohibit 
discrimination against health care professionals, to provide

[[Page D808]]

for point of service coverage, and to provide for the establishment and 
operation of Health Insurance Ombudsmen.
Pages S8554-64, S8592
  Lott Amendment No. 1254 (to Amendment No. 1232), in the nature of a 
substitute.
Pages S8592-S8622
  Daschle Amendment No. 1232, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                      Pages S8435-S8622
Rejected:
  By 48 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 209), Kerrey Amendment No. 1253 (to 
Amendment No. 1251), to provide for a transitional period for certain 
patients.
Pages S8573-92
  Federal Financial Assistance Programs Improvement: Senate passed S. 
468, to improve the effectiveness and performance of Federal financial 
assistance programs, simplify Federal financial assistance application 
and reporting requirements, and improve the delivery of services to the 
public, after agreeing to committee amendments.
  Pages S8695-97
  Highway Traffic Safety Corrections: Senate passed H.R. 2035, to 
correct errors in the authorizations of certain programs administered 
by the National Highway Traffic Administration, clearing the measure 
for the President.
  Page S8697
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Johnnie E. Frazier, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, Department 
of Commerce.
Pages S8695, S8697
Communications:
  Pages S8629-30
Petitions:
  Page S8630
Statements on Introduced Bills:
  Pages S8631-47
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S8647-48
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S8655-92
Notices of Hearings:
  Page S8692
Authority for Committees:
  Pages S8692-93
Additional Statements:
  Pages S8693-95
Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--210) 
                                    Pages S8553, S8577, S8592, S8622-23
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 9:02 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, July 16, 1999. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S8697.)