[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 45 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D270-D271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, March 20, 2003

[[Page D270]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to S. Res. 95, Commending President and Armed 
      Forces.
      The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 104, expressing the support and 
      appreciation of the Nation for the President and the members of 
      the Armed forces who are participating in Operation Iraqi 
      Freedom.
      The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 95, establishing the 
      congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal 
      year 2004.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4043-S4223
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and five resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 670-680, and S. Res. 95-96, and S. Con. Res. 25-27. 
                                                         Pages S4165-66
Measures Reported:
  S. 671, to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
to modify temporarily certain rates of duty, to make other technical 
amendments to the trade laws. (S. Rept. No. 108-28)
  S. Res. 48, designating April 2003 as ``Financial Literacy for Youth 
Month''.
  S. Res. 52, recognizing the social problem of child abuse and 
neglect, and supporting efforts to enhance public awareness of the 
problem, with an amendment.
  S. Res. 58, expressing the sense of the Senate that the President 
should designate the week beginning June 1, 2003, as ``National Citizen 
Soldier Week''.
  S. 330, to further the protection and recognition of veterans' 
memorials.
Page S4165
Measures Passed:
  Commending President and Armed Forces: By a unanimous vote of 99 yeas 
(Vote No. 61), Senate agreed to S. Res. 95, commending the President 
and the Armed Forces of the United States of America. 
                                                      Pages S4075-S4107
  Iraqi Scientists Immigration Act: Senate passed S. 205, to authorize 
the issuance of immigrant visas to, and the admission to the United 
States for permanent residence of, certain scientists, engineers, and 
technicians who have worked in Iraqi weapons of mass destruction 
programs.
  Pages S4222-23
Congressional Budget Resolution: Senate continued consideration of S. 
Con. Res. 23, setting forth the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2004 and including the appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal year 2003 and for fiscal years 2005 through 
2013, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                             Pages S4044-75, S4109-4152
Adopted:
  By 51 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 62), Kyl/Sessions Modified Amendment 
No. 288, to provide financial security to family farm and small 
business owners by ending the unfair practice of taxing someone at 
death.
Page S4109
  By 80 yeas to 19 nays (Vote No. 64), Rockefeller Amendment No. 275, 
to express the sense of the Senate concerning State fiscal relief. 
                                                         Pages S4111-12
Rejected:
  Graham (FL)/Dorgan/Stabenow Amendment No. 294, to provide a 
meaningful prescription drug benefit in Medicare that is available to 
all beneficiaries. (By 55 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 63), Senate tabled 
the amendment.)
Pages S4109-10
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that with respect 
to amendment No. 294 (listed above), that the names be reversed, and 
that Senator Graham's name appear first as the one proposing the 
amendment.
Pending:
  Schumer Amendment No. 299, to provide immediate assistance to meet 
pressing homeland security needs by providing funding in 2003 for first 
responders, port security, bioterrorism preparedness

[[Page D271]]

and prevention, border security and transit security, the FBI; to 
restore the elimination of funding of the COPS program, firefighter 
equipment grants, Byrne Grants and Local Law enforcement grants; to 
provide a sustained commitment of resources for homeland security needs 
without reducing funding to other key domestic law enforcement and 
public safety priorities; and to reduce the deficit.
Pages S4046-63
  Brownback Amendment No. 282, to express the sense of the Senate that 
a commission be established to review the efficiency of Federal 
agencies.
Pages S4063-71
  Conrad (for Feingold/Corzine) Amendment No. 270, to set aside a 
reserve fund for possible military action and reconstruction in Iraq. 
                                                         Pages S4071-75
  Breaux Amendment No. 339, to reduce tax cuts by $375 billion and to 
reduce projected deficits by $464 billion.
Pages S4113-25
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for a series of 
votes on certain amendments to begin at 9:45 a.m., on Friday, March 21, 
2003.
Page S4107
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the resolution at 9:30 a.m., on Friday, March 21, 
2003.
Page S4107
Messages From the President: Senate received the following messages 
from the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the additional 
steps taken with respect to the national emergency which was declared 
in Executive Order 12722 of August 2, 1990 by exercising the statutory 
authority to confiscate and vest certain property of the Government of 
Iraq and its agencies, instrumentalities, or controlled entities; to 
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-28) 
                                                             Page S4163
Messages From the House:
  Pages S4163-64
Measures Referred:
  Page S4164
Measures Read First Time:
  Page S4164
Executive Communications:
  Pages S4164-4165
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S4165
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S4166-4168
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S4168-4181
Additional Statements:
  Pages S4159-63
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S4181-S4221
Authority for Committees to Meet:
  Page S4221
Privilege of the Floor:
  Page S4221
Record Vote: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--64) 
                                        Pages S4106, S4109, S4110, 4112
Adjournment: Senate met at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 11:30 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, March 21, 2003. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S4107.)