[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 91 (Thursday, June 19, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D693-D694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Thursday, June 19, 2003

[[Page D693]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to the Conference Report on S. 342, Keeping 
      Children and Families Safe Act.
      House passed H.R. 1528, Taxpayer Protection and IRS 
      Accountability Act.
      House passed H.R. 660, Small Business Health Fairness Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S8167-S8260
Measures Introduced: Fourteen bills and two resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1289-1302, and S. Res. 176-177. 
                                                         Pages S8232-33
Measures Reported:
  S. 724, to amend title 18, United States Code, to exempt certain 
rocket propellants from prohibitions under that title on explosive 
materials, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1233, to authorize assistance for the National Great Blacks in Wax 
Museum and Justice Learning Center.                          
Page S8232
Measures Passed:
  Recognizing New Jersey Sports Teams: Senate agreed to S. Res. 176, 
recognizing the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils and National 
Basketball Association's New Jersey Nets for their accomplishments 
during the 2002-2003 season.                             
  Pages S8201-02
  Accountant Compliance and Enforcement Staffing Act: Senate passed to 
H.R. 658, to provide for the protection of investors, increase 
confidence in the capital markets system, and fully implement the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by streamlining the hiring process for 
certain employment positions in the Securities and Exchange Commission, 
clearing the measure for the President.                      
  Page S8260
Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act: Senate continued 
consideration of S. 1, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act 
to make improvements in the Medicare program, to provide prescription 
drug coverage under the Medicare program, taking action on the 
following amendments proposed thereto:      
  Pages S8169-S8201, S8202-16
Adopted:
  Enzi (for Cantwell) Amendment No. 944 (to Amendment No. 932), to 
prohibit an eligible entity offering a Medicare Prescription Drug plan, 
a MedicareAdvantage Organization offering a MedicareAdvantage plan, and 
other health plans from contracting with a pharmacy benefit manager 
(PBM) unless the PBM satisfies certain requirements.         
Page S8184
  By a unanimous vote of 95 yeas (Vote No. 228), Enzi/Reed Modified 
Amendment No. 932, to improve disclosure requirements and to increase 
beneficiary choices.                       
Pages S8169, S8182-89, S8198
  By 94 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 230), Gregg Amendment No. 945, to 
ensure that there is competition in the pharmaceutical industry and 
increased access to affordable drugs.          
Pages S8189-98, S8200-01
  Frist (for Cochran) Amendment No. 947 (to Amendment No. 946), to 
protect the health and safety of Americans.              
Pages S8203-15
Rejected:
  By 39 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 229), Daschle Modified Amendment No. 
939, to ensure that an affordable plan is available in all areas. 
                                            Pages S8173-82, S8198-S8200
Pending:
  Bingaman Amendment No. 933, to eliminate the application of an asset 
test for purposes of eligibility for premium and cost-sharing subsidies 
for low-income beneficiaries.                            
Pages S8169-73
  Dorgan Amendment No. 946, to provide greater access to affordable 
pharmaceuticals.                                         
Pages S8202-16
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that following 
the vote on final passage of S.

[[Page D694]]

504 (listed below), Senate will continue consideration of S. 1, on 
Friday, June 20, 2003, with four minutes of debate on Dorgan Amendment 
No. 946 (listed above) followed by a vote to occur thereon; and the 
consideration of certain other amendments to be proposed to the bill. 
                                                             Page S8216
American History and Civics Education Act: Senate began consideration 
of S. 504, to establish academics for teachers and students of American 
history and civics and a national alliance of teachers of American 
history and civics.                                      
  Pages S8216-19
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at 9 a.m., on Friday, June 20, 2003, with a 
vote on final passage to occur at 9:15 a.m.                  
Page S8216
Keeping Children and Families Safe Act--Conference Report: Senate 
agreed to the conference report on S. 342, to amend the Child Abuse 
Prevention and Treatment Act to make improvements to and reauthorize 
programs under that Act, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                         Pages S8257-60
Water Contract Repayment Authorization--Referral Agreement: A 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works be discharged from further consideration 
of H.R. 856, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to revise a 
repayment contract with the Tom Green County Water Control and 
Improvement District No. 1, San Angelo project, Texas, and the bill 
then be referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 
                                                             Page S8260
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Terrence A. Duffy, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Federal 
Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring October 11, 
2003.
  Terrence A. Duffy, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Federal 
Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring October 11, 
2007. (Reappointment)
  Anne Rader, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National Council on 
Disability for a term expiring September 17, 2004.
  Eduardo Aguirre, Jr., of Texas, to be Director of the Bureau of 
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. 
(New Position)
  C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Homeland Security. (New Position)                 
Pages S8256-57, S8260
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Jackie Wolcott Sanders, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure 
of service as United States Representative to the Conference on 
Disarmament and the Special Representative of the President of the 
United States for Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
  A routine list in the Army.                                
Page S8260
Messages From the House:                                     
  Page S8225
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S8225
Measures Read First Time:                                    
  Page S8225
Petitions and Memorials:                                 
  Pages S8225-32
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S8232
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S8233-34
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S8234-46
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S8224-25
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S8246-55
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                            
  Pages S8255-56
Authority for Committees to Meet:                            
  Page S8256
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--230) 
                                                  Pages S8198, S8200-01
Adjournment: Senate met at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 7:45 p.m., until 
9 a.m., on Friday, June 20, 2003. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S8260.)