[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 103 (Monday, July 14, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D805-D807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: 11 public bills, H.R. 2714-2724, and 1 private 
bill, H. Con. Res. 242, were introduced.
  Page H6706
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H6706-07
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  Filed on July 11, H.R. 1950, to authorize appropriations for the 
Department of State for the fiscal years 2004 and 2005, to authorize 
appropriations under the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 for security assistance for fiscal years 2004 
and 2005, amended (H. Rept. 108-105, Pt. 4);
  Filed on July 11, H.R. 2330, to sanction the ruling Burmese military 
junta, to strengthen Burma's democratic forces and support and 
recognize the National League of Democracy as the legitimate 
representative of the Burmese people, amended (H. Rept. 108-159, Pt. 
2);
  H.R. 1375, to provide regulatory relief and improve productivity for 
insured depository institutions, and for other purposes, amended (H. 
Rept. 108-152 Pt. 2);
  H.R. 2086, to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control Policy, 
amended (H. Rept. 108-167 Pt. 2);
  H.R. 116, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
construct, lease, or modify major medical facilities at the site of the 
former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, amended (H. 
Rept. 108-200);
  H.R. 1113, to authorize an exchange of land at Fort Frederica 
National Monument, amended (H. Rept. 108-201);
  H.R. 901, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct a 
bridge on Federal land west of and adjacent to Folsom Dam in 
California, amended (H. Rept. 108-202);
  H.R. 1209, to extend the authority for the construction of a memorial 
to Martin Luther King, Jr., in the District of Columbia (H. Rept. 108-
203);
  H.R. 1284, to amend the Reclamation Projects Authorization and 
Adjustment Act of 1992 to increase the Federal share of the costs of 
the San Gabriel Basin demonstration project (H. Rept. 108-204);
  H.R. 2441, to establish the Millennium Challenge Account to provide 
increased support for developing countries that have fostered democracy 
and the rule of law, invested in their citizens, and promoted economic 
freedom; to assess the impact and effectiveness of United States 
economic assistance; to authorize the expansion of the Peace Corps, 
amended (H. Rept. 108-205); and

[[Page D806]]


  H. Res. 316, providing for consideration of H.R. 1950, to authorize 
appropriations for the Department of State for the fiscal years 2004 
and 2005, to authorize appropriations under the Arms Export Control Act 
and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for security assistance for 
fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (H. Rept. 108-206).
Pages H6705-06
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
appointed Representative Cole to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H6607
Agriculture Appropriations: The House passed H.R. 2673, making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2004 by yea-and-nay vote of 347 yeas to 64 nays, Roll No. 
358.
  Pages H6609-58, H6676-80
Agreed To:
  Ballance amendment that increases funding for the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Civil Rights, Hispanic 
Serving Institutions, and Outreach for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers 
with offsets of $8.6 million from the Common Computing Environment 
account;
Pages H6634-35
  Blumenauer amendment that increases funding for the Inspector General 
to enforce animal fighting statutes with offsets of $800,000 from the 
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments account 
(agreed to by recorded vote of 222 ayes to 179 noes, Roll No. 355); 
                                               Pages H6635-38, H6677-78
  Davis of Alabama amendment that increases funding for Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities with offsets of $3.5 million from the 
Common Computing Environment account;
Pages H6638-40
  Bonilla amendment that strikes provision that prohibits funding for 
certain conservation technical assistance programs;
Pages H6650-51
  Kaptur amendment that prohibits the use of any funding to violate 
Public Law 105-264, relating to the use of Federal credit cards by 
Federal Employees;
Page H6656
  Kaptur amendment that prohibits the use of any funding to issue a 
final rule on Cost-Sharing for animal and plant health emergency 
programs;
Page H6656
  Kaptur amendment that prohibits the use of any funding to identify by 
photograph on a department's or agency's website any Member of the 
House of Representatives or the Senate within 60 days before a Federal 
general election;
Page H6656
  Kaptur amendment that increases the funding for the biofuels program 
with offsets of $20 million from the Common Computing Environment 
account.
Page H6656
Rejected:
  Rehberg amendment that sought to strike section 743 that prohibits 
funding to implement country of origin labeling for meat or meat 
products (rejected by recorded vote of 193 ayes to 208 noes, Roll No. 
354);
Pages H6640-48, H6676-77
  Hefley amendment that sought to decrease all discretionary funding by 
one percent (rejected by recorded vote of 68 ayes to 333 noes, Roll No. 
356); and
Pages H6648-49, H6678
  Ackerman amendment that sought to prohibit funding to approve for 
human consumption any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or 
other equines that are unable to stand or walk unassisted at a 
slaughtering, packing, meat-canning, rendering, or similar 
establishment subject to inspection at the point of examination and 
inspection (rejected by recorded vote of 199 ayes to 202 noes, Roll No. 
357);
Pages H6651-55, H6678-79
Withdrawn:
  Holt amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that sought to 
provide funding for education program on the use of biotechnology in 
producing food for human consumption.
Pages H6649-50
  The bill was considered by unanimous consent.
Page H6609
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act: The House disagreed 
with the Senate amendments to H.R. 1, to amend title XVIII of the 
Social Security Act to provide for a voluntary program for prescription 
drug coverage under the Medicare Program, to modernize the Medicare 
Program and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a 
deduction to individuals for amounts contributed to health savings 
security accounts and health savings accounts, to provide for the 
disposition of unused health benefits in cafeteria plans and flexible 
spending arrangements and agreed to a conference. Appointed as 
conferees: Chairman Tauzin, Chairman Thomas and Representatives 
Bilirakis, Johnson of Connecticut, DeLay, Dingell, Rangel, and Berry. 
                                                             Page H6658
  By yea-and-nay vote of 191 yeas to 221 nays, Roll No. 359, rejected 
the Davis of Tennessee motion to instruct conferees: (1) to reject the 
provisions of subtitle C of title II of the House bill and (2) to 
recede to the Senate on the provisions to guarantee access to 
prescription drug coverage under section 1860D-13(e) of the Social 
Security Act, as added by section 101(a) of the Senate amendment. 
                                               Pages H6658-66, H6680-81
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Congratulating Chambers of Commerce: H. Con. Res. 215, honoring and 
congratulating chambers of

[[Page D807]]

commerce for their efforts that contribute to the improvement of 
communities and the strengthening of local and regional economies; 
                                                         Pages H6666-68
  100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Harley-Davidson Motor 
Company: H. Res. 296, recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding 
of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, which has been a significant part 
of the social, economic, and cultural heritage of the United States and 
many other nations and a leading force for product and manufacturing 
innovation throughout the 20th century.
  Pages H6668-70
Suspension Proceedings Postponed--Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act: 
The House completed debate on H.R. 2330, amended, to sanction the 
ruling Burmese military junta, to strengthen Burma's democratic forces 
and support and recognize the National League of Democracy as the 
legitimate representative of the Burmese people. Further proceedings 
were postponed until Tuesday, July 15.
  Pages H6670-76
Motion to Instruct Conferees--Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity 
Act: Representative DeLauro announced her intention to offer a motion 
to instruct conferees on H.R. 1308, Tax Relief, Simplification, and 
Equity Act to include in the conference report (1) the provision of the 
Senate amendment (not included in the House amendment) that provides 
immediate payments to taxpayers receiving an additional credit by 
reason of the bill in the same manner as other taxpayers were entitled 
to immediate payments under the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief 
Reconciliation Act of 2003; (2) the provision of the Senate amendment 
(not included in the House amendment) that provides families of 
military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones 
a child credit based on the earnings of the individuals serving in the 
combat zone; (3) all of the other provisions of the Senate amendment 
and shall not report back a conference report that includes additional 
tax benefits not offset by other provisions; (4) other tax benefits for 
military personnel and the families of the astronauts who died in the 
Columbia disaster. And, House conferees shall, as soon as practicable 
after the adoption of this motion, meet in open session with the Senate 
conferees and the House conferees shall file a conference report 
consistent with the preceding provisions of this instruction, not later 
than Friday, July 18, 2003.
  Page H6682
Presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to Prime Minister Tony 
Blair of the United Kingdom: The House passed S. 709, to award a 
congressional gold medal to Prime Minister Tony Blair--clearing the 
measure for the President.
  Page H6681
Recess: The House recessed at 5:44 p.m. and reconvened at 6:30 p.m. 
                                                             Page H6676
Senate Messages: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H6607.
Referral: S. 886 was referred to the Committee on Resources. 
                                                             Page H6704
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and four recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H6676-77, H6677-78, H6678, H6678-79, H6679-80, and H6680-81. There were 
no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at 11:47 p.m.