[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 15, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D814-D818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: 26 public bills, H.R. 2725-2750; and 4 
resolutions, H. Con. Res. 243-244, and H. Res. 317-318, were 
introduced.
  Pages H6867-69
Additional Cosponsors:
  Page H6869
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H.R. 2473, 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, amended (H. Rept. 
108-178, Pt. 2);
  H. Res. 317, dismissing the election contest relating to the office 
of Representative from the Second Congressional District of Hawaii (H. 
Rept. 108-207);
  H. Res. 318, dismissing the election contest relating to the office 
of Representative from the Sixth Congressional District of Tennessee 
(H. Rept. 108-208);
  H. Res. 319, providing for consideration of H.R. 2691, making 
appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 (H. Rept. 108-209);
  H.R. 1720, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry 
out construction projects for the purpose of improving, renovating, 
establishing, and updating patient care facilities at Department of 
Veterans Affairs medical centers, amended (H. Rept. 108-210); and
  H.R. 2297, to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify and 
improve certain benefits for veterans, amended (H. Rept. 108-211). 
                                                             Page H6867
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
appointed Representative Chocola to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for 
today.
  Page H6709
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Dr. Barry 
C. Black, Chaplain, United States Senate.
  Page H6709
Recess: The House recessed at 9:04 a.m. and reconvened at 10 a.m. 
                                                             Page H6709
Dismissing Second Congressional District of Hawaii Election Contest: 
The House agreed to H. Res. 317, dismissing the election contest 
relating to the office of Representative from the Second Congressional 
District of Hawaii.
  Pages H6710-11

[[Page D815]]

Dismissing Sixth Congressional District of Tennessee Election Contest: 
The House agreed to H. Res. 318, dismissing the election contest 
relating to the office of Representative from the Sixth Congressional 
District of Tennessee.
  Page H6711
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Unveiling of the Statue of Sacagawea for Display in Statuary Hall: H. 
Con. Res. 236, permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a 
ceremony to commemorate the unveiling of the statue of Sacagawea 
provided by the State of North Dakota for display in Statuary Hall; 
                                                         Pages H6711-13
  Smithsonian Facilities Authorization Act: H.R. 2195, to provide for 
additional space and resources for national collections held by the 
Smithsonian Institution; and
  Pages H6713-15
  Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act: Debated on July 14, 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 
(agreed by yea-and-nay vote of 418 yeas to 2 nays with 1 voting 
``present'', Roll No. 361.
  Pages H6724-25
Foreign Relations Authorization Act: The House completed general debate 
and considered amendments to H.R. 1950, to authorize appropriations for 
the Department of State for the fiscal years 2004 and 2005 and 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. Consideration will resume on Wednesday, July 16. 
                                                      Pages H6725-H6824
  Smith of New Jersey amendment No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that 
sought to strike funding for the United Nations Population Fund (to by 
recorded vote of 216 ayes to 211 noes, Roll No. 362); 
                                                  Pages H6766-72, H6789
  Kolbe amendment No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that amends Hyde 
amendment No. 2 and clarifies the responsibility of the United States 
Agency for International Development and the State Department to the 
Millennium Challenge Corporation;
Pages H6788-89
  Hyde amendment No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 108-206, as amended, that 
establishes the Millennium Challenge Corporation to assist eligible 
countries achieve lasting economic growth and poverty reduction and 
expands the Peace Corps by doubling the number of volunteers to 14,000 
by 2007;
Pages H6772-85, H6790
  Menendez amendment No. 10 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that limit 
assistance to Tamil Nadu, India;
Pages H6795-96
  Hyde en bloc amendment, as modified, consisting of amendments printed 
in H. Rept. 108-206 and No. 12, special rules for applying Buy American 
Act; No. 13, preference for United States contractors; No. 14, Sense of 
Congress concerning Visas for Russian Weapons Scientists; No. 15, 
Resources for Embassies and Consulates; No. 16, Designation of Foreign 
Terrorist Organizations; No. 18, as modified, International Child 
Abduction; No. 19, Protection of Foreign Missions and Officials; 
                                                         Pages H6797-99
  No. 20, Interference With Law Enforcement Protective Functions; No. 
21, Sense of Congress Regarding Security for Taiwan; No. 22, Sense of 
Congress in Appreciation of the Armed Forces and Restoring Stability 
and Security in Iraq; No. 23, Treatment of Territories and Possessions 
as Part of the Geographic United States for Transfer Allowances; No. 
24, Report on Observer Status for Taiwan at the Summit of the World 
Health Assembly; No. 25, as modified, Attacks on United States Citizens 
by Palestinian Terrorists; No. 26, Sense of Congress and Report 
Concerning Wastewater Treatment and the International Boundary and 
Water Commission, United States, and Mexico; No. 27, Transfer of Naval 
Vessels to Foreign Countries; No. 28, Security Capital Cost-Sharing 
Program; No. 29, Technical Corrections; No. 30, Democratic Policing 
Exemption; No. 31, Afghan Women's fund;
Pages H6799-H6803
  No. 34, Conditions on Non-Humanitarian Assistance to Vietnam; No. 35, 
Architectural Integrity of United States Embassies, Consulates and 
Other Diplomatic Buildings; No. 36, Sense of Congress Concerning the 
State Department's Authority on Intercountry Adoption; No. 38, as 
modified, Sense of Congress Regarding Migration Issues Between the 
United States and Mexico; No. 39, Irish Peace Cultural and Training 
Program Extension; No. 40, Transfer of Aircraft to Army Aviation 
Heritage Foundation; and No. 42, Condition of the Provision of 
International Military Education and Training funds to Indonesia. 
                                                         Pages H6803-15
  Hostettler amendment No. 17 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that directs 
the Secretary of State to issue regulations with respect to the 
issuance by foreign missions in the United States of consular 
identification cards to foreign nationals residing in the United States 
(agreed to by recorded vote of 226 ayes to 198 noes, Roll No. 367); 
                                               Pages H6815-18, H6820-21

[[Page D816]]


  Rangel amendment No. 32 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that expands 
assistance to combat HIV/AIDS to certain countries of the Caribbean 
region;
                                                         Pages H6821-22
  Sherman amendment No. 33 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that states 
United States policy concerning the democracy in Iran and the 
condemning the brutal treatment and torture of Iranian civilians 
expressing political dissent;
                                                         Pages H6822-23
  McKeon amendment No. 37 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that expresses 
the Sense of Congress regarding the extradition of violent criminals 
from Mexico to the United States;
                                                             Page H6823
  Waters amendment No. 41 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that requires a 
report on the progress made in modifying the Enhanced Heavily Indebted 
Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.
                                                         Pages H6823-24
                                                              Rejected:
  Kolbe amendment No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 108-206, as modified, to 
the Hyde amendment that sought to accelerate the eligibility for lower 
middle income countries in fiscal year 2005 through 2006 (rejected by 
recorded vote of 110 ayes to 313 noes, Roll No. 363); 
                                                  Pages H6785-88, H6790
  Paul amendment No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that sought to 
prohibit funding for any United States contribution to the United 
Nations or any affiliated agency of the United Nations (rejected by 
recorded vote of 74 ayes to 350 noes, Roll No. 364); 
                                                  Pages H6790-92, H6818
  King amendment No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that sought to limit 
United States share of United Nations assessments to that of the 
largest assessed contribution of any other permanent member country of 
the United States Security Council (rejected by recorded vote of 187 
ayes to 237 noes, Roll No. 365);
                                                  Pages H6792-94, H6819
  Tauscher amendment No. 8 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 that sought to 
allow exporters of commercial communications satellites to transfer 
marketing information to a member country of the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO) or to Australia, Japan, or New Zealand (rejected by 
recorded vote of 207 ayes to 219 noes, Roll No. 366); 
                                               Pages H6794-95, H6819-20
                                                             Withdrawn:
  Kennedy of Minnesota amendment No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 was 
offered but subsequently withdrawn that sought to clarify that public 
and private sector expenditures should be included when considering 
eligibility;
                                                             Page H6785
  Weldon of Pennsylvania amendment No. 11 printed in H. Rept. 108-206 
was offered but subsequently withdrawn that sought to prohibit 
assistance to the Republic of Moldova;
                                                         Pages H6796-97
  The House agreed to H. Res. 316, the rule that is providing for 
consideration of the bill by yea-and-nay vote of 222 yeas to 201 nays, 
Roll No. 360.
                                                         Pages H6715-24
Motion to Instruct Conferees--All American Tax Relief Act: 
Representative Michaud announced his 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 the second 
legislative day after adoption of this motion.
  Pages H6824-25
Aviation Investment and Revitalization Vision Act: The House disagreed 
with the Senate amendment to H.R. 2115, to amend title 49, United 
States Code, to reauthorize programs for the Federal Aviation 
Administration, and agreed to a conference.
  Pages H6825-26
  Appointed as conferees: From the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, for consideration of the House bill and the Senate 
amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Chairman Young of 
Alaska and Representatives Mica, Ehlers, Hayes, Rehberg, Isakson, 
Oberstar, DeFazio, Boswell, and Holden. From the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce for consideration of section 521 of the House bill and 
section 508 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committee to 
conference: Chairman Tauzin and Barton of Texas and Dingell. From the 
Committee on Government Reform for consideration of sections 404 and 
438 of the House bill and section 108 of the Senate amendment, and 
modifications committed to conference: Chairman Tom Davis of Virginia 
and Representatives Shays

[[Page D817]]

and Waxman. From the Committee on the Judiciary, for consideration of 
sections 106, 301, 405, 505, and 507 of the Senate amendment, and 
modifications committed to conference: Chairman Sensenbrenner and 
Representatives Coble and Conyers.
                                                             Page H6826
  From the Committee on Resources, for consideration of sections 204 
and 409 of the House bill and section 201 of the Senate amendment, and 
modifications committed to conference: Chairman Pombo and 
Representatives Gibbons and Rahall. Provided that Representative Renzi 
is appointed in lieu of Chairman Pombo for consideration of section 409 
of the House bill, and modifications committed to conference. From the 
Committee on Science, for consideration of section 102 of the House 
bill and sections 102, 104, 621, 622, 641, 642, 661, 662, 663, 667, and 
669 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: 
Chairman Boehlert and Representatives Rohrabacher and Costello. From 
the Committee on Ways and Means, for consideration of title VI of the 
House bill and title VII of the Senate amendment, and modifications 
committed to conference: Chairman Thomas and Representatives Camp and 
Rangel.
                                                             Page H6826
  Agreed to the DeFazio motion to instruct conferees to insist upon a 
total level of funding of not less that $59 billion for programs 
authorized pursuant to sections 101 through 103 of the bill including 
not less than (1) 14.8 billion for Federal Aviation Administration 
operations; (2) $12.294 billion for air navigation facilities and 
equipment; and (3) $31.276 billion for airport planning and development 
and noise compatibility planning and programs.
                                                         Pages H6825-26
Project BioShield Act--Order of Business: Agreed that it be in order at 
any time without intervention of any point of order to consider in the 
House, H.R. 2122, to enhance research, development, procurement, and 
use of biomedical countermeasures to respond to public health threats 
affecting national security; that the bill be considered as read; that 
in lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committee on Government 
Reform and the Select Committee on Homeland Security now printed in the 
bill, an amendment in the nature of a substitute placed at the desk be 
considered as adopted; that all points of order against the bill, as 
amended, be waived; that the bill be debatable for 90 minutes, equally 
divided and controlled; that the previous question be considered as 
ordered on the bill as amended, to final passage without intervening 
motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions. 
                                                         Pages H6834-41
Motion to Instruct Conferees--All American Tax Relief Act: The House 
completed debate on the DeLauro 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. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. 
                                                         Pages H6826-34
Presidential Messages: Read the following messages from the President:
  United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement: Message wherein he 
transmitted legislation and supporting documents to implement the 
United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement--referred to the 
Committees on Ways and Means and the Judiciary and ordered printed (H. 
Doc. 108-100); and
  Page H6834
  United States-Chile Trade Agreement: Message wherein he transmitted 
legislation and supporting documents to implement the United States-
Chile Free Trade Agreement--referred to the Committees on Ways and 
Means and the Judiciary and ordered printed (H. Doc. 108-101). 
                                                         Pages H6841-42
Senate Messages: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H6709.
Referral: S. 1233 was referred to the Committees on Resources and the 
Judiciary. S. 1289 was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. 
                                                             Page H6865
Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
pages H6869-70.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and six recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H6724, H6724-25, H6789, H6790, H6818, H6819,

[[Page D818]]

H6819-20, and H6820-21. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 11:13 p.m.