[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D896-D898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: 92 public bills, H.R. 2896-2987; and 18 
resolutions, H. Con. Res. 260-269, and H. Res. 242-249, were 
introduced.
  Pages H7781-86
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H7786-88
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H.R. 1303, to amend the E-Government Act of 2002 with respect to 
rulemaking authority of the Judicial Conference, amended (H. Rept. 108-
239);
  Conference report on H.R. 2115, to amend title 49, United States 
Code, to reauthorize programs for the Federal Aviation Administration 
(H. Rept. 108-240); and
  H.R. 1561, to amend title 35, United States Code, with respect to 
patent fees, amended (H. Rept. 108-241).
Pages H7718-64, H7781
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
appointed Representative Boozman to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for 
today.
  Page H7621
Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act Motions to Instruct 
Conferees: The House rejected the Solis motion to instruct conferees on 
H.R. 1308, the All American Tax Relief Act by a nay-and-nay vote of 206 
yeas to 216 nays, Roll No. 447, and later rejected the Bishop motion to 
instruct conferees on the bill by a recorded vote of 202 ayes to 221 
noes, Roll No. 449.
  Pages H7622-30, H7644, H7645-46
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations: The House passed H.R. 2859, 
making emergency supplemental appropriations for the FY 2003 by a 
recorded vote of 352 ayes to 60 noes, Roll No. 459. 
                                               Pages H7647-54, H7713-15
  Rejected the Toomey amendment that seeks to offset the cost of the 
bill by rescinding already appropriated unobligated FY03 discretionary 
funds (rejected by a nay-and-nay vote of 111 yeas and 300 nays, Roll 
No. 458).
Pages H7650-54, H7714
  The House agreed to H. Res 339, the rule that provided for 
consideration of the bill and agreed to the Hastings amendment to the 
rule by voice votes. The Hastings amendment made in order an amendment 
to be offered by Representative Toomey or his designee. 
                                                         Pages H7637-44
  Earlier agreed to order the previous question on the rule and the 
amendment by a recorded vote of 219 ayes to 200 noes, Roll No. 448. 
                                                         Pages H7644-45
Late Reports: The Committee on Appropriations received permission to 
have until midnight of July 30 to file a privileged report making 
appropriations for the Departments of Transportation and Treasury, and 
independent agencies for FY04.
  Page H7647
VA/HUD Appropriations: The House passed H.R. 2861, making 
appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and 
Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, boards, 
commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2004, by a nay-and-nay vote of 316 yeas to 109 nays, Roll 
No. 456.
  Pages H7655-H7713

[[Page D897]]

Agreed to:
  Kirk amendment No. 13 printed in the Congressional Record of July 24 
that requires a report on sharing agreements between the Departments of 
Veterans Affairs and Defense;
Page H7682
  Hastings amendment No. 5 printed in the Congressional Record of July 
24 that increases funding for the EPA Environmental Programs and 
Management by $550,000;
Pages H7682-83
  Walsh amendment that strikes language dealing with health effect 
studies on drinking water contaminants, Sec. 408 dealing with 
contracts, and Sec. 409 dealing with American made goods and services; 
                                                             Page H7683
  Dingell Amendment No. 2 printed in the Congressional Record of July 
24 that increases funding for the EPA Office of Enforcement by $1 
million for enforcement of bilateral agreements;
Pages H7683-84
  Fattah amendment to increase funding for Hope VI, public housing 
revitalization program $4.5 million;
Pages H7685-86
  Smith of New Jersey amendment No. 12 printed in the Congressional 
Record of July 24 that restores funding for VA Medical Emergency 
Preparedness Centers (agreed to by a recorded vote of 347 ayes to 77 
noes, Roll No. 451);
Pages H7687-88, H7708-09
  Hall amendment No. 11 printed in the Congressional Record of July 24 
that allocates $15 million for the Space Shuttle Life Extension Program 
to develop concepts to increase crew survivability;
Pages H7688-89
  Capps amendment No. 7 printed in the Congressional Record of July 24 
that increases funding to clean up leaking underground storage tanks by 
$7.3 million;
Pages H7690-91
  Sanders amendment No. 15 printed in the Congressional Record of July 
24 that allows the VA to conduct outreach or marketing to enroll 
veterans in VA programs;
Pages H7691-92
  Nadler amendment that increases funding for the Housing Opportunities 
for Persons with AIDS by $5 million;
Pages H7692-93
  Allen amendment that prohibits EPA from using a numerical estimate 
that devalues the lives of older individuals;
Page H7693
  Lynch amendment No. 8 printed in the Congressional Record of July 24 
that expresses the sense of Congress that no veteran should wait more 
than 30 days for an initial doctors appointment with the VA; 
                                                         Pages H7693-94
  Bishop amendment that continues the ban on human testing of 
pesticides;
Pages H7694-95
  Inslee amendment that increases funding for the EPA Office of 
Compliance and Enforcement by $5.4 million in salaries and expenses for 
54 positions;
Page H7695
  Nadler amendment No. 6 printed in the Congressional Record of July 24 
that increases funding for Section 8 housing vouchers by $150 million 
(agreed to by recorded vote of 217 ayes to 208 noes, Roll No. 453); 
                                                  Pages H7695-99, H7710
  Jackson-Lee amendment that prohibits funds from being used for 
voluntary separation incentive payments unless NASA certifies that such 
payments would not result in a loss of skilled workers; 
                                                      Pages H7699-H7700
Rejected:
  Stearns amendment No. 10 printed in the Congressional Record of July 
24 that sought to increase funding for medical and prosthetic research 
by $5 million (rejected by recorded vote of 154 ayes to 264 noes, Roll 
No. 452);
Pages H7689-90, H7709-10
  Meeks amendment that sought to prohibit funds for terminating 
services by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the medical facility 
in St. Albans, Queens, New York;
Pages H7704-05
  Markey amendment that sought to increases funding for the EPA 
Hazardous Substance Superfund by $114 million (rejected by recorded 
vote of 114 ayes to 309 noes, Roll No. 454);
Pages H7700-02, H7710-11
  Lee amendment that sought to increase funding for Homeless Assistance 
Grants by $83 million (rejected by recorded vote of 192 ayes to 232 
noes, Roll No. 455);
Pages H7705-06, H7711-12
Withdrawn:
  Moran of Kansas amendment No. 16 printed in the Congressional Record 
of July 24, that was offered but subsequently withdrawn, that would 
have increased the reimbursement rate for veterans traveling to health 
care facilities; and
Page H7695
  Moore amendment that was offered but subsequently withdrawn, would 
have required the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress 60 
days before closing any VA hospital.
Page H7704
Point of Order Sustained Against:
  Smith en bloc amendments Nos. 17 and 18 printed in the Congressional 
Record of July 24 that sought to increase funding for veterans health 
care;
Pages H7684-85
  Edwards amendment that sought to increase funding for veterans health 
care;
Pages H7706-08
  H. Res. 338, providing for consideration of the bill was passed by a 
nay-and-nay vote of 229 yeas to 196 nays, Roll No. 450. 
                                                  Pages H7630-37, H7646
Summer District Work Period: The House passed H. Con. Res. 259, 
providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives 
and a conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate, by a nay-and-nay 
vote of 376 yeas to 40 nays, Roll No. 457.
  Page H7713

[[Page D898]]

State Children's Health Insurance Program: The House passed H.R. 2854, 
to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend the 
availability of allotments for fiscal years 1998 through 2001 under the 
State Children's Health Insurance Program.
  Pages H7715-16
Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act: The House passed S. 1015, 
to authorize grants through the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention for mosquito control programs to prevent mosquito-borne 
diseases--clearing the measure for the President.
  Pages H7716-18
Prison Rape Elimination Act: The House passed S. 1435, Prison Rape 
Elimination Act--clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                         Pages H7764-71
Barbara B. Kennelly Post Office, Hartford, Connecticut: The House 
passed H.R. 2746, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 141 Weston Street in Hartford, Connecticut, as the 
``Barbara B. Kennelly Post Office Building.''
  Page H7771
National Marina Day: The House agreed to H. Res. 323, Supporting the 
goals and ideals of National Marina Day.
  Page H7771
Order of Business--District of Columbia Appropriations Act: Agreed by 
unanimous consent to that it be in order at any time for the Speaker as 
though pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 18 to declare the House resolved 
into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for 
consideration of H.R. 2765, District of Columbia Appropriations Act 
which shall proceed according to the order as announced. Subsequently 
agreed that H. Res. 334 be laid on the table.
  Pages H7771-72
Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday 
business of Wednesday, September 3.
  Page H7772
Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to 
meet at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2003, unless it sooner has 
received a message from the Senate transmitting its adoption of H. Con. 
Res. 259, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to 
that concurrent resolution.
  Page H7772
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
appointed Representative Tom Davis of Virginia or if not available to 
perform this duty Representative Wolf or Representative Bartlett to act 
as Speaker pro tempore to sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions 
through September 3, 2003.
  Page H7773
Appointment of Inspector General: The Chair announced the joint 
appointment by the Speaker, Majority leader, and Minority Leader of Mr. 
Steven A. McNamara of Sterling, Virginia to the position of Inspector 
General for the House of Representatives for the 108th Congress 
effective January 3, 2003.
  Page H7773
Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing 
Arts: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of Representative 
Kennedy of Rhode Island to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy 
Center for the Performing Arts.
  Page H7773
United States Holocaust Memorial Council: The Chair announced the 
Speaker's appointment of Representatives Lantos and Frost to the United 
States Holocaust Memorial Council.
  Page H7773
Board of Visitors to the United States Coast Guard Academy: The Chair 
announced the Speaker's appointment of Representative Filner to the 
Board of Visitors to the United States Coast Guard Academy. 
                                                             Page H7773
Senate Messages: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H7715.
Referral: S. Con. Res. 62 was referred to the Committees on Veterans' 
Affairs and International Relations. S. Con. Res. 40 was held at the 
desk.
  Page H7776
Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
page H7788.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Five nay-and-nay votes and eight recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H7644, H7644-45, H7645-46, H7646, H7708-09, H7709-10, H7710, H7710-11, 
H7711-12, H7712, H7713, H7714, and H7714-15. There were no quorum 
calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and pursuant to the provisions of 
H. Con. Res. 259, the House stands adjourned until 4 p.m. on Thursday, 
July 29, 2003, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate 
transmitting its adoption of H. Con. Res. 259, in which case the House 
shall stand adjourned until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3.