[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 141 (Wednesday, October 8, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1102-D1104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: 28 public bills, H.R. 3259-3286; and; 8 
resolutions, H. Con. Res. 296-300, and H. Res. 392-394 were introduced.
                                                         Pages H9375-77
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H9377-78
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H.R. 1598, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study 
and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
participate in projects within the San Diego Creek Watershed, 
California, (H. Rept. 108-306);
  H.R. 3076, to amend title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to 
ensure graduate opportunities in postsecondary education, amended, (H. 
Rept. 108-307); and
  H.R. 3077, to amend title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to 
enhance international education programs, amended, (H. Rept. 108-308).
  H.R. 135, to establish the ``Twenty-First Century Water Commission'' 
to study and develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy 
to address future water needs, amended, (H. Rept. 108-309, Part 1). 
                                                             Page H9375
Chaplain: The prayer was offered today by Rev. Ky Weekley, Grace 
Covenant Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, Kansas.
  Page H9285
Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act--Conference Report: The House 
agreed to the conference report on H.R. 1474, to facilitate check 
truncation by authorizing substitute checks, to foster innovation in 
the check collection system without mandating receipt of checks in 
electronic form, and to improve the overall efficiency of the Nation's 
payments system, by voice vote.
  Pages H9289-93
  The conference report was considered under a unanimous consent 
agreement reached on Tuesday, October 7.
Page H9289
Pension Funding Equity Act of 2003: The House passed H.R. 3108, to 
amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to temporarily replace the 30-year 
Treasury rate with a rate based on long-term corporate bonds for 
certain pension plan funding requirements and other provisions by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 397 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 535. 
                                               Pages H9293-H9302, H9332
  Pursuant to the unanimous consent agreement, the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute offered by Representative Boehner was considered 
as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and was agreed to by a 
voice vote.
Page H9302
  The bill was considered under a unanimous consent agreement reached 
on Tuesday, October 7.
Page H9302

[[Page D1103]]

Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Adoption Promotion Act of 2003: H.R. 3182, to reauthorize the 
adoption incentive payments program under part E of title IV of the 
Social Security Act;
  Pages H9302-05
  Veterans Benefits Act of 2003: H.R. 2297, amended, to amend title 38, 
United States Code, to modify and improve certain benefits for veterans 
by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 399 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll 
No. 536;
  Pages H9305-12, H9332-33
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read ``to amend title 38, United 
States Code, to improve benefits under laws administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.''
Page H9333
  National Railroad Hall of Fame: H. Res. 342, supporting the National 
Railroad Hall of Fame, Inc., of Galesburg, Illinois, in its endeavor to 
erect a monument known as the National Railroad Hall of Fame; 
                                                         Pages H9312-15
  Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building Designation Act: H.R. 2452, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
339 Hicksville Road in Bethpage, New York, as the ``Brian C. Hickey 
Post Office Building'';
  Pages H9315-16
  Recognizing Ralph Bunche: H. Con. Res. 71, recognizing the importance 
of Ralph Bunche as one of the great leaders of the United States, the 
first African-American Nobel Peace Prize winner, an accomplished 
scholar, a distinguished diplomat, and a tireless campaigner of civil 
rights for people throughout the world;
  Pages H9316-18
  Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month: H. Res. 262, supporting the goals 
and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month;
  Pages H9318-19
  Government Network Security Act of 2003: H.R. 3159, amended, to 
require Federal agencies to develop and implement plans to protect the 
security and privacy of government computer systems from the risks 
posed by peer-to-peer file sharing;
  Pages H9219-20
  District of Columbia Military Retirement Equity Act of 2003: H.R. 
3054, amended, to amend the Policemen and Firemen's Retirement and 
Disability Act to permit military service previously performed by 
members and former members of the Metropolitan Police Department of the 
District of Columbia, the Fire Department of the District of Columbia, 
the United States Park Police, and the United States Secret Service 
Uniformed Division to count as creditable service for purposes of 
calculating retirement annuities payable to such members upon payment 
of a contribution by such members;
  Pages H9320-22
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read ``to amend the Policemen and 
Firemen's Retirement and Disability Act to permit military service 
previously performed by members and former members of the Metropolitan 
Police Department of the District of Columbia, the Fire Department of 
the District of Columbia, the United States Park Police, and the United 
States Secret Service to count as creditable service for purposes of 
calculating retirement annuities payable to such members upon payment 
of a contribution by such members, and for other purposes.'' 
                                                             Page H9322
  Authorizing the President to issue posthumously a commission as major 
general, U.S. Army to William ``Billy'' Mitchell: H.R. 2755, to 
authorize the President to issue posthumously to the late William 
``Billy'' Mitchell a commission as major general, United States Army; 
                                                         Pages H9322-25
  Amending the U.S. Code: H.R. 2998, amended, to amend title 10, United 
States Code, to exempt certain members of the Armed Forces from the 
requirement to pay subsistence charges while hospitalized by a 2/3 yea-
and-nay vote of 399 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 537; 
                                               Pages H9325-27, H9333-34
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read, ``to amend title 10, United 
States Code, to provide permanent authority for the exemption for 
certain members of the uniformed services from an otherwise-applicable 
requirement for the payment of subsistence charges while 
hospitalized.''
Page H9334
  Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: H.R. 408, amended, to provide 
for expansion of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore; 
                                                         Pages H9327-30
  Amending the Mineral Leasing Act: H.R. 3062, amended, to amend the 
Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue 
separately, for the same area, a lease for tar sand and a lease for oil 
and gas; and
  Pages H9330-31
  Conveyance of certain lands in Mendocino National Forest, California: 
H.R. 708, to require the conveyance of certain National Forest System 
lands in Mendocino National Forest, California, to provide for the use 
of the proceeds from such conveyance for National Forest purposes. 
                                                         Pages H9331-32
Recess: The House recessed at 1:38 p.m. and reconvened at 1:49 p.m. 
                                                             Page H9322
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the 
U.S. and Bulgaria: H. Res. 355, commemorating the 100th anniversary of 
diplomatic relations between the United States

[[Page D1104]]

and Bulgaria by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 397 yeas with none voting 
``nay'', Roll No. 538.
  Pages H9334-35
  The bill was debated under suspension of the rules on Tuesday, 
October 7.
Page H9334
Expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives in response 
to the murder of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh: H. Res. 372, 
expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives in response 
to the murder of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh by a 2/3 yea-and-
nay vote of 398 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 539. 
                                                             Page H9335
  The bill was debated under suspension of the rules on Tuesday, 
October 7.
Page H9335
Energy Policy Act of 2003--Motion to Instruct Conferees: The House 
debated the Capps motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 6, to enhance 
energy conservation and research and development, to provide for 
security and diversity in the energy supply for the American people. 
Further proceedings on the motion were postponed until next week. 
                                                         Pages H9336-46
Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act--Motion to Instruct 
Conferees: The House debated the Crowley motion to instruct conferees 
on H.R. 1308, Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act. Further 
proceedings on the motion were postponed until next week. 
                                                         Pages H9346-49
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit--Motion to Instruct Conferees: The 
House debated the Schakowsky motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1, 
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003. Further 
proceedings on the motion were postponed until next week. 
                                                         Pages H9349-54
Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to 
meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 10, further that when it adjourns on 
Friday, it adjourn to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14, and 
further that when the House adjourns on Tuesday, it adjourn to meet at 
2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15.
  Page H9354
Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday 
business of Wednesday, October 15.
  Page H9354
Adjournment: The House met at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at 9:22 p.m.