[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 154 (Wednesday, October 29, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1194-D1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: 21 public bills, H.R. 3385-3405; and 3 
resolutions, H. Con. Res. 314-315 and H. Res. 423, were introduced. 
                                                        Pages H10129-30
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H10130-31
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  Conference report on H.R. 2115, to amend title 49, United States 
Code, to reauthorize programs for the Federal Aviation Administration 
(H. Rept. 108-334);
  H. Res. 421, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with 
respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the 
Committee on Rules (H. Rept. 108-335); and
  H. Res. 422, waiving points of order against the conference report to 
accompany the bill (H.R. 2115) to amend title 49, United States Code, 
to reauthorize programs for the Federal Aviation Administration (H. 
Rept. 108-336).
Page H10129
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
appointed Representative Shaw to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H9985
Chaplain: The prayer was offered today by Rev. Bryce Anderson, Pastor, 
Church of the Living Word in Vincennes, Indiana.
  Page H9985
Departments of Transportation and Treasury Appropriations Act for FY 
2004--Motion to go to conference: The House disagreed to the Senate 
amendment to H.R. 2989, making appropriations for the Departments of 
Transportation and Treasury, and independent agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2004, and agreed to a conference. 
                                                         Pages H9988-89
  The House agreed to the Olver motion to instruct conferees on the 
bill by a voice vote.
Page H9989
  Appointed as conferees: Representatives Istook, Wolf, Lewis (CA), 
Rogers (KY), Tiahrt, Northup, Aderholt, Sweeney, Culberson, Young (FL), 
Hoyer, Olver, Pastor, Kilpatrick, Clyburn, Rothman, and Obey. 
                                                             Page H9989

[[Page D1195]]

Continuing Appropriations for FY 2004: The House agreed to H. Res. 417, 
the rule providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 75, making further 
continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2004, by a yea-and-nay 
vote of 311 yeas to 112 nays, Roll No. 574.
  Pages H9989-91, H9995-96
Interior Department Appropriations Act for FY 2004--Conference Report: 
The House agreed to H. Res. 418, the rule providing for consideration 
of the conference report on H.R. 2691, making appropriations for the 
Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2004, by a yea-and-nay vote of 289 yeas to 136 
nays, Roll No. 575.
  Pages H9991-95, H9996
Recess: The House recessed at 11:22 a.m. and reconvened at 12:05 p.m. 
                                                             Page H9995
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act: H.R. 1720, 
amended, 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, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 417 
yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 576; 
                                          Pages H9996-H10008, H10079-80
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read ``a bill 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, and for other purposes''.
Page H10080
  National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003: Senate amendments to H.R. 
1516, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a 
national cemetery for veterans in southeastern Pennsylvania, by a \2/3\ 
yea-and-nay vote of 412 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 577; 
                                             Pages H10054-58, H10080-81
  Fallen Patriots Tax Relief Act: H.R. 3365, to amend title 10, United 
States Code, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the 
death gratuity payable with respect to deceased members of the Armed 
Forces and to exclude such gratuity from gross income, by a \2/3\ yea-
and-nay vote of 413 yeas with none voting ``nay'' Roll No. 578; 
                                                Pages H10058-62, H10081
  Encouraging China to fulfill its commitments to international trade 
rules: H. Res. 414, to encourage the People's Republic of China to 
fulfill its commitments under international trade agreements, support 
the United States manufacturing sector, and establish monetary and 
financial market reforms, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 411 yeas to 1 
nay, Roll No. 579; and
  Pages H10062-71, H10081-82
  Congratulating the Florida Marlins for winning the 2003 World Series: 
H. Res. 415, congratulating the Florida Marlins for winning the 2003 
World Series.
  Pages H10071-74
Suspension Postponed: The House completed debate on the following 
motions to suspend the rules. Further proceedings were postponed until 
a later date.
  Sense of Congress welcoming President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to the 
United States: H. Con. Res. 302, expressing the sense of Congress 
welcoming President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to the United States on 
October 31, 2003.
  Pages H10074-78
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2003: The House agreed 
to H. Res. 416, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2443, to 
authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2004, to 
amend various laws administered by the Coast Guard, by a voice vote. 
                                                        Pages H10078-79
Recess: The House recessed at 4:07 p.m. and reconvened at 5:00 p.m. 
                                                            Page H10079
Labor/HHS Appropriations--Motion to Instruct Conferees: The House 
agreed to the Obey motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2660, making 
appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, 
and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2004, by a voice vote.
  Pages H10083-90
  Representative DeLauro announced her intention to offer a motion to 
instruct conferees on the bill.
Page H10083
Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act of 2003: Representative 
Becerra announced his intention to offer a motion to instruct conferees 
on H.R. 1308, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to accelerate 
the increase in the refundability of the child tax credit. 
                                                            Page H10082
Energy Policy Act of 2003: The House debated the Eddie Bernice Johnson 
of Texas 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 a later date. 
                                                    Pages H10090-H10106
  Representative Filner announced his intention to offer a motion to 
instruct conferees on the bill.
Page H10083
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003: The House 
debated the Davis of Florida motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1, to

[[Page D1196]]

amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a voluntary 
prescription drug benefit under the Medicare program and to strengthen 
and improve the Medicare program. Further proceedings on the motion 
were postponed until a later date.
  Pages H10106-12
  Representative Capps announced her intention to offer a motion to 
instruct conferees on the bill.
Page H10083
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H9985.
Senate Referral: S. 247 was ordered held at the desk.
  Page H9985
Presidential Messages: Read messages from the President wherein he 
transmitted a report concerning the National Emergency with Respect to 
the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction referred to the 
Committee on International Relations and ordered printed (H. Doc. 108-
138); and a report concerning the National Emergency with Respect to 
Sudan--referred to the Committee on International Relations and ordered 
printed. (H. Doc. 108-139).
  Page H10112
Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
page H10131.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 11:13 p.m.