[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HEALTHY FORESTS RESTORATION ACT OF 2003

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a 
message from the House of Representatives on the bill (H.R. 1904), to 
improve the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary 
of the Interior to conduct hazardous fuels reduction projects on 
National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands aimed 
at protecting communities, watersheds, and certain other at-risk lands 
from catastrophic wildfire, to enhance efforts to protect watersheds 
and address threats to forest and rangeland health, including 
catastrophic wildfire, across the landscape, and for other purposes.
  The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message 
from the House of Representatives:

       Resolved, That the House disagree to the amendments of the 
     Senate to the bill (H.R. 1904) entitled ``An Act to improve 
     the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
     Secretary of the Interior to plan and conduct hazardous fuels 
     reduction projects on National Forest System lands and Bureau 
     of Land Management lands aimed at protecting communities, 
     watersheds, and certain other at-risk lands from catastrophic 
     wildfire, to enhance efforts to protect watersheds and 
     address threats to forest and rangeland health, including 
     catastrophic wildfire, across the landscape, and for other 
     purposes'', and ask a conference with the Senate on the 
     disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon.
       Ordered, That the following Members be the managers of the 
     conference on the part of the House:
       From the Committee on Agriculture, for consideration of the 
     House bill and the Senate amendments, and modifications 
     committed to conference: Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Boehner, Mr. 
     Jenkins, Mr. Gutknecht, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Stenholm, Mr. Peterson 
     of Minnesota, and Mr. Dooley of California.
       From the Committee on Resources, for consideration of the 
     House bill and the Senate amendments, and modifications 
     committed to conference: Mr. Pombo, Mr. McInnis, Mr. Walden 
     of Oregon, Mr. Renzi, Mr. George Miller of California, and 
     Mr. Inslee.
       From the Committee on the Judiciary, for consideration of 
     sections 106 and 107 of the House bill, and sections 105, 
     106, 1115, and 1116 of the Senate amendment and modifications 
     committed to conference: Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Smith of 
     Texas, and Mr. Conyers.

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate insist 
on its amendments and agree to the request of the House on a conference 
of the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon, and the Chair be 
authorized to appoint conferees on behalf of the Senate with a ratio of 
4 to 3.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Presiding Officer (Mr. Smith) appointed Mr. Cochran, Mr. 
McConnell, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Leahy and Mr. 
Daschle conferees on the part of the Senate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I thank the leader. It, indeed, is 
good news that this bill is coming over. It is my understanding that we 
have had successful negotiations. I am very hopeful there will be a 
bill before us shortly.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________