[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 170 (Friday, November 21, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1321-D1324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: 78 public bills, H.R. 3568-3645; 4 private bills, 
H.R. 3646-3649; and 20 resolutions, H.J. Res. 79-81; H. Con. Res. 336-
344, and H. Res. 462, 466-472, were introduced.         
  Pages H12306-10
Additional Cosponsors:                                  
  Pages H12310-12
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows today:
  H.R. 1629, to clarify that the Upper Missouri River Breaks National 
Monument does not include within its boundaries any privately owned 
property (H. Rept. 108-392);
  H.R. 2896, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove 
impediments in such Code and make our manufacturing, service, and high-
technology businesses and workers more competitive and productive both 
at home and abroad, amended, (H. Rept. 108-393);
  H. Res. 463, waiving points of order against the conference report to 
accompany the bill (H.R. 1) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security 
Act to provide for a voluntary program for prescription drug coverage 
under the Medicare Program, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
to allow a deduction to individuals for amounts contributed to health 
savings security accounts and health savings accounts, to provide for 
the disposition of unused health benefits in cafeteria plans and 
flexible spending arrangements, (H. Rept. 108-394);
  Efforts to Rightsize the U.S. Presence Abroad Lack Urgency and 
Momentum (H. Rept. 108-395);
  Conference report on H.R. 2622, to amend the Fair Credit Reporting 
Act, to prevent identity theft, improve resolution of consumer 
disputes, improve the accuracy of consumer records, make improvements 
in the use of, and consumer access to, credit information, (H. Rept. 
108-396);
  H.R. 2696, to establish Institutes to demonstrate and promote the use 
of adaptive ecosystem management to reduce the risk of wildfires, and 
restore the health of fire-adapted forest and woodland ecosystems of 
the interior West, amended, (H. Rept. 108-397, Pt. 1);
  H. Res. 464, providing for consideration of a joint resolution 
appointing the day for the convening of the second session of the One 
Hundred Eighth Congress (H. Rept. 108-398);
  H. Res. 465, 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. 108-399); and

[[Page D1322]]


  H.R. 958, to authorize certain hydrographic services programs, to 
name a cove in Alaska in honor of the late Able Bodied Seaman Eric 
Steiner Koss, amended, (H. Rept. 108-400). 
                                            Pages H12198-H12213, H12306
Consideration of measures under suspension of the rules: The House 
agreed to H. Res. 456, providing for consideration of motions to 
suspend the rules by a voice vote.                      
  Pages H12107-13
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003: The House agreed to the 
conference report on 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, by a yea-and-nay vote of 286 yeas to 140 nays, Roll No. 656.
                                                        Pages H12159-72
  Agreed to H. Res. 457, the rule providing for consideration of the 
conference report, by voice vote.                       
Pages H12113-17
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Highlands Stewardship Act: H.R. 1964, amended, to establish the 
Highlands Stewardship Area in the States of Connecticut, New Jersey, 
New York, and Pennsylvania;                             
  Pages H12118-21
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read, a bill to assist the States 
of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in conserving 
priority lands and natural resources in the Highlands region, and for 
other purposes.                                             
Page H12121
  Twenty-First Century Water Commission Act of 2003: H.R. 135, amended, 
to establish the ``Twenty-First Century Water Commission'' to study and 
develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address 
future water needs;                                     
  Pages H12121-25
  Conveyance of a decommissioned NOAA ship: H.R. 2584, amended, to 
provide for the conveyance to the Utrok Atoll local government of a 
decommissioned National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship; 
                                                        Pages H12125-26
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read, a bill to provide for the 
conveyance to the Utrok Atoll local government of a decommissioned 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship, and for other 
purposes.                                                   
Page H12126
  Predisaster Mitigation Program Reauthorization Act of 2003: H.R. 
3181, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act to reauthorize the predisaster mitigation program; 
                                                        Pages H12126-29
  United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003: S. 
1152, to reauthorize the United States Fire Administration--clearing 
the measure for the President;                          
  Pages H12129-33
  Condemning the terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey on November 15, 
2003: H. Res. 453, amended, condemning the terrorist attacks in 
Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15, 2003, expressing condolences to the 
families of the individuals murdered and expressing sympathies to the 
individuals injured in the terrorist attacks, and standing in 
solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism, by a \2/3\ yea-
and-nay vote of 426 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 657; 
                                                Pages H12133-37, H12173
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read, a resolution condemning the 
terrorist attacks on Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15 and 20, 2003, 
expressing condolences to the families of the individuals murdered and 
expressing sympathies to the individuals injured in the terrorist 
attacks, and expressing solidarity with Turkey and the United Kingdom 
in the fight against terrorism.                             
Page H12137
  Department of Veterans Affairs Long-Term Care and Personal 
Authorities Enhancement Act of 2003: S. 1156, to amend title 38, United 
States Code, to improve and enhance the provision of health care for 
veterans, to authorize major construction projects and other facilities 
matters for the Department of Veterans Affairs, to enhance and improve 
authorities relating to the administration of personnel of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 423 yeas 
to 2 nays, Roll No. 658;                        
  Pages H12137-57, H12173
  Supporting the National Bone Marrow Program: H. Con. Res. 206, 
supporting the National Marrow Donor Program and other bone marrow 
donor programs and encouraging Americans to learn about the importance 
of bone marrow donation, by \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 423 yeas to 2 
nays, Roll No. 663;                          
  Pages H12157-59, H12226-27
  Can-SPAM Act of 2003: S. 877, amended, to regulate interstate 
commerce by imposing limitations and penalties on the transmission of 
unsolicited commercial electronic mail via the Internet, by a \2/3\ 
yea-and-nay vote of 392 yeas to 5 nays, Roll No. 671; 
                                             Pages H12186-98, H12297-98
  Fair Credit Reporting Act: Conference report on H.R. 2622, to amend 
the Fair Credit Reporting Act, to prevent identity theft, improve 
resolution of consumer disputes, improve the accuracy of consumer

[[Page D1323]]

records, make improvements in the use of, and consumer access to, 
credit information, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 379 yeas to 49 nays, 
with one voting ``present'', Roll No. 667. 
                                            Pages H12198-H12224, H12247
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003--Consideration 
of Conference Report: The House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 
1, to 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, by a vote of 220 yeas to 
215 nays, Roll No. 669. Following the vote on agreeing to the 
conference report, the House agreed to table the motion to reconsider 
by a yea-and-nay vote of 210 yeas to 193 nays, Roll No. 670. 
                                             Pages H12174-81, H12247-97
  Rejected the Turner of Texas motion to recommit the conference report 
to the conference committee with instructions, by a recorded vote of 
211 ayes to 222 noes, Roll No. 668.                     
Pages H12294-95
  Agreed to H. Res. 463, the rule providing for consideration of the 
report, by a recorded vote of 225 ayes to 205 noes, Roll No. 666, after 
agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 228 
yeas to 204 nays, Roll No. 665.                         
Pages H12230-46
  Agreed to H. Res. 459, the rule providing for same day consideration 
of the conference report, by a yea-and-nay vote of 228 yeas to 200 
nays, Roll No. 660, after agreeing to order the previous question by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 225 yeas to 202 nays, Roll No. 659. 
                                             Pages H12174-81, H12224-25
Rule for consideration of continuing appropriations measure and/or 
general appropriations bills: The House agreed to H. Res. 458, the rule 
providing for same day consideration of a measure making further 
continuing appropriations for FY 2004 or a measure making general 
appropriations for FY 2004, by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 203 
nays, Roll No. 662, after agreeing to order the previous question on 
the resolution by a yea-and-nay vote of 225 yeas to 202 nays, Roll No. 
661.                                         
  Pages H12181-86, H12225-26
National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2004: The House 
agreed by unanimous consent to discharge from committee and pass S. 
1768, to extend the national flood insurance program.       
  Page H12227
  Agreed to the Oxley amendment in the nature of a substitute by voice 
vote.                                                       
Page H12227
Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2004: The House agreed to 
H.J. Res. 79, making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 
2004, by a yea-and-nay vote of 407 yeas to 16 nays, Roll No. 664. 
                                                        Pages H12228-30
  The resolution was considered under a unanimous consent agreement. 
                                                            Page H12228
Recess: The House recessed at 8:04 p.m. and reconvened at 8:50 p.m. 
                                                            Page H12229
National Prison Rape Reduction Commission: Read a letter from the 
Minority Leader wherein she appointed Ms. Brenda V. Smith of the 
District of Columbia to the Prison Rape Reduction Commission.
Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourn today, it adjourn to 
meet at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, November 25.                 
  Page H12298
Convening of the 2nd Session of the 108th Congress: The House passed by 
unanimous consent H. J. Res. 80, setting the convening day of the 2nd 
session of the 108th Congress as January 20, 2004.          
  Page H12298
Adjournment Resolution: The House agreed by unanimous consent to H. 
Con. Res. 339, providing for the sine die adjournment of the One 
Hundred Eighth Congress, First Session.                     
  Page H12298
National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization Act of 2003: The 
House by unanimous consent S. 579, to reauthorize the National 
Transportation Safety Board.                            
  Pages H12298-99
Hometown Heroes Survivor's Benefits Act of 2003: The House passed by 
unanimous consent S. 459, amended to ensure that a public safety 
officer who suffers a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty shall 
be presumed to have died in the line of duty for purposes of public 
safety officer survivor benefits.                   
  Pages H12299-H12300
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on 
pagesH12126, H12157, H12186, H12224, H12246, and H12247.
Senate Referral: S. 1561 was referred to the Committee on Government 
Reform; S. 1741 and S. 579 were ordered held at the desk.   
  Page H12300
Quorum Calls--Votes: 13 yea-and-nay votes and three recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H12171-72, H12172-73, H12173, H12224, H12224-25, H12225-26, H12226, 
H12226-27, H12230, H12245-46, H12246, H12247, H12295, H12295-96, 
H12296-97, and H12297-98. There were no quorum calls.
Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
page H12312.
Adjournment: The House met at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at 6:32 a.m. on 
Saturday, November 22.

[[Page D1324]]