[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 28, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D31-D32]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                        Wednesday, January 28, 2004

[[Page D31]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 3108, Pension Funding Equity Act.
      The House passed S. 610, NASA Workforce Flexibility Act of 2003--
      clearing the measure for the President.
      The House passed S. 1920, to extend for 6 months the period for 
      which chapter 12 of title 11 of the United States Code is 
      reenacted.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S293-S331
Measures Introduced: Six bills and three resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2034-2039, S. Res. 293-294, and S. Con. Res. 87. 
                                                          Pages S320-21
Measures Passed:
  Pension Funding Equity Act: By 86 yeas to 9 nays (Vote No. 5), Senate 
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, after taking action on the following amendments proposed 
thereto:                                                
  Pages S294-S304
Adopted:
  Grassley Amendment No. 2233, of a perfecting nature.    
Pages S294-98
Rejected:
  Specter Amendment No. 2263 (to Amendment No. 2233), to provide for 
the restoration of certain plans terminating in 2003 (upon division, a 
majority of the Senators present and not having voted in the 
affirmative, Senate failed to agree to the amendment).    
Pages S296-97
  Kyl Amendment No. 2236 (to Amendment No. 2233), to restrict an 
employer that elected an alternative deficit reduction contribution 
from applying for a funding waiver.                       
Pages S297-98
Safe Transportation Equity Act: Senate began consideration of the 
motion to proceed to S. 1072, to authorize funds for Federal-aid 
highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs. 
                                                          Pages S328-29
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the bill and, in 
accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Monday, February 2, 2004. 
                                                              Page S328
Messages From the President: Senate received the following messages 
from the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of Presidential 
Determination 2003-39 relative to classified information concerning the 
Air Force's Operating Location Near Groom Lake, Nevada; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works. (PM-60)            
Page S319
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a statement of justification relative 
to the Australia Group chemical and biological weapons nonproliferation 
regime; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (PM-61)        
Page S319
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By unanimous vote of 95 yeas (Vote No. 6), Gary L. Sharpe, of New 
York, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of 
New York.                                          
Pages S304-307, S330
  22 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  7 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Navy.                 
Page S331
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Linda Mysliwy Conlin, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for a term 
expiring January 20, 2007.
  Eugene Hickok, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy Secretary of Education.

[[Page D32]]


  Pamela M. Iovino, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Congressional Affairs).
  Alphonso R. Jackson, of Texas, to be Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development.
  1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, MarineCorps. 
                                                          Pages S329-30
Messages From the House:                                      
  Page S320
Measures Referred:                                            
  Page S320
Executive Reports of Committees:                              
  Page S320
Additional Cosponsors:                                        
  Page S321
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:               
  Pages S321-26
Additional Statements:                                    
  Pages S318-19
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                             
  Pages S326-27
Authority for Committees to Meet:                             
  Page S327
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--6 ) 
                                                       Pages S299, S307
Adjournment: Senate convened at 11 a.m., and adjourned at 6:42 p.m., 
until 11 a.m., on Thursday, January 29, 2004 for a pro forma session. 
(For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in 
today's Record on page S329.)