[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2452-S2456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 2703. Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Jeffords, and 
Mr. Corzine) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to 
the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 3, line 9, increase the amount by $1,501,000,000.
       On page 3, line 10, increase the amount by $1,629,000,000.
       On page 3, line 11, increase the amount by $1,696,000,000.
       On page 3, line 12, increase the amount by $1,735,000,000.
       On page 3, line 13, increase the amount by $1,754,000,000.
       On page 3, line 17, increase the amount by $1,501,000,000.
       On page 3, line 18, increase the amount by $1,629,000,000.
       On page 3, line 19, increase the amount by $1,696,000,000.
       On page 3, line 20, increase the amount by $1,735,000,000.
       On page 3, line 21, increase the amount by $1,754,000,000.
       On page 4, line 20, increase the amount by $1,501,000,000.
       On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by $1,629,000,000.
       On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by $1,696,000,000.
       On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by $1,735,000,000.
       On page 4, line 24, increase the amount by $1,754,000,000.
       On page 5, line 3, decrease the amount by $1,501,000,000.
       On page 5, line 4, decrease the amount by $3,130,000,000.
       On page 5, line 5, decrease the amount by $4,826,000,000.
       On page 5, line 6, decrease the amount by $6,561,000,000.
       On page 5, line 7, decrease the amount by $8,315,000,000.
       On page 5, line 11, decrease the amount by $1,501,000,000.
       On page 5, line 12, decrease the amount by $3,130,000,000.
       On page 5, line 13, decrease the amount by $4,826,000,000.
       On page 5, line 14, decrease the amount by $6,561,000,000.
       On page 5, line 15, decrease the amount by $8,315,000,000.
       On page 25, line 8, decrease the amount by $1,501,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2704. Mr. CONRAD proposed an amendment to the concurrent 
resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the congressional budget for 
the United States Government for fiscal year 2005 and including the 
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2006 through 2009; as 
follows:

       At the end of title IV, insert the following:

     SEC. __. POINT OF ORDER TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY FIRST.

       (a) Point of Order in the Senate.--It shall not be in order 
     in the Senate to consider any direct spending or revenue 
     legislation that would increase the on-budget deficit in any 
     fiscal year until the budget is balanced without Social 
     Security.
       (b) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--This section may be 
     waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote 
     of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An 
     affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the 
     Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the 
     Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a 
     point of order raised under this section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2705. Mr. VOINOVICH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC.   . BALANCED BUDGET POINT OF ORDER.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), it 
     shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill or 
     resolution (or any amendment, motion, or conference report on 
     that bill or resolution) that would result in an on budget 
     deficit larger than--
       (1) in fiscal year 2004, $639,000,000,000;
       (2) in fiscal year 2005, $575,000,000,000;
       (3) in fiscal year 2006, $511,000,000,000;
       (4) in fiscal year 2007, $447,000,000,000;
       (5) in fiscal year 2008, $383,000,000,000;
       (6) in fiscal year 2009, $319,000,000,000;
       (7) in fiscal year 2010, $255,000,000,000;
       (8) in fiscal year 2011, $191,000,000,000;
       (9) in fiscal year 2012, $127,000,000,000;
       (10) in fiscal year 2013, $63,000,000,000; and
       (11) in fiscal year 2015, $0.
       (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply if--(1) the 
     President has declared a state of national emergency; or (2) 
     the economy is in recession, defined as 3 consecutive 
     quarters of negative growth in Gross Domestic Product.
       (c) Supermajority.--(1) Waiver.--This section may be waived 
     or suspended in the Senate only by the affirmative vote of 
     three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
       (2) Appeals.--Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of 
     the Chair relating to any provision of this section shall be 
     limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and 
     controlled by, the appellant and the manager of the bill or 
     joint resolution, as the case may be. An affirmative vote of 
     three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and 
     sworn, shall be required in the Senate to sustain an appeal 
     of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under 
     this section.
       (d) Exercise of Rulemaking Powers.--Congress adopts the 
     provisions of this section--(1) as an exercise of the 
     rulemaking power of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives, respectively, and as such they shall be 
     considered as part of the rules of each house, or of that 
     house to which they specifically apply, and such rules shall 
     supersede other rules only to the extent that they are 
     inconsistent therewith; and (2) with full recognition of the 
     constitutional right of either house to change those rules 
     (so far as they relate to that house) at any time, in the 
     same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any 
     other rule of that house.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2706. Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. 
Schumer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the congressional 
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2005 and 
including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2006 
through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 3, line 9, increase the amount by $300,000,000.
        On page 3, line 10, increase the amount by $572,000,000.
        On page 3, line 11, increase the amount by $470,000,000.
        On page 3, line 12, increase the amount by $580,000,000.
        On page 3, line 13, increase the amount by $78,000,000.
        On page 3, line 17, increase the amount by $300,000,000.
        On page 3, line 18, increase the amount by $572,000,000.
        On page 3, line 19, increase the amount by $470,000,000.
        On page 3, line 20, increase the amount by $580,000,000.

[[Page S2453]]

        On page 3, line 21, increase the amount by $78,000,000.
        On page 4, line 4, increase the amount by $1,000,000,000.
        On page 4, line 12, increase the amount by $150,000,000.
        On page 4, line 13, increase the amount by $286,000,000.
        On page 4, line 14, increase the amount by $235,000,000.
        On page 4, line 15, increase the amount by $290,000,000.
        On page 4, line 16, increase the amount by $39,000,000.
        On page 4, line 2, increase the amount by $150,000,000.
        On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by $286,000,000.
        On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by $235,000,000.
        On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by $290,000,000.
        On page 4, line 24, increase the amount by $39,000,000.
        On page 5, line 3, decrease the amount by $150,000,000.
        On page 5, line 4, decrease the amount by $436,000,000.
        On page 5, line 5, decrease the amount by $671,000,000.
        On page 5, line 6, decrease the amount by $961,000,000.
        On page 5, line 7, decrease the amount by $1,000,000,000.
        On page 5, line 11, decrease the amount by $150,000,000.
        On page 5, line 12, decrease the amount by $436,000,000.
        On page 5, line 13, decrease the amount by $671,000,000.
        On page 5, line 14, decrease the amount by $961,000,000.
        On page 5, line 15, decrease the amount by $1,000,000,000.
        On page 20, line 17, increase the amount by 
     $1,000,000,000.
        On page 20, line 18, increase the amount by $150,000,000.
        On page 20, line 22, increase the amount by $286,000,000.
        On page 21, line 1, increase the amount by $235,000,000.
        On page 21, line 5, increase the amount by $290,000,000.
        On page 21, line 6, increase the amount by $39,000,000.
        On page 39, line 18, increase the amount by 
     $1,000,000,000.
        On page 39, line 19, increase the amount by $150,000,000.
        On page 40, line 2, increase the amount by $286,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2707. Mr. SANTORUM submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 54, after line 22, insert the following:

     SEC. __. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
                   GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS, AND 
                   MALARIA.

       It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in this 
     concurrent resolution assume that new budget authority and 
     outlays for fiscal year 2005 within the major functional 
     category entitled ``International Affairs (150)'' have been 
     modified--
       (1) by increasing the amount budgeted for the Global Fund 
     to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria by $300,000,000; and
       (2) by decreasing the amount budgeted for bilateral 
     international assistance for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and 
     malaria by $300,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2708. Mr. LUGAR submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 8, line 21, increase the amount by $1,100,000,000.
       On page 8, line 22, increase the amount by $123,000,000.
       On page 8, line 25, increase the amount by $97,000,000.
       On page 9, line 1, increase the amount by $456,000,000.
       On page 9, line 4, increase the amount by $98,000,000.
       On page 9, line 5, increase the amount by $302,000,000.
       On page 9, line 8, increase the amount by $98,000,000.
       On page 9, line 9, increase the amount by $210,000,000.
       On page 9, line 12, increase the amount by $98,000,000.
       On page 9, line 13, increase the amount by $142,000,000.
       On page 23, line 5, decrease the amount by $1,100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 6, decrease the amount by $123,000,000.
       On page 23, line 9, decrease the amount by $97,000,000.
       On page 23, line 10, decrease the amount by $456,000,000.
       On page 23, line 13, decrease the amount by $98,000,000.
       On page 23, line 14, decrease the amount by $302,000,000.
       On page 23, line 17, decrease the amount by $98,000,000.
       On page 23, line 18, decrease the amount by $210,000,000.
       On page 23, line 21, decrease the amount by $98,000,000.
       On page 23, line 22, decrease the amount by $142,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2709. Mr. PRYOR submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. 2/32/32/3. SENSE OF THE SENATE RELATING TO IRA TAX AND 
                   PENALTY HOLIDAY.

       It is the sense of the Senate that this resolution assumes 
     that individuals, within 1 year after exhausting unemployment 
     benefits, be allowed to withdraw up to $15,000 from their 
     individual retirement accounts tax free and without penalty.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2710. Mr. DASCHLE (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Feingold, Mr. 
Reid, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Graham of Florida, Mr. Leahy, Mr. 
Johnson, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lieberman, and Mr. Corzine) proposed an 
amendment to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth 
the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal 
year 2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal 
years 2006 through 2009; as follows:

       On page 3, line 9, increase the amount by $4,860,000,000.
       On page 3, line 10, increase the amount by $486,000,000.
       On page 3, line 11, increase the amount by $22,000,000.
       On page 3, line 12, increase the amount by $5,000,000.
       On page 3, line 17, increase the amount by $4,860,000,000.
       On page 3, line 18, increase the amount by $486,000,000.
       On page 3, line 19, increase the amount by $22,000,000.
       On page 3, line 20, increase the amount by $5,000,000.
       On page 4, line 20, increase the amount by $4,860,000,000.
       On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by $486,000,000.
       On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by $22,000,000.
       On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by $5,000,000.
       On page 5, line 3, decrease the amount by $4,860,000,000.
       On page 5, line 4, decrease the amount by $5,346,000,000.
       On page 5, line 5, decrease the amount by $5,368,000,000.
       On page 5, line 6, decrease the amount by $5,373,000,000.
       On page 5, line 7, decrease the amount by $5,373,000,000.
       On page 5, line 11, decrease the amount by $4,860,000,000.
       On page 5, line 12, decrease the amount by $5,346,000,000.
       On page 5, line 13, decrease the amount by $5,368,000,000.
       On page 5, line 14, decrease the amount by $5,373,000,000.
       On page 5, line 15, decrease the amount by $5,373,000,000.
       At the end of title III, insert the following:
       Sec.     . Reserve Fund for Veterans' Medical Care. The 
     Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate shall 
     revise the aggregates, functional totals, allocations to the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, discretionary 
     spending limits, and other appropriate levels and limits in 
     this resolution by up to $2,700,000,000 in budget authority 
     for fiscal year 2005, and by the amount of outlays flowing 
     therefrom in 2005 and subsequent years, for a bill, joint 
     resolution, motion, amendment, or conference report that 
     provides additional fiscal year 2005 discretionary 
     appropriations, in excess of levels provided in this 
     resolution, for veterans' medical programs, excluding 
     construction projects and a program that provides grants to 
     states to build long-term care facilities, included in this 
     resolution for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2711. Mr. SMITH (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mrs. Lincoln, and 
Mr. Wyden) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
bill H.R. 4, to reauthorize and improve the program of block grants to 
States for temporary assistance for needy families, improve access to 
quality child care, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:


[[Page S2454]]


       On page 230, between lines 22 and 23, insert the following:
       (b) Limitation on Penalty for Failure To Satisfy Minimum 
     Participation Rates for Improving States.--Section 409(a)(3) 
     (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(3)), as amended by section 110(a)(2)(B), is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``If the Secretary'' 
     and inserting ``Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), if the 
     Secretary''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) Limitation on application of penalty for failure to 
     satisfy minimum participation rate to an improving state.--
     Notwithstanding the preceding subparagraphs of this 
     paragraph, in the case of a State that has a minimum 
     participation rate under section 407(a) for the fiscal year 
     that is at least 5 percentage points more than the 
     participation rate determined (taking into account the 
     application of any credit against such rate) under section 
     407(a) for the State for the preceding fiscal year, the 
     Secretary shall not reduce the grant payable to a State under 
     section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year 
     based on the failure of the State to comply with section 
     407(a).''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2712. Mr. DORGAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 4 line 4, decrease the amount by $70,000,000
       On page 4 line 12, decrease the amount by $74,000,000
       On page 4 line 13, decrease the amount by $129,000,000
       On page 4 line 14, decrease the amount by $14,000,000
       On page 4 line 15, increase the amount by $200,000,000
       On page 4 line 16, increase the amount by $17,000,000
       On page 4 line 20, increase the amount by $74,000,000
       On page 4 line 21, increase the amount by $129,000,000
       On page 4 line 22, increase the amount by $14,000,000
       On page 4 line 23, decrease the amount by $200,000,000
       On page 4 line 24, decrease the amount by $17,000,000
       On page 5 line 3, decrease the amount by $74,000,000
       On page 5 line 4, decrease the amount by $203,000,000
       On page 5 line 5, decrease the amount by $217,000,000
       On page 5 line 6, decrease the amount by $17,000,000
       On page 5 line 11, decrease the amount by $74,000,000
       On page 5 line 12, decrease the amount by $203,000,000
       On page 5 line 13, decrease the amount by $217,000,000
       On page 5 line 14, decrease the amount by $17,000,000
       On page 8 line 21, decrease the amount by $1,170,000,000
       On page 8 line 22, decrease the amount by $246,000,000
       On page 9 line 1, decrease the amount by $445,000,000
       On page 9 line 5, decrease the amount by $269,000,000
       On page 9 line 9, decrease the amount by $105,000,000
       On page 9 line 13, decrease the amount by $35,000,000
       On page 20 line 17, increase the amount by $1,100,000,000
       On page 20 line 18, increase the amount by $172,000,000
       On page 20 line 22, increase the amount by $316,000,000
       On page 21 line 1, increase the amount by $255,000,000
       On page 21 line 5, increase the amount by $305,000,000
       On page 21 line 6, increase the amount by $52,000,000
       On page 39 line 18, increase the amount by $1,100,000,000
       On page 39 line 19, increase the amount by $172,000,000
       On page 40 line 2, increase the amount by $316,000,000
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2713. Ms. CANTWELL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by her to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 3, line 9, increase the amount by $192,000,000.
       On page 3, line 10, increase the amount by $991,000,000.
       On page 3, line 11, increase the amount by $261,000,000.
       On page 3, line 12, increase the amount by $31,000,000.
       On page 3, line 13, increase the amount by $15,000,000.
       On page 3, line 17, increase the amount by $192,000,000.
       On page 3, line 18, increase the amount by $991,000,000.
       On page 3, line 19, increase the amount by $261,000,000.
       On page 3, line 20, increase the amount by $31,000,000.
       On page 3, line 21, increase the amount by $15,000,000.
       On page 4, line 4, increase the amount by $745,000,000.
       On page 4, line 12, increase the amount by $96,000,000.
       On page 4, line 13, increase the amount by $495,000,000.
       On page 4, line 14, increase the amount by $130,000,000.
       On page 4, line 15, increase the amount by $16,000,000.
       On page 4, line 16, increase the amount by $7,000,000.
       On page 4, line 20, increase the amount by $96,000,000.
       On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by $495,000,000.
       On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by $130,000,000.
       On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by $16,000,000.
       On page 4, line 24, increase the amount by $7,000,000.
       On page 5, line 3, decrease the amount by $96,000,000.
       On page 5, line 4, decrease the amount by $592,000,000.
       On page 5, line 5, decrease the amount by $722,000,000.
       On page 5, line 6, decrease the amount by $738,000,000.
       On page 5, line 7, decrease the amount by $745,000,000.
       On page 5, line 11, decrease the amount by $96,000,000.
       On page 5, line 12, decrease the amount by $592,000,000.
       On page 5, line 13, decrease the amount by $722,000,000.
       On page 5, line 14, decrease the amount by $738,000,000.
       On page 5, line 15, decrease the amount by $745,000,000.
       On page 15, line 16, increase the amount by $745,000,000.
       On page 15, line 17, increase the amount by $96,000,000.
       On page 15, line 21, increase the amount by $495,000,000.
       On page 15, line 25, increase the amount by $130,000,000.
       On page 16, line 4, increase the amount by $16,000,000.
       On page 16, line 8, increase the amount by $7,000,000.
       On page 39, line 18, increase the amount by $745,000,000.
       On page 39, line 19, increase the amount by $96,000,000.
       On page 40, line 2, increase the amount by $495,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2714. Mr. VOINOVICH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC.--. BALANCED BUDGET POINT OF ORDER.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), it 
     shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill or 
     resolution (or any amendment, motion, or conference report on 
     that bill or resolution) that would result in an on budget 
     deficit larger than--
       (1) in fiscal year 2004, $639,000,000,000;
       (2) in fiscal year 2005, $575,000,000,000;
       (3) in fiscal year 2006, $511,000,000,000;
       (4) in fiscal year 2007, $447,000,000k,000;
       (5) in fiscal year 2008, $383,000,000,000;
       (6) in fiscal year 2009, $319,000,000,000;
       (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply if--(1) the 
     President has declared a state of national emergency; or (2) 
     the economy is in recession, defined as 3 consecutive 
     quarters of negative growth in Gross Domestic Product.
       (c) Supermajority.--(1) Waiver.--This section may be waived 
     or suspended in the Senate only by the affirmative vote of 
     three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An 
     affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the 
     Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the 
     Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a 
     point of order raised under this section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2715. Mr. DeWINE (for himself, Mr. Nelson of Florida, and Mr. 
Coleman) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the congressional 
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2005 and 
including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2006 
through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 8, line 21, increase the amount by $100,000,000.

       On page 8, line 22, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 8, line 25, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 9, line 1, increase the amount by $100,000,000.

[[Page S2455]]

       On page 9, line 4, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 9, line 5, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 9, line 8, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 9, line 9, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 9, line 12, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 9, line 13, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 5, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 6, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 9, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 10, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 13, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 14, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 17, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 18, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 21, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
       On page 23, line 22, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2716. Mr. SANTORUM submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title V, add the following:

     SEC. __. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEING THE 
                   CARE ACT OF 2003 IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE IN 
                   NEED.

       (a) Findings.--The Senate finds that--
       (1) the CARE Act of 2003, the Charity Aid, Recovery, and 
     Empowerment Act of 2003 (S. 272/S. 476 of the 108th 
     Congress), will help people in need by encouraging giving, 
     saving, and fairness;
       (2) the CARE Act of 2003 is important unfinished business 
     since the charity crisis continues as a result of increased 
     social needs and lower charitable giving;
       (3) representing part of the President's Faith-based 
     Initiative, the CARE Act of 2003 will spur charitable giving 
     and assist faith-based organizations which serve the needy;
       (4) more than 1,600 small and large organizations from 
     around the country have endorsed the CARE Act of 2003 and 23 
     bipartisan Senators are cosponsors;
       (5) the CARE Act of 2003 passed the Senate on April 9, 
     2003, by a vote of 95-5;
       (6) the House of Representatives passed companion 
     legislation, the Charitable Giving Act (H.R. 7 of the 108th 
     Congress) on September 17, 2003, by a vote of 408-13;
       (7) charities around the country have been struggling for 
     several years; and
       (8) the CARE Act of 2003 provides--
       (A) 86,000,000 Americans who do not itemize deductions on 
     their Federal tax returns (representing more than two-thirds 
     of American taxpayers, mostly lower and middle income 
     taxpayers), the opportunity to deduct a portion of their 
     charitable contributions;
       (B) incentives for individuals to give tax free 
     contributions from their Individual Retirement Accounts for 
     charitable purposes, which will help a wide range of 
     charities including educational institutions;
       (C) incentives for an estimated $2,000,000,000 worth of 
     food donations from farmers, restaurants, and corporations to 
     help those in need which is estimated to be the equivalent of 
     878,000,000 meals for hungry Americans over 10 years;
       (D) 300,000 low-income, working Americans the opportunity 
     to build assets through matched savings accounts (IDAs) to 
     purchase a home, expand educational opportunity, or start a 
     small business;
       (E) $150,000,000 a year for a Compassion Capital Fund to 
     assist small community and faith-based organizations with 
     technical assistance and expand their capacity to serve; and
       (F) more than $1,300,000,000 of additional finding for the 
     Social Services Block Grant.
       (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate 
     that--
       (1) the CARE Act of 2003 has been bipartisan from the very 
     beginning;
       (2) it is inexcusable that 11 months have passed since the 
     Senate overwhelmingly passed the CARE Act of 2003 and nearly 
     5 months have passed without this bipartisan bill being 
     allowed to go to conference; and
       (3) the Senate should immediately send the bill to a 
     bipartisan conference in order to help those in need.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2717. Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Daschle, Mr. Bingaman, and Mr. Dorgan) submitted an amendment intended 
to be proposed by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, 
setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government 
for fiscal year 2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for 
fiscal years 2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       On page 11, line 9, increase the amount by $343,000,000.
       On page 11, line 10, increase the amount by $84,000,000.
       On page 11, line 14, increase the amount by $84,000,000.
       On page 11, line 18, increase the amount by $84,000,000.
       On page 11, line 22, increase the amount by $53,000,000.
       On page 12, line 1, increase the amount by $38,000,000.
       On page 23, line 5, decrease the amount by $343,000,000.
       On page 23, line 6, decrease the amount by $84,000,000.
       On page 23, line 10, decrease the amount by $84,000,000.
       On page 23, line 14, decrease the amount by $84,000,000.
       On page 23, line 18, decrease the amount by $53,000,000.
       On page 23, line 22, decrease the amount by $38,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2718. Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. Graham of South Carolina, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Levin, 
and Mrs. Clinton) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him 
to the bill S. 1637, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
comply with the World Trade Organization rulings on FSC/ETI benefit in 
a manner that preserves jobs and production activities in the United 
States, to reform and simplify the international taxation rules of the 
United States, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       At the end of the bill, add the following:

                   TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 501. NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING CURRENCY VALUATION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The currency of the People's Republic of China, known 
     as the yuan or renminbi, is artificially pegged at a level 
     significantly below its market value. Economists estimate the 
     yuan to be undervalued by between 15 percent and 40 percent 
     or an average of 27.5 percent.
       (2) The undervaluation of the yuan provides the People's 
     Republic of China with a significant trade advantage by 
     making exports less expensive for foreign consumers and by 
     making foreign products more expensive for Chinese consumers. 
     The effective result is a significant subsidization of 
     China's exports and a virtual tariff on foreign imports.
       (3) The Government of the People's Republic of China has 
     intervened in the foreign exchange markets to hold the value 
     of the yuan within an artificial trading range. China's 
     foreign reserves are estimated to be over $350,000,000,000 as 
     of September 2003, and have increased by over 
     $110,000,000,000 in the last 12 months.
       (4) China's undervalued currency, China's trade advantage 
     from that undervaluation, and the Chinese Government's 
     intervention in the value of its currency violates the spirit 
     and letter of the world trading system of which the People's 
     Republic of China is now a member.
       (5) The Government of the People's Republic of China has 
     failed to promptly address concerns or to provide a 
     definitive timetable for resolution of these concerns raised 
     by the United States and the international community 
     regarding the value of its currency.
       (6) Article XXI of the GATT 1994 (as defined in section 
     2(1)(B) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 
     3501(1)(B))) allows a member of the World Trade Organization 
     to take any action which it considers necessary for the 
     protection of its essential security interests. Protecting 
     the United States manufacturing sector is essential to the 
     interests of the United States.
       (b) Negotiations and Certification Regarding the Currency 
     Valuation Policy of the People's Republic of China.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding the provisions of title I 
     of Public Law 106-286 (19 U.S.C. 2431 note), on and after the 
     date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, unless a certification described in paragraph (2) has 
     been made to Congress, in addition to any other duty, there 
     shall be imposed a rate of duty of 27.5 percent ad valorem on 
     any article that is the growth, product, or manufacture of 
     the People's Republic of China, imported directly or 
     indirectly into the United States.
       (2) Certification.--The certification described in this 
     paragraph means a certification by the President to Congress 
     that the People's Republic of China is no longer acquiring 
     foreign exchange reserves to prevent the appreciation of the 
     rate of exchange between its currency and the United States 
     dollar for purposes of gaining an unfair competitive 
     advantage in international trade. The certification shall 
     also include a determination that the currency of the 
     People's Republic of China has undergone a substantial upward 
     revaluation placing it at or near its fair market value.
       (3) Alternative certification.--If the President certifies 
     to Congress 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act 
     that the People's Republic of China has made a good faith 
     effort to revalue its currency upward placing it at or near 
     its fair market value,

[[Page S2456]]

     the President may delay the imposition of the tariffs 
     described in paragraph (1) for an additional 180 days. If at 
     the end of the 180-day period the President determines that 
     China has developed and started actual implementation of a 
     plan to revalue its currency, the President may delay 
     imposition of the tariffs for an additional 12 months, so 
     that the People's Republic of China shall have time to 
     implement the plan.
       (4) Negotiations.--Beginning on the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with 
     the United States Trade Representative, shall begin 
     negotiations with the People's Republic of China to ensure 
     that the People's Republic of China adopts a process that 
     leads to a substantial upward currency revaluation within 180 
     days after the date of enactment of this Act. Because various 
     Asian governments have also been acquiring substantial 
     foreign exchange reserves in an effort to prevent 
     appreciation of their currencies for purposes of gaining an 
     unfair competitive advantage in international trade, and 
     because the People's Republic of China has concerns about the 
     value of those currencies, the Secretary shall also seek to 
     convene a multilateral summit to discuss exchange rates with 
     representatives of various Asian governments and other 
     interested parties, including representatives of other G-7 
     nations.

                          ____________________