[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 39 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D291-D292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: 19 public bills, H.R. 4030-4048; 1 private bill, 
H.R. 4049; and 8 resolutions, H.J. Res. 91; H. Con. Res. 396-399, and 
H. Res. 577-579, were introduced.
  Pages H1592-93
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H1593-94
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 2523, to designate the United States courthouse located at 125 
Bull Street in Savannah, Georgia, as the ``Tomochichi United States 
Courthouse'' (H. Rept. 108-447);
  H.R. 2538, to designate the United States courthouse located at 400 
North Miami Avenue in Miami, Florida, as the ``Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. 
United States Courthouse'' (H. Rept. 108-448);
  H.R. 3147, to designate the Federal building located at 324 Twenty-
Fifth Street in Ogden, Utah, as the ``James V. Hansen Federal 
Building'', amended (H. Rept. 108-449); and
  H.R. 3713, to designate the Federal building located at 250 West 
Cherry Street in Carbondale, Illinois the ``Senator Paul Simon Federal 
Building'' (H. Rept. 108-450).
Page H1592
Budget Resolution for FY 2005: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 393, 
establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government 
for fiscal year 2005 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for 
fiscal years 2004 and 2006 through 2009, by a yea-and-nay vote of 215 
yeas to 212 nays, Roll No. 92. The measure was also considered on 
Wednesday, March 24.
  Pages H1495-H1565
Rejected:
  Cummings amendment in the nature of a substitute (Congressional Black 
Caucus) printed in H. Rept. 108-446 that provides for $43.3 billion in 
additional spending and $5 billion for deficit reduction in FY 2005 
(rejected by a recorded vote of 119 ayes to 302 noes, Roll No. 88); 
                                                      Pages H1499-H1508
  Stenholm amendment in the nature of a substitute (Blue Dog Coalition) 
printed in H. Rept. 108-446 that balances the budget by 2012 and cuts 
the deficit in half in the next two years (rejected by a recorded vote 
of 183 ayes to 243 noes, Roll No. 89);
Pages H1508-22
  Hensarling amendment in the nature of a substitute (Republican Study 
Committee) printed in H. Rept. 108-446 that calls for more tax cuts and 
less discretionary spending and would cut the deficit in half in three 
years (rejected by a recorded vote of 116 ayes to 309 noes, Roll No. 
90); and
Pages H1522-34
  Spratt amendment in the nature of a substitute (Democratic 
substitute) printed in H. Rept. 108-446 that projects a balanced budget 
in FY 2012, with $1.5 trillion less public debt than the resolution 
(rejected by a recorded vote of 194 ayes to 232 noes, Roll No. 91). 
                                                         Pages H1535-53
  Agreed by unanimous consent to the modification of the amendment 
offered by Representative Spratt that is printed in H. Rept. 108-446. 
                                                             Page H1547
  H. Res. 574, the rule providing for further consideration of the 
concurrent resolution was agreed to by a voice vote after agreeing to 
order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 222 yeas to 201 
nays, Roll No. 84.
Pages H1487-93
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures which were debated on Wednesday, March 24:
  Community Recognition Act of 2003: H.R. 3095, amended, to amend title 
4, United States Code, to make sure the rules of etiquette for flying 
the flag of the United States do not preclude the flying of flags at 
half mast when ordered by city and

[[Page D292]]

local officials, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 374 yeas to 2 nays, 
Roll No. 93;
  Pages H1565-66
  Bureau of Engraving and Printing Security Printing Act of 2004: H.R. 
3786, to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to produce currency, 
postage stamps, and other security documents at the request of foreign 
governments on a reimbursable basis, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 422 
yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 85;
  Pages H1493-94
  District of Columbia and United States Territories Circulating 
Quarter Dollar Program Act: H.R. 2993, to provide for a circulating 
quarter dollar coin program to honor the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States 
Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 414 yeas to 14 nays, Roll No. 86; and 
                                                             Page H1494
  Authorizing the President of the United States to agree to certain 
amendments to the Agreement between the Government of the United States 
of America and the Government of the United Mexican States concerning 
the establishment of a Border Environment Cooperation Commission and a 
North American Development Bank: Agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 
254, to authorize the President of the United States to agree to 
certain amendments to the Agreement between the Government of the 
United States of America and the Government of the United Mexican 
States concerning the establishment of a Border Environment Cooperation 
Commission and a North American Development Bank, by a \2/3\ yea-and-
nay vote of 377 yeas to 48 nays, Roll No. 87--clearing the measure for 
the President.
  Pages H1494-95
Late Report: Agreed that the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure have until midnight on March 29 to file a report on H.R. 
3550, to authorize funds for federal-aid highways, highway safety 
programs, and transit programs.
  Page H1566
Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Bell wherein 
he resigned from the Committee on International Relations, effective 
March 26.
  Page H1566
Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourn today, it adjourn to 
meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, March 29 for Morning Hour debate. 
                                                             Page H1567
Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday 
business of Wednesday, March 31.
  Page H1567
Presidential Message: Read a letter from the President wherein he 
notified Congress of his intention to enter into a free trade agreement 
with the Government of the Dominican Republic--referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means and ordered printed (H. Doc. 108-178). 
                                                             Page H1495
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on 
pages H1493 and H1566.
Senate Referrals: S. 2231 was referred to the Committees on Ways & 
Means and Energy & Commerce; S. 1218 was referred to the Committees on 
Science and Ways & Means.
  Pages H1590-91
Quorum Calls--Votes: Six yea-and-nay votes and four recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings today and appear on pages H1492-93, 
H1493-94, H1494, H1494-95, H1508, H1521-22, H1534, H1552-53, H1565, and 
H1565-66. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:20 p.m.