[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 30, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S3387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2003

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, on behalf of the leader, I ask 
unanimous consent that the Commerce Committee be discharged from 
further consideration of H.R. 2443 and the Senate proceed to its 
immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2443) to authorize appropriations for the 
     Coast Guard for fiscal year 2004, to amend various laws 
     administered by the Coast Guard, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased that the Senate has favorably 
considered the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2003, and will pass by 
unanimous consent the Senate manager's amendment to H.R. 2443. We look 
forward to working with the House to quickly reach agreement on a final 
bill for passage in both houses.
  Senator Hollings and I have agreed to work with the House through a 
balanced, bipartisan conference committee. The Senate members would 
include five majority and four minority members of the Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation Committee. We plan to work together in a 
bipartisan manner to support the provisions of the Senate bill, while 
working with the House conference members to reach a final bill 
acceptable to all conferees. We will also include one majority and one 
minority member of the Environment and Public Works Committee to work 
with us on provisions in the bill that amend the Oil Pollution Act of 
1990.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I am likewise pleased that the Senate 
will pass this important authorization bill for the Coast Guard. I look 
forward to working with Senator McCain and the other members of the 
conference committee to reach a final consensus bill that we can adopt 
in both houses.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the McCain 
amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read for a 
third time and passed, the title amendment be agreed to, and the motion 
to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2954) was agreed to.
  (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of 
Amendments.'')
  The amendment (No. 2955) was agreed to, as follows:

       Amend the title so as to read A Bill To authorize 
     appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for the United 
     States Coast Guard, and for other purposes.

  The bill (H.R. 2443) was read the third time and passed.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. I further ask that the Senate insist upon its 
amendments, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing 
votes of the two Houses, and that the Chair be authorized to appoint 
conferees at a ratio of 5-4 on the Commerce Committee and 1-1 on the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Presiding officer (Mr. Talent) appointed Mr. McCain, Mr. Stevens, 
Mr. Lott, Mrs. Hutchison, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Inouye, Mr. 
Breaux, and Mr. Wyden; from the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works, Mr. Inhofe and Mr. Jeffords, conferees on the part of the 
Senate.

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