[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 57 (Thursday, April 29, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D424-D426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, April 29, 2004

[[Page D424]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS:

      Senate passed S. 150, Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4625-S4726
Measures Introduced: Fifteen bills and three resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2360-2374, S.J. Res. 36, and S. Res. 346-
347.                                                     
  Pages S4692-93
Measures Reported:
  S. 1486, to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to implement the Stockholm 
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Protocol on Persistent 
Organic Pollutants to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air 
Pollution, and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent 
Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in 
International Trade, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
(S. Rept. No. 108-256)
  H.R. 1561, to amend title 35, United States Code, with respect to 
patent fees.
  S. Res. 332, observing the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide 
of 1994.
  S. Res. 334, designating May 2004 as National Electrical Safety 
Month.
  S. Res. 344, welcoming the Prime Minister of Singapore on the 
occasion of his visit to the United States, expressing gratitude to the 
Government of Singapore for its support in the reconstruction of Iraq 
and its strong cooperation with the United States in the campaign 
against terrorism, and reaffirming the commitment of the Senate to the 
continued expansion of friendship and cooperation between the United 
States and Singapore.
  S. 1932, to provide criminal penalties for unauthorized recording of 
motion pictures in a motion picture exhibition facility, to provide 
criminal and civil penalties for unauthorized distribution of 
commercial prerelease copyrighted works, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
  S. 2092, to address the participation of Taiwan in the World Health 
Organization, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 2107, to authorize an annual appropriations of $10,000,000 for 
mental health courts through fiscal year 2009.
  S. 2192, to amend title 35, United States Code, to promote 
cooperative research involving universities, the public sector, and 
private enterprises.
  S. 2237, to amend chapter 5 of title 17, United States Code, to 
authorize civil copyright enforcement by the Attorney General.
  S. 2264, to require a report on the conflict in Uganda.
  S. 2292, to require a report on acts of anti-Semitism around the 
world, with amendments.
  S.J. Res. 33, expressing support for freedom in Hong Kong, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble.
  S. Con. Res. 100, celebrating 10 years of majority rule in the 
Republic of South Africa and recognizing the momentous social and 
economic achievements of South Africa since the institution of 
democracy in that country.                               
Pages S4686-87
Measures Passed:
  Internet Tax Non-discrimination Act: By 93 yeas to 3 nays (Vote No. 
77), Senate passed S. 150, to make permanent the moratorium on taxes on 
Internet access and multiple and discriminatory taxes on electronic 
commerce imposed by the Internet Tax Freedom Act, after taking action 
on the following amendments proposed thereto:            
  Pages S4635-70
Adopted:
  Lott Amendment No. 3082 (to Amendment No. 3048), to extend the 1998 
grandfather clause from 3 years to 4 years.              
Pages S4657-58
  McCain (for Lautenberg) Amendment No. 3104 (to Amendment No. 3048), 
to require the Comptroller General to study the impact of the Internet 
Tax Freedom Act on State and local governments and on broadband 
deployment.                                                  
Page S4658

[[Page D425]]


  McCain Amendment No. 3105 (to Amendment No. 3048), to provide for an 
exception for voice or similar services over the Internet. 
                                                         Pages S4661-62
  McCain Amendment No. 3048, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S4666
Rejected:
  Feinstein Modified Amendment No. 3052 (to Amendment No. 3048), to 
extend the grandfather clauses for the term of the moratorium 
extension. (By 59 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. 76), Senate tabled the 
amendment.)                                              
Pages S4662-66
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 40 yeas to 59 nays (Vote No. 73), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on Daschle Amendment No. 
3050 (listed below).                                         
Page S4641
  By 55 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 74), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on Domenici Amendment No. 
3051 (to Amendment No. 3050) (listed below).                 
Page S4644
  By 64 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 75), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion to close further debate on McCain Amendment No. 3048 
(listed above).                                              
Page S4646
  Chair sustained a point of order that Daschle Amendment No. 3050 (to 
the language of the bill proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 
3048), to eliminate methyl tertiary butyl ether from the United States 
fuel supply, to increase production and use of renewable fuel, and to 
increase the Nation's energy independence, was not germane to the 
language of the bill proposed to be stricken by McCain Amendment No. 
3048, and the amendment thus fell.                           
Page S4646
  Domenici Amendment No. 3051 (to Amendment No. 3050), to enhance 
energy conservation and research and development and to provide for 
security and diversity in the energy supply for the American people, 
fell when the point of order against Daschle Amendment No. 3050 was 
sustained.                                                   
Page S4646
  Surface Transportation Extension Act: Senate passed H.R. 4219, to 
provide an extension of highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, 
transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund 
pending enactment of a law reauthorizing the Transportation Equity Act 
for the 21st Century, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                             Page S4717
  Women's Sustainability Recovery Act: Committee on Small Business and 
Entrepreneurship was discharged from further consideration of S. 2267, 
to amend section 29(k) of the Small Business Act to establish funding 
priorities for women's business centers, and the bill was then passed, 
after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S4719-21
  Frist (for Snowe) Amendment No. 3106, to make a technical correction.
                                                             Page S4721
  Commending University of Minnesota Women's Ice Hockey: Senate agreed 
to S. Res. 346, commending the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers 
for winning the 2003-2004 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
Division I National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship. 
                                                             Page S4721
  Commending Tom Lundregan: Senate agreed to S. Res. 347, to commend 
Senate Enrolling Clerk Thomas J. Lundregan on Thirty-Six Years of 
Service to the United States Government.                 
  Pages S4721-22
  Soap Box Derby: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 376, authorizing the 
use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. 
                                                             Page S4722
Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of S. 
1637, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to comply with the 
World Trade Organization rulings on the 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, at 2 p.m., on Monday, May 3, 2004.                   
  Page S4723
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  30 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  61 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  2 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Foreign Service, Marine Corps, 
Navy.                                                    
Pages S4725-26
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Joyce A. Barr, of Washington, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Namibia.
  William R. Brownfield, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Bolivarian 
Republic of Venezuela.
  June Carter Perry, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to 
the Kingdom of Lesotho.
  Charles P. Ries, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to 
Greece.
  R. Barrie Walkley, of California, to be Ambassador to the Gabonese 
Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation 
as Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe.

[[Page D426]]


  Edward Brehm, of Minnesota, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the African Development Foundation for a term expiring November 13, 
2007.
  2 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general.
  5 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, 
Navy.                                                    
Pages S4723-24
Messages From the House:                                     
  Page S4685
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S4685
Measures Read First Time:                                    
  Page S4685
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S4685-86
Executive Reports of Committee:                          
  Pages S4687-92
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S4693-94
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:           
  Pages S4694-S4710
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S4683-85
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S4710-16
Authority for Committees to Meet:                        
  Pages S4716-17
Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--77) 
                                Pages S4641, S4644, S4646, S4666, S4669
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 8:24 p.m., 
until 1 p.m., on Monday, May 3, 2004. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S4723.)