[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 8, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D193-D195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                             Tuesday, March 8, 2005

[[Page D193]]


                              Daily Digest


Highlights

      House Committee ordered reported the Emergency Supplemental 
      Appropriations for the Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2005.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2199-S2296
Measures Introduced: Twenty-six bills and four resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 544-569, S. Res. 73-75, and S. Con. Res. 15.
                                                         Pages S2244-45
Measures Reported:
  S. 55, to adjust the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park in the 
State of Colorado. (S. Rept. No. 109-19)
  S. 57, to further the purposes of the Sand Creek Massacre National 
Historic Site Establishment Act of 2000. (S. Rept. No. 109-20)
  S. 276, to revise the boundary of the Wind Cave National Park in the 
State of South Dakota. (S. Rept. No. 109-21)
  S. 301, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide 
assistance in implementing cultural heritage, conservation, and 
recreational activities in the Connecticut River watershed of the 
States of New Hampshire and Vermont, with an amendment. (S. Rept. No. 
109-22)                                                      
Page S2244
Measures Passed:
  International Women's Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 74, designating 
March 8, 2005, as ``International Women's Day''.         
  Pages S2289-95
  Greek Independence Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 75, designating 
March 25, 2005, as ``Greek Independence Day: A National Day of 
Celebration of Greek and American Democracy''.           
  Pages S2295-96
Bankruptcy Reform Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 256, a bill 
to amend title 11 of the United States Code, taking action on the 
following amendments proposed thereto:                   
  Pages S2200-30
Rejected:
  By 46 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 28), Schumer Amendment No. 47, to 
prohibit the discharge, in bankruptcy, of a debt resulting from the 
debtor's unlawful interference with the provision of lawful goods or 
services or damage to property used to provide lawful goods or 
services.                                                
Pages S2203-15
  By 41 yeas to 59 nays (Vote No. 30), Feingold Amendment No. 89, to 
strike certain small business related bankruptcy provisions in the 
bill.                                      
Pages S2200, S2221-23, S2228
Withdrawn:
  Pryor Amendment No. 40, to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to 
prohibit the use of any information in any consumer report by any 
credit card issuer that is unrelated to the transactions and experience 
of the card issuer with the consumer to increase the annual percentage 
rate applicable to credit extended to the consumer. 
                                                     Pages S2200, S2216
  Durbin Amendment No. 111, to protect veterans and members of the 
armed forces on active duty or performing homeland security activities 
from means testing in bankruptcy.                    
Pages S2200, S2228
Pending:
  Dorgan/Durbin Amendment No. 45, to establish a special committee of 
the Senate to investigate the awarding and carrying out of contracts to 
conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on 
terrorism.                                                   
Page S2200
  Reid (for Baucus) Amendment No. 50, to amend section 524(g)(1) of 
title 11, United States Code, to predicate the discharge of debts in 
bankruptcy by an vermiculite mining company meeting certain criteria on 
the establishment of a health care trust fund for certain individuals 
suffering from an asbestos related disease.                  
Page S2200
  Dodd Amendment No. 52, to prohibit extensions of credit to underage 
consumers.                                                   
Page S2200
  Dodd Amendment No. 53, to require prior notice of rate increases. 
                                                             Page S2200
  Kennedy (for Leahy/Sarbanes) Amendment No. 83, to modify the 
definition of disinterested person in the Bankruptcy Code.   
Page S2200
  Harkin Amendment No. 66, to increase the accrual period for the 
employee wage priority in bankruptcy.                        
Page S2200

[[Page D194]]


  Dodd Amendment No. 67, to modify the bill to protect families. 
                                                  Pages S2200, S2223-28
  Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 68, to provide a maximum amount for 
a homestead exemption under State law.                       
Page S2200
  Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 69, to amend the definition of 
current monthly income.                                      
Page S2200
  Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 70, to exempt debtors whose 
financial problems were caused by failure to receive alimony or child 
support, or both, from means testing.                        
Page S2200
  Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 72, to ensure that families below 
median income are not subjected to means test requirements. 
                                                             Page S2200
  Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 71, to strike the provision relating 
to the presumption of luxury goods.                          
Page S2200
  Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 119, to amend section 502(b) of 
title 11, United States Code, to limit usurious claims in bankruptcy. 
                                                             Page S2200
  Akaka Amendment No. 105, to limit claims in bankruptcy by certain 
unsecured creditors.                                         
Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 87, to amend section 104 of title 11, United 
States Code, to include certain provisions in the triennial inflation 
adjustment of dollar amounts.                                
Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 88, to amend the plan filing and confirmation 
deadlines.                                                   
Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 90, to amend the provision relating to fair 
notice given to creditors.                                   
Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 91, to amend section 303 of title 11, United 
States Code, with respect to the sealing and expungement of court 
records relating to fraudulent involuntary bankruptcy petitions. 
                                                             Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 92, to amend the credit counseling provision. 
                                                             Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 93, to modify the disclosure requirements for 
debt relief agencies providing bankruptcy assistance.        
Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 94, to clarify the application of the term 
disposable income.                                           
Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 95, to amend the provisions relating to the 
discharge of taxes under chapter 13.                         
Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 96, to amend the provisions relating to 
chapter 13 plans to have a 5-year duration in certain cases and to 
amend the definition of disposable income for purposes of chapter 13. 
                                                             Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 97, to amend the provisions relating to 
chapter 13 plans to have a 5-year duration in certain cases and to 
amend the definition of disposable income for purposes of chapter 13. 
                                                             Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 98, to modify the disclosure requirements for 
debt relief agencies providing bankruptcy assistance.        
Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 99, to provide no bankruptcy protection for 
insolvent political committees.                              
Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 100, to provide authority for a court to order 
disgorgement or other remedies relating to an agreement that is not 
enforceable.                                                 
Page S2200
  Feingold Amendment No. 101, to amend the definition of small business 
debtor.                                                      
Page S2200
  Talent Amendment No. 121, to deter corporate fraud and prevent the 
abuse of State self-settled trust law.                       
Page S2200
  Schumer Amendment No. 129 (to Amendment No. 121), to limit the 
exemption for asset protection trusts.                       
Page S2200
  Durbin Amendment No. 110, to clarify that the means test does not 
apply to debtors below median income.                        
Page S2200
  Durbin Amendment No. 112, to protect disabled veterans from means 
testing in bankruptcy under certain circumstances.           
Page S2200
  Boxer Amendment No. 62, to provide for the potential disallowance of 
certain claims.                                          
Pages S2228-29
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 69 yeas to 31 nays (Vote No. 29), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion to close further debate on the bill.           
Page S2216
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, 
March 9, 2005, and that the Senate vote on, or in relation to, certain 
amendments.                                                  
Page S2296
Appointments
  Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China: 
The Chair, on behalf of the President of the Senate, and after 
consultation with the Majority Leader, pursuant to Public Law 106-286, 
appointed the following Members to serve on the Congressional-Executive 
Commission on the People's Republic of China:
  Senators Hagel, Brownback, Smith, DeMint, and Martinez.    
Page S2289
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Daniel Fried, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of State (European Affairs).
  2 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.

[[Page D195]]


  2 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.                 
Page S2296
Messages From the House:                                     
  Page S2242
Measures Placed on Calendar:                                 
  Page S2242
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S2242-44
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S2245-46
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S2246-76
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S2240-42
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S2276-88
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S2288
Authority for Committees to Meet:                        
  Pages S2288-89
Privilege of the Floor:                                      
  Page S2289
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--30) 
                                              Pages S2215, S2216, S2228
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:45 a.m., and adjourned at 7:18 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m., on Wednesday, March 9, 2005. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S2296.)