[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 9, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D204-D206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Wednesday, March 9, 2005

[[Page D204]]


                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      House Committee ordered reported the Concurrent Resolution on the 
      Budget for Fiscal Year 2006.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2297-S2404
Measures Introduced: Seventeen bills and four resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 570-586, S. Res. 76-78, and S. Con. Res. 16.
                                                         Pages S2383-84
Measures Reported:
  S. 134, to adjust the boundary of Redwood National Park in the State 
of California. (S. Rept. No. 109-23)
  S. 205, to authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to 
establish in the State of Louisiana a memorial to honor the Buffalo 
Soldiers, with an amendment. (S. Rept. No. 109-24)
  S. 207, to adjust the boundary of the Barataria Preserve Unit of the 
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in the State of 
Louisiana. (S. Rept. No. 109-25)
  S. 243, to establish a program and criteria for National Heritage 
Areas in the United States. (S. Rept. No. 109-26)
  S. 250, to amend the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical 
Education Act of 1998 to improve the Act, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
Page S2383
Measures Passed:
  Terrorist Attacks Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 76, 
expressing the sense of the Senate on the anniversary of the deadly 
terrorist attacks launched against the people of Spain on March 11, 
2004.
  Page S2304
  Condemning Terrorism: Senate agreed to S. Res. 77, condemning all 
acts of terrorism in Lebanon and calling for the removal of Syrian 
troops from Lebanon and supporting the people of Lebanon in their quest 
for a truly democratic form of government.
  Pages S2304-05
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 S2306-42
Adopted:
  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 S2342
  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 S2342
Rejected:
  By 42 yeas to 58 nays (Vote No. 31), Durbin Amendment No. 110, to 
clarify that the means test does not apply to debtors below median 
income.
Page S2311
  By 48 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 32), Harkin Amendment No. 66, to 
increase the accrual period for the employee wage priority in 
bankruptcy.
Pages S2307-09, S2311-12
  By 40 yeas to 60 nays (Vote No. 33), Boxer Amendment No. 62, to 
provide for the potential disallowance of certain claims. 
                                                  Pages S2309-11, S2312
  By 42 yeas to 58 nays (Vote No. 34), Dodd Amendment No. 67, to modify 
the bill to protect families.
Pages S2310, S2311, S2325
  By 47 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 35), Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 
68, to provide a maximum amount for a homestead exemption under State 
law.
Pages S2321-22, S2325-26
Withdrawn:
  Bingaman Amendment No. 51, to amend certain provisions regarding 
attorney actions on behalf of debtors.
Pages S2318-19
  Feingold Amendment No. 101, to amend the definition of small business 
debtor.
Page S2342
  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 S2342

[[Page D205]]


  Feingold Amendment No. 99, to provide no bankruptcy protection for 
insolvent political committees.
Page S2342
  Feingold Amendment No. 98, to modify the disclosure requirements for 
debt relief agencies providing bankruptcy assistance.
Page S2342
  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 S2342
  Feingold Amendment No. 94, to clarify the application of the term 
disposable income.
Page S2342
  Feingold Amendment No. 88, to amend the plan filing and confirmation 
deadlines.
Page S2342
  Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 119, to amend section 502(b) of 
title 11, United States Code, to limit usurious claims in bankruptcy. 
                                                             Page S2342
  Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 71, to strike the provision relating 
to the presumption of luxury goods.
Page S2342
  Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 72, to ensure that families below 
median income are not subjected to means test requirements. 
                                                             Page S2342
  Dodd Amendment No. 53, to require prior notice of rate increases. 
                                                             Page S2342
  Dodd Amendment No. 52, to prohibit extensions of credit to underage 
consumers.
Page S2342
  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 S2342
  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 S2342
Pending:
  Kennedy (for Leahy/Sarbanes) Amendment No. 83, to modify the 
definition of disinterested person in the Bankruptcy Code. 
                                                  Pages S2306, S2328-42
  Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 69, to amend the definition of 
current monthly income.
Pages S2306, S2323-25
  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.
Pages S2306, S2322-23
  Akaka Amendment No. 105, to limit claims in bankruptcy by certain 
unsecured creditors.
Pages S2307, S2312-18
  Feingold Amendment No. 90, to amend the provision relating to fair 
notice given to creditors.
Pages S2307, S2342
  Feingold Amendment No. 92, to amend the credit counseling provision. 
                                                     Pages S2307, S2342
  Feingold Amendment No. 93, to modify the disclosure requirements for 
debt relief agencies providing bankruptcy assistance. 
                                                     Pages S2307, S2342
  Feingold Amendment No. 95, to amend the provisions relating to the 
discharge of taxes under chapter 13.
Pages S2307, S2342
  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. 
                                                     Pages S2307, S2342
  Talent Amendment No. 121, to deter corporate fraud and prevent the 
abuse of State self-settled trust law.
Pages S2307, S2342
  Schumer Amendment No. 129 (to Amendment No. 121), to limit the 
exemption for asset protection trusts.
Pages S2307, S2342
  Durbin Amendment No. 112, to protect disabled veterans from means 
testing in bankruptcy under certain circumstances.
Pages S2307, S2342
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at 11 a.m., on Thursday, March 10, 2005; that 
all time be considered expired under the provisions of Rule XXII; that 
votes occur on, or in relation to, certain amendments; that no further 
amendments be in order, other than the possibility of a further second-
degree amendment offered by Senator Talent, which has been filed, and a 
Managers' amendment which has been cleared by both Leaders; and that 
following the disposition of the above-listed amendments, the bill be 
read a third time, with a vote to occur on final passage of the bill. 
                                                             Page S2342
Nominations Discharged: The following nominations were discharged from 
further committee consideration and placed on the Executive Calendar:
  Edward L. Flippen, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Corporation 
for National and Community Service, which was sent to the Senate on 
January 24, 2005, from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs.
Measures Read First Time:
  Pages S2382, S2404
Executive Communications:
  Pages S2382-83
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S2383
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S2384-85
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S2385-S2403
Additional Statements:
  Pages S2381-82

[[Page D206]]

Amendments Submitted:
  Page S2403
Authority for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S2403-04
Privilege of the Floor:
  Page S2404
Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--35) 
                                       Pages S2311, S2312, S2325, S2326
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 8:32 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, March 10, 2005. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S2404.)