[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D215-D217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, March 10, 2005

[[Page D215]]

                              Daily Digest

HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed S. 256, Bankruptcy Reform Act.
      The House passed H.R. 3, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 
      Users.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2405-S2503
Measures Introduced: Sixteen bills and four resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 587-602, S. Res. 79-81, and S. Con. Res. 17.
                                                         Pages S2482-83
Measures Reported:
  S. 99, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to contract with 
the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming, for the storage of the city's water in 
the Kendrick Project, Wyoming. (S. Rept. No. 109-27)
  S. 152, to enhance ecosystem protection and the range of outdoor 
opportunities protected by statute in the Skykomish River valley of the 
State of Washington by designating certain lower-elevation Federal 
lands as wilderness, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 109-28)
  S. 176, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a 
hydroelectric project in the State of Alaska. (S. Rept. No. 109-29)
  S. 231, to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in the 
rehabilitation of the Wallowa Lake Dam in Oregon. (S. Rept. No. 109-30)
  S. 232, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through 
the Bureau of Reclamation, to assist in the implementation of fish 
passage and screening facilities at non-Federal water projects. (S. 
Rept. No. 109-31)
  S. 244, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a 
hydroelectric project in the State of Wyoming. (S. Rept. No. 109-32)
  S. 264, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and 
Facilities Act to authorize certain projects in the State of Hawaii. 
(S. Rept. No. 109-33)
  S. 272, to designate certain National Forest System land in the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as components of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 109-34)
  S. 600, to authorize appropriations for the Department of State and 
international broadcasting activities for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, 
for the Peace Corps for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, for foreign 
assistance programs for fiscal years 2006 and 2007. (S. Rept. No. 109-
35)
Page S2482
Measures Passed:
  Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act Amendment: By 
a unanimous vote of 99 yeas (Vote No. 43), Senate passed S. 250, to 
amend the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 
1998 to improve the Act, after agreeing to the committee amendment in 
the nature of a substitute.
  Pages S2428-59, S2462
  Bankruptcy Reform Act: By 74 yeas to 25 nays (Vote No. 44), Senate 
passed S. 256, a bill to amend title 11 of the United States Code, 
after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                               Pages S2416-17, S2459-74
Adopted:
  By a unanimous vote of 99 yeas (Vote No. 40), Durbin Amendment No. 
112, to protect disabled veterans from means testing in bankruptcy 
under certain circumstances.
Pages S2426-27
  By 73 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. 42), Talent Amendment No. 121, to 
deter corporate fraud and prevent the abuse of State self-settled trust 
law.
Page S2428
  Feingold Modified Amendment No. 92, to amend the credit counseling 
provision.
Page S2463
Rejected:
  By 41 yeas to 58 nays (Vote No. 36), Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 
70, to exempt debtors whose financial problems were caused by failure 
to

[[Page D216]]

receive alimony or child support, or both, from means testing. 
                                                             Page S2416
  By 41 yeas to 58 nays (Vote No. 37), Dodd (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 
69, to amend the definition of current monthly income.
Pages S2416-17
  By 38 yeas to 61 nays (Vote No. 38), Akaka Amendment No. 105, to 
limit claims in bankruptcy by certain unsecured creditors.
Page S2417
  By 44 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No. 39), Kennedy (for Leahy/Sarbanes) 
Amendment No. 83, to modify the definition of disinterested person in 
the Bankruptcy Code.
Pages S2424-26
  By 43 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 41), Schumer Amendment No. 129 (to 
Amendment No. 121), to limit the exemption for asset protection trusts.
                                                         Pages S2427-28
Withdrawn:
  Feingold Amendment No. 90, to amend the provision relating to fair 
notice given to creditors.
Pages S2462-63
  Feingold Amendment No. 93, to modify the disclosure requirements for 
debt relief agencies providing bankruptcy assistance.
Page S2463
  Feingold Amendment No. 95, to amend the provisions relating to the 
discharge of taxes under chapter 13.
Page S2463
  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 S2463
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  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, previously agreed to on Wednesday, March 
9, 2005, was modified by unanimous consent.
Page S2463
  Regarding Georgia and Moldova: Committee on Foreign Relations was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 69, expressing the 
sense of the Senate about the actions of Russia regarding Georgia and 
Moldova, and the resolution was then agreed to.
  Pages S2500-01
  National Safe Place Week: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged 
from further consideration of S. Res. 71, designating the week 
beginning March 13, 2005 as ``National Safe Place Week'', and the 
resolution was then agreed to, after agreeing to the following 
amendment proposed thereto:
  Page S2501
  McConnell (for Craig) Amendment No. 139, to strike the request for a 
Presidential proclamation.
Page S2501
  Yad Vashem Complex: Senate agreed to S. Res. 79, expressing the sense 
of the Senate in marking the dedication on March 15, 2005, of the 
expanded museum complex at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes 
Remembrance Authority in Israel, in furtherance of Yad Vashem's mission 
to document the history of the Jewish people during the Holocaust, to 
preserve the memory and story of each of the victims, impart the legacy 
of the Holocaust to future generations, and recognize the Righteous 
Among the Nations.
  Pages S2501-02
  Honoring Fern Holland: Senate agreed to S. Res. 80, honoring the life 
of Fern Holland and expressing the deepest condolences of the Senate to 
her family on their loss.
  Page S2502
  Honoring Chris LeDoux: Senate agreed to S. Res. 81, recognizing the 
contribution of Chris LeDoux to country music.
  Page S2502-03
Concurrent Budget Resolution--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement 
was reached providing for the consideration of an original resolution 
setting forth the fiscal year 2006 budget for the Federal Government, 
at 10 a.m., on Monday, March 14, 2005, and that there be a total of 45 
hours remaining on the resolution, with 22 hours controlled by the 
Majority and 23 hours controlled by the Minority.
  Page S2499
Messages From the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the national emergency 
with respect to Iran; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-9)
Page S2481
Appointments:
  NATO Parliamentary Assembly: The Chair, on behalf of the Vice 
President, in accordance with 22 U.S.C. 1928-1928d, as amended, 
appointed Senator Biden as Vice Chairman of the Senate Delegation to 
the NATO Parliamentary Assembly during the 109th Congress.
  Page S2500
  Mexico-U.S. Interparliamentary Group: The Chair, on behalf of the 
Vice President, pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 276h-276k, as amended, appointed 
Senator Dodd as Vice Chairman of the Senate Delegation to the Mexico-
U.S. Interparliamentary Group conference during the 109th Congress. 
                                                             Page S2500
  Public Interest Declassification Board: The Chair, on behalf of the 
Majority Leader, pursuant to Public Law 105-567, as amended by Public 
Law 108-458 (Section 1102), appointed the following individual to serve 
as a member of the Public Interest Declassification Board:

[[Page D217]]


  Joan Vail Grimson of Virginia.
Page S2500
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination:
  Michael Jackson, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland 
Security.
Pages S2500, S2503
Messages From the House:
  Page S2481
Measures Placed on Calendar:
  Pages S2481-82
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S2482
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S2483-84
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S2484-98
Additional Statements:
  Pages S2480-81
Amendments Submitted:
  Page S2499
Authority for Committees to Meet:
  Page S2499
Record Votes: Nine record votes were taken today. (Total--44) 
                                Pages S2416, S2417, S2426, S2427, S2428
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 6:53 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, March 11, 2005. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S2503.)