[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 31 (Tuesday, March 15, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D239-D240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Tuesday, March 15, 2005

[[Page D239]]


                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2661-S2757
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and four resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 621-631, S.J. Res. 7-9, and S. Res. 82.
  Pages S2734-35
Measures Passed:
  Welfare Reform Extension Act: Senate passed H.R. 1160, to reauthorize 
the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program through 
June 30, 2005, clearing the measure for the President.
  Page S2754
Concurrent Budget Resolution: Senate continued consideration of S. Con. 
Res. 18, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States 
Government for fiscal year 2006 and including the appropriate budgetary 
levels for fiscal years 2005 and 2007 through 2010, taking action on 
the following amendments proposed thereto:
  Pages S2661-S2728
Adopted:
  By a unanimous vote of 100 yeas (Vote No. 46), Graham Modified 
Amendment No. 152, to express the sense of the Senate regarding the 
urgent need for legislation to ensure the long-term viability of the 
Social Security program.
Pages S2686-92
  By 56 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 48), DeMint Amendment No. 150, to 
express the sense of the Senate that failing to address the financial 
condition of Social Security will result in massive debt, deep benefit 
cuts and tax increases.
Pages S2685-86, S2692-93
Rejected:
  By 45 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No. 47), Conrad Amendment No. 144, to 
ensure that 75-year solvency has been restored to Social Security 
before Congress considers new deficit-financed legislation that would 
increase mandatory spending or cut taxes. 
                                        Pages S2668-76, S2680-85, S2692
  By 50 yeas to 50 nays (Vote No. 49), Nelson Amendment No. 145, to 
express the sense of the Senate that Congress should reject any Social 
Security plan that requires deep benefit cuts or a massive increase in 
debt.
Pages S2676-78, S2693
  By 46 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 50), Stabenow Amendment No. 147, to 
protect the American people from terrorist attacks by providing the 
necessary resources to our firefighters, police, EMS workers and other 
first-responders by restoring $1,626 billion in cuts to first-responder 
programs.
Pages S2678-80, S2693-94
Pending:
  Byrd Amendment No. 158, to provide adequate funding of $1.4 billion 
in fiscal year 2006 to preserve a national intercity passenger rail 
system.
Pages S2694-S2706
  Cantwell Amendment No. 168, to strike section 201(a)(4) relative to 
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Pages S2716-20
  Akaka Amendment No. 149, to increase veterans medical care by $2.8 
billion in 2006.
Pages S2720-24
  Ensign Amendment No. 171, to increase veterans medical care by 
$410,000,000 in fiscal year 2006.
Pages S2724-28
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the resolution at 9 a.m., on Wednesday, March 16, 
2005, and that Senator Feinstein be recognized for up to 20 minutes; 
that Senator Specter be recognized to offer an amendment relative to 
the National Institutes of Health (NIH), on which there will be 45 
minutes for debate equally divided; that following that debate, the 
Senate begin 90 minutes of debate equally divided in relation to the 
Cantwell Amendment No. 168 (listed above); that there then be 45 
minutes equally divided for debate relative to Ensign Amendment No. 171 
(listed above) and Akaka Amendment No. 149 (listed above); and that at 
1 p.m., the Senate vote on, or in relation to, certain amendments. 
                                                             Page S2755
Appointments:
  President's Export Council: The Chair, pursuant to Executive order 
12131, as amended, appointed the following Members to the President's 
Export Council: Senators Baucus and Dorgan.
  Page S2754
  National Council on the Arts: The Chair, on behalf of the Democratic 
Leader, pursuant to Public

[[Page D240]]

Law 105-63, announced the appointment of the following individual to 
serve as members of the National Council on the Arts: Senator Leahy, 
vice Senator Reid.
  Page S2754
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  James H. Bilbray, of Nevada, to be a Member of the Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Commission.
  Philip Coyle, of California, to be a Member of the Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Commission.
  Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr., United States Navy, Retired, of 
Virginia, to be a Member of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment 
Commission.
  James V. Hansen, of Utah, to be a Member of the Defense Base Closure 
and Realignment Commission.
  General James T. Hill, United States Army, Retired, of Florida, to be 
a Member of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. 
(Position)
  Claude M. Kicklighter, of Georgia, to be a Member of the Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Commission.
  Samuel Knox Skinner, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Commission.
  Brigadier General Sue Ellen Turner, United States Air Force, Retired, 
of Texas, to be a Member of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment 
Commission.
Page S2757
Messages From the House:
  Pages S2732-33
Measures Referred:
  Page S2733
Executive Communications:
  Pages S2733-34
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S2734
Additional Cosponsors:
  Page S2735
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S2735-46
Additional Statements:
  Pages S2730-32
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S2746-53
Authority for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S2753-54
Privilege of the Floor:
  Page S2754
Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--50) 
                                                         Pages S2691-94
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 10:06 p.m., 
until 9 a.m., on Wednesday, March 16, 2005. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S2755.)