[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D260-D264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, March 17, 2005

[[Page D260]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 18, Concurrent Budget Resolution.
      The House passed H. Con. Res. 95, Budget Resolution for Fiscal 
      Year 2006.
      The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 103, Adjournment Resolution.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2875-S3094
Measures Introduced: Forty bills and eleven resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 646-685, S. Res. 84-91, and S. Con. Res. 20-
22.                                                      
  Pages S2994-96
Measures Reported:
  S. 48, to reauthorize appropriations for the New Jersey Coastal 
Heritage Trail Route, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 109-41)
  S. 182, to provide for the establishment of the Uintah Research and 
Curatorial Center for Dinosaur National Monument in the States of 
Colorado and Utah, with an amendment. (S. Rept. No. 109-42)
  S. 188, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal years 2005 through 2011 to carry out the 
State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.
  S. 589, to establish the Commission on Freedom of Information Act 
Processing Delays.
  S. 667, to reauthorize and improve the program of block grants to 
States for temporary assistance for needy families, improve access to 
quality child care.                                          
Page S2993
Measures Passed:
  Condemning Violence and Criminality by the Irish Republican Army: 
Senate agreed to S. Res. 84, condemning violence and criminality by the 
Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland.               
  Pages S2910-11
  Private Relief: Senate passed S. 653, for the relief of the parents 
of Theresa Marie Schiavo.                                
  Pages S2926-29
  Concurrent Budget Resolution: By 51 yeas to 49 yeas (Vote No. 81), 
Senate agreed to 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, after taking action on the following amendments 
proposed thereto:       
  Pages S2875-97, S2899-S2910, S2911-26, S2929-67
Adopted:
  By 52 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 58), Bingaman (for Smith) Amendment 
No. 204, to create a reserve fund for the establishment of a Bipartisan 
Medicaid Commission to consider and recommend appropriate reforms to 
the Medicaid program, and to strike Medicaid cuts to protect states and 
vulnerable populations.                        
Pages S2875-86, S2919-20
  Hutchison Amendment No. 218, to fully fund the level of Border Patrol 
Agents authorized by the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 and 
as recommended by the 9/11 Commission.               
Pages S2875, S2922
  Salazar/Conrad Amendment No. 215, to provide additional funding for 
rural education, rural health access, and rural health outreach 
programs.                                            
Pages S2875, S2922
  By a unanimous vote of 100 yeas (Vote No. 62), Landrieu Amendment No. 
219, to establish a reserve fund in the event that legislation is 
passed to provide a 50 percent tax credit to employers that continue to 
pay the salaries of Guard and Reserve employees who have been called to 
active duty.                                         
Pages S2875, S2922
  Vitter Amendment No. 223, to express the sense of the Senate that 
Congress should provide dedicated funding for port security 
enhancements.                                        
Pages S2875, S2922
  Subsequently, the amendment was modified.                  
Page S2923
  By 63 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. 64), Collins (for Lieberman/Collins) 
Amendment No. 220, to protect

[[Page D261]]

the American people from terrorist attacks by restoring $565 million in 
cuts to vital first-responder programs in the Department of Homeland 
Security, including the State Homeland Security Grant program, by 
providing $150 million for port security grants and by providing $140 
million for 1,000 new border patrol agents.          
Pages S2875, S2923
  Vitter Amendment No. 224, to restore funding for Corps of Engineers 
environmental programs to fiscal year 2005 levels.   
Pages S2875, S2923
  By 68 yeas to 31 nays (Vote No. 66), Coleman Amendment No. 230, to 
fully fund the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. 
                                           Pages S2894-97, S2999, S2924
  By 73 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. 67), Cochran Amendment No. 208, to 
modify the designation authority for an emergency requirement. 
                                            Pages S2899-S2900, S2924-25
  By 51 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 68), Kennedy Modified Amendment No. 
177, relative to education funding.               
Pages S2900-03, S2925
  Feinstein Amendment No. 188, to express the sense of the Senate that 
Congress should enact a long-term reauthorization of the State Criminal 
Alien Assistance Program and appropriate $750,000,000 for the program 
in fiscal year 2006.                       
Pages S2909-10, S2911, S2929
  Obama Amendment No. 159, to prevent and, if necessary, respond to an 
international outbreak of the avian flu.                 
Pages S2930-32
  Leahy Amendment No. 160, to increase funding for the United Nations 
Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other international organizations. 
                                                         Pages S2930-32
  Grassley/Kennedy Amendment No. 164, to provide a reserve fund for the 
Family Opportunity Act.                                  
Pages S2930-32
  Hatch Amendment No. 194, to provide a deficit-neutral reserve fund 
for the restoration of SCHIP funds.                      
Pages S2930-32
  Cochran/Byrd Amendment No. 209, to modify a provision defining 
advance appropriations subject to limit.                 
Pages S2930-32
  Thomas/Conrad Amendment No. 226, to restore discretionary funding 
levels for crucial rural health programs, such as the rural health 
outreach grant program, the rural hospital flexibility grant program, 
the small hospital improvement program, tele-health, trauma programs, 
and rural AED programs to fiscal year 2005 levels.       
Pages S2930-32
  Mikulski Modified Amendment No. 180, to provide a deficit neutral 
reserve fund for the Hope credit.                        
Pages S2930-32
  Allen Amendment No. 198, to express the sense of the Senate regarding 
funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for 
subsonic and hypersonic aeronautics research.            
Pages S2930-32
  Lott Amendment No. 182, to express the sense of the Senate on the 
acquisition of the next generation destroyer (DDX).      
Pages S2930-32
  DeWine/Dodd Modified Amendment No. 153, to express the sense of the 
Senate concerning the care and treatment of children with HIV/AIDS. 
                                                         Pages S2930-32
  By 81 yeas to 19 nays (Vote No. 72), Talent Amendment No. 225, to 
provide the flexibility to consider all available transportation 
funding options.                                             
Page S2932
  By 94 yeas to 6 nays (Vote No. 73), Conrad Amendment No. 243, to 
express the sense of the Senate that the tax cuts assumed in the budget 
resolution should include the repeal of the 1993 increase in the income 
tax on Social Security benefits.                  
Pages S2915-16, S2932
  By 55 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 74), Bunning Amendment No. 241, to 
repeal the 1993 tax increase on Social Security benefits. 
                                                  Pages S2914-15, S2033
  Boxer Amendment No. 259, to express the sense of the Senate regarding 
the need for a comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated national 
ocean policy.                                            
Pages S2935-36
  Leahy Amendment No. 203, to express the sense of the Senate in 
support of full funding and availability of the Crime Victims Fund. 
                                                         Pages S2937-38
  Santorum Amendment No. 169, to reaffirm that the United States 
maintain a one-to-two ration for contributions to the Global Fund, that 
the United States not exceed contributing more than 33 percent of the 
Global Fund's revenue.                                       
Page S2938
  Lincoln Modified Amendment No. 192, to restore funding the COPS 
Methamphetamine Enforcement and Clean Up Program to 2005 levels. 
                                                         Pages S2938-39
  Baucus Amendment No. 253, to support full funding for High Intensity 
Drug Trafficking Area.                                   
Pages S2939-40
  Clinton Amendment No. 155, to establish a deficit neutral reserve 
fund for influenza vaccine shortage prevention.          
Pages S2941-42
  Snowe/Kerry Modified Amendment No. 216, to increase funding for Small 
Business Administration's programs.                      
Pages S2941-42
  Bayh Modified Amendment No. 157, to express the sense of the Senate 
regarding the amount of United States debt that is foreign-owned. 
                                                         Pages S2941-42
  Santorum Amendment No. 163, to express the sense of the Senate 
regarding tax relief to encourage charitable giving incentives. 
                                                         Pages S2941-42
  Chafee Amendment No. 261, to express the sense of the Senate that the 
total amount of payments to

[[Page D262]]

States from the Water Pollution Control State Revolving Fund should be 
increased to $1,350,000,000.                             
Pages S2941-42
  Baucus Amendment No. 167, to express the sense of the Senate that the 
full amount of the President's request for the administrative costs of 
the Social Security Administration for fiscal year 2006 should be 
funded.                                                  
Pages S2941-42
  Clinton Modified Amendment No. 154, to express the sense of the 
Senate concerning comparative effectiveness studies. 
                                                  Pages S2941-42, S2943
  Kohl Modified Amendment No. 217, to restore $1 billion to juvenile 
justice and local law enforcement programs funded by the Department of 
Justice.                                                     
Page S2942
  Salazar Modified Amendment No. 254, to restore funding for the 
payment in lieu of taxes program (PILT), in order to compensate rural 
counties for decreased tax revenues as a result of non-taxed federally 
owned county lands.                                          
Page S2943
  Pryor Modified Amendment No. 252, to create a reserve fund for 
extension of the treatment of combat pay as earned income for purposes 
of the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit.    
Page S2943
  By 53 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 80), Levin Modified Amendment No. 
238, to promote innovation and U.S. competitiveness by expressing the 
sense of the Senate urging the Senate Committee on Appropriations to 
make efforts to fund the Advanced Technology Program, which supports 
industry-led research and development of cutting-edge technologies with 
broad commercial potential and societal benefits.            
Page S2943
  Leahy Modified Amendment No. 237, to increase funding for Boys and 
Girls Clubs.                                             
Pages S2944-45
  Gregg (for Grassley) Amendment No. 262, to express the sense of the 
Senate with respect to pension reform.                       
Page S2945
  DeWine/Leahy Modified Amendment No. 161, to increase funding for 
Child Survival and Maternal Health Programs.                 
Page S2945
Rejected:
  By 49 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 57), Gregg (for Frist) Amendment No. 
229, to express the sense of the Senate regarding Medicaid 
reconciliation legislation consistent with recommendations from the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services.              
Pages S2886, S2919
  By 49 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 59), Carper Amendment No. 207, to 
provide for full consideration of tax cuts in the Senate under regular 
order.                                            
Pages S2875, S2920-21
  By 49 yeas to 50 nays (Vote No. 60), Snowe Amendment No. 214, to 
ensure that any savings associated with legislation that provides the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services with the authority to 
participate in the negotiation of contracts with manufacturers of 
covered part D drugs to achieve the best possible prices for such drugs 
under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, that requires 
the Secretary to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of such drugs 
for each fallback prescription drug plan, and that requires the 
Secretary to participate in the negotiation for a contract for any such 
drug upon request of a prescription drug plan or an MA-PD plan, is 
reserved for reducing expenditures under such part. 
                                                     Pages S2875, S2921
  By 44 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 61), Harkin Amendment No. 172, to 
restore the Perkins Vocational Education program and provide for 
deficit reduction paid for through the elimination of the phase out of 
the personal exemption limitation and itemized deduction limitation for 
high-income taxpayers now scheduled to start in 2006. 
                                                  Pages S2875, S2921-22
  By 40 yeas to 59 nays (Vote No. 63), Conrad (for Dorgan) Amendment 
No. 210, to repeal the tax subsidy for certain domestic companies which 
move manufacturing operations and American jobs offshore. 
                                                  Pages S2875, S2922-23
  By 49 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 65), Sarbanes Amendment No. 156, to 
restore funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 
program.                                       
Pages S2286-94, S2923-24
  By 46 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 69), Baucus/Conrad Amendment No. 234, 
to ensure that legislation to make cuts in agriculture programs 
receives full consideration and debate in the Senate under regular 
order, rather than being fast-tracked under reconciliation procedures. 
                                               Pages S2903-07, S2925-26
  By 45 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No. 70), Biden Amendment No. 239, 
relative to funding to the Office of Community Oriented Policing 
Services.                                         
Pages S2908-09, S2926
  By 45 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 71), Byrd/Baucus Amendment No. 240, 
relative to transportation funding.            
Pages S2911-14, S2929-30
  By 47 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 75), Reid (for Clinton) Modified 
Amendment No. 244, to expand access to preventive health care services 
that reduce unintended pregnancy (including teen pregnancy), reduce the 
number of abortions, and improve access to women's health care. 
                                               Pages S2916-17, S2933-34
  By 45 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 76), Lautenberg Amendment No. 187, to 
strike the debt ceiling reconciliation instruction. 
                                               Pages S2917-19, S2934-35
  By 44 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 77), Boxer Amendment No. 257, to 
establish a point of order.                                  
Page S2935
  By 45 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No. 78), Dorgan Amendment No. 211, to 
restore funding for tribal

[[Page D263]]

programs and provide necessary additional funding based on 
recommendations from Indian country.                     
Pages S2936-37
  Feingold Amendment No. 258, to ensure that savings associated with 
legislation that reduces overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans is 
reserved for deficit reduction and to strengthen the Federal Hospital 
Insurance Trust Fund.                                        
Page S2937
  By 37 yeas to 63 nays (Vote No. 79), Dayton Amendment No. 202, to 
provide full funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act (IDEA) part B grants over five years.                
Pages S2940-41
  Pryor Amendment No. 213, to increase funding for the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Program.                                   
Page S2943
Withdrawn:
  Allen Modified Amendment No. 197, to increase by $1,582,700,000 over 
fiscal years 2006 through 2010 funding for Transportation (budget 
function 400) with the amount of the increase intended to be allocated 
to the Vehicle Systems account of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration for subsonic and hypersonic aeronautics research. 
                                                     Pages S2875, S2939
  National Asbestos Awareness Day: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 43, designating the 
first day of April 2005 as ``National Asbestos Awareness Day'', and the 
resolution was then agreed to, after agreeing to the following 
amendment proposed thereto:                              
  Pages S3086-87
  Frist Amendment No. 264, to amend the preamble.        
Pages S3086-87
  Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund: Senate passed H.R. 1270, 
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the Leaking 
Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate, clearing the 
measure for the President.                                   
  Page S3087
  Financial Literary Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 88, designating 
April 2005 as ``Financial Literacy Month''.                  
  Page S3087
  Montana Future Farmers of America: Senate agreed to S. Res. 89, 
congratulating the Montana FFA on its 75th Anniversary and celebrating 
the achievements of Montana FFA members.                 
  Pages S3087-88
  Holocaust Commemoration Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 90, to 
designating the Week of May 1, 2005, as ``Holocaust Commemoration 
Week''.                                                      
  Page S3088
  Arms Export Embargo on China: Senate agreed to S. Res. 91, urging the 
European Union to maintain its arms export embargo on the People's 
Republic of China.                                       
  Pages S3088-90
Concurrent Budget Resolution: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that when the Senate receives H. Con. Res. 95 from the House, 
a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the 
United States Government for fiscal year 2006, revising appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2005, and setting forth appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 through 2010, the Senate begin 
its consideration; that all after the resolving clause be stricken and 
the text of S. Con. Res. 18, Concurrent Budget Resolution, as agreed to 
be inserted in lieu thereof; that the resolution then be agreed to as 
amended, the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with 
the House thereon, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on 
the part of the Senate.                                      
  Page S2971
Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding the 
adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President 
Pro Tempore, and the Majority and Minority Leaders be authorized to 
make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or 
interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action 
of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.                
  Page S3086
Authority for Committees: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that notwithstanding the adjournment of the Senate, all 
committees were authorized to file legislative and executive matters on 
Wednesday, March 30, 2005, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 noon. 
                                                         Pages S3086-87
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that during this adjournment of the Senate, the Majority 
Leader, Assistant Majority Leader and Senator Warner, to be authorized 
to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.            
  Page S3090
Appointments:
  United States Holocaust Memorial Council: The Chair, on behalf of the 
President pro tempore, pursuant to Public Law 96-388, as amended by 
Public Law 97-84 and Public Law 106-292, appointed the following 
Senators to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council: Senators 
Feingold and Lautenberg.                                     
  Page S3090
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  George M. Dennison, of Montana, to be a Member of the National 
Security Education Board for a term of four years.

[[Page D264]]


  James William Carr, of Arkansas, to be a Member of the National 
Security Education Board for a term of four years.
  Harold Damelin, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of 
the Treasury.
  David B. Balton, of the District of Columbia, for the rank of 
Ambassador during his tenure of service as Deputy Assistant Secretary 
of State for Oceans and Fisheries.
  Joseph R. DeTrani, of Virginia, for the rank of Ambassador during his 
tenure of service as Special Envoy for the Six Party Talks.
  John Thomas Schieffer, of Texas, to be Ambassador to Japan.
  Kiron Kanina Skinner, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the National 
Security Education Board for a term of four years.
  R. Nicholas Burns, of Massachusetts, to be an Under Secretary of 
State (Political Affairs).
  C. David Welch, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(Near Eastern Affairs).
  Jeffrey Clay Sell, of Texas, to be Deputy Secretary of Energy.
  Christopher R. Hill, of Rhode Island, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs).
  Rudolph E. Boschwitz, of Minnesota, for the rank of Ambassador during 
his tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America 
on the Human Rights Commission of the Economic and Social Council of 
the United Nations.
  35 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  37 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  2 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy. 
                                               Pages S3084-86, S3092-94
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Joseph H. Boardman, of New York, to be Administrator of the Federal 
Railroad Administration.
  John Robert Bolton, of Maryland, to be the Representative of the 
United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and 
status of Ambassador, and the Representative of the United States of 
America in the Security Council of the United Nations.
  John Robert Bolton, of Maryland, to be Representative of the United 
States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United 
Nations during his tenure of service as Representative of the United 
States of America to the United Nations.
  Stephen L. Johnson, of Maryland, to be Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency.
  John D. Negroponte, of New York, to be Director of National 
Intelligence.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps.        
Page S3092
Messages From the House:                                 
  Pages S2991-92
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S2992
Measures Read First Time:                                    
  Page S2992
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S2992
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S2993-94
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S2996-98
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:           
  Pages S2998-S3073
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S2989-91
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S2073-83
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                            
  Pages S3083-84
Authority for Committees to Meet:                            
  Page S3084
Privilege of the Floor:                                      
  Page S3084
Record Votes: Twenty-five record votes were taken today. (Total--81) 
                Pages S2919-26, S2929-30, S2932-37, S2941, S2944, S2965
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9 a.m., and adjourned at 11:48 p.m., 
until 4 p.m., on Monday, March 21, 2005. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3092.)