[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D266-D267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page D266]]




                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: 96 public bills, H.R. 1356-1451; and 34 
resolutions, H.J. Res. 38-39; H. Con. Res. 103-120, and H. Res. 167-
180, were introduced.                                    
  Pages H1690-96
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H1696-97
Reports Filed: Report were filed today as follows:
  H. Con. Res. 53, expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the 
issuance of the 500,000th design patent by the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office (H. Rept. 109-22);
  H.R. 683, to amend the Trademark Act of 1946 with respect to dilution 
by blurring or tarnishment, amended (H. Rept. 109-23);
  H.R. 1038, to amend title 28, United States Code, to allow a judge to 
whom a case is transferred to retain jurisdiction over certain 
multidistrict litigation cases for trial (H. Rept. 109-24);
  H.R. 366, to amend the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical 
Education Act of 1998 to strengthen and improve programs under that 
Act, amended (H. Rept. 109-25); and
  H.R. 185, to require the review of Government programs at least once 
every 5 years for purposes of evaluating their performance (H. Rept. 
109-26)                                                      
Page H1690
Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2006: The House passed H. Con. Res. 
95, establishing the congressional budget for the United States 
Government for fiscal year 2006, revising appropriate budgetary levels 
for fiscal year 2005, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels 
for fiscal years 2007 through 2010, by a yea-and-nay vote of 218 yeas 
to 214 nays, Roll No. 88. The bill was also considered yesterday, March 
16.                                            
  Pages H1627-40, H1641-74
  Agreed by unanimous consent that a final period of general debate be 
in order at the conclusion of consideration of amendments. 
                                                         Pages H1640-41
  Yesterday it was agreed that during further consideration of the 
bill, the Hensarling amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 109-19) may 
be considered out of the specified order.
Rejected:
  Obey amendment, No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 109-19, that increases 
$15.8 billion in FY06 new BA and outlays for veterans, education, 
health care needs, homeland security, the environment and 
infrastructure; and reduces the FY06 tax benefit for those earning more 
than $1 million; (by a recorded vote of 180 ayes to 242 noes, Roll No. 
82);                                                     
Pages H1627-33
  Debated Wednesday, March 16: Hensarling amendment in the nature of a 
substitute (Republican Study Committee), No. 2 printed in H. Rept 109-
19, that replaces the current 19 functional categories with four 
functions: Defense, Homeland Security, Non-Defense Discretionary and 
Mandatory Spending, and Interest; and accepts the Iraq Operations 
Reserve Fund and creates a new ``rainy day'' fund for non-military 
emergencies (by a recorded vote of 102 ayes to 320 noes, Roll No. 83). 
                                                         Pages H1633-40
  Watt amendment in the nature of a substitute (Congressional Black 
Caucus), No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 109-19, that calls for an additional 
$36.3 billion in spending and a $4 billion deficit reduction for FY 
2006 (by a recorded vote of 134 ayes to 292 noes and 3 voting 
``present'', Roll No. 85);                               
Pages H1641-53
  Spratt amendment in the nature of a substitute, No. 4 printed in H. 
Rept. 109-19, that projects spending and revenue levels that would 
eliminate deficits and result in a balanced budget by FY 2012 (by a 
recorded vote of 165 ayes to 264 noes with 1 voting ``present'', Roll 
No. 87);                                                 
Pages H1654-65
  Motion to rise: Rejected the Blumenauer motion that the Committee 
rise by a recorded vote of 101 ayes, to 313 noes and 1 voting 
``present'', Roll No. 86.                                
Pages H1653-54
  H. Res. 154, the rule providing for consideration of the measure was 
agreed to yesterday, March 16.
Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed: The House agreed to suspend the 
rules and pass the following measures which were debated yesterday, 
March 16:
  Expressing concern regarding the occupation of the Republic of 
Lebanon by the Syrian Arab Republic: H. Con. Res. 32, amended, 
expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the occupation of 
the Republic of Lebanon by the Syrian Arab Republic, by a \2/3\ yea-
and-nay vote of 419 yeas to 1 nay and 4 voting ``present'', Roll No. 
84; and                                                      
  Page H1640
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: concurrent resolution 
expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the occupation of 
the Lebanese Republic by the Syrian Arab Republic.           
Page H1640
  Expressing concern regarding the continued violations of human rights 
and civil liberties of the Syrian and Lebanese people by the Government 
of the Syrian Arab Republic: H. Con. Res. 18, amended, expressing the 
grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing gross violations of 
human rights and civil liberties of the Syrian and Lebanese

[[Page D267]]

people by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, by a \2/3\ yea-
and-nay vote of 402 yeas to 3 nays, Roll No. 89.         
  Pages H1674-75
Spring District Work Period: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 103, 
providing for a conditional adjournment of the House and a conditional 
recess or adjournment of the Senate.                         
  Page H1675
Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday 
business of Wednesday, April 6.                              
  Page H1675
Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourn today, it adjourn to 
meet at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 21, unless it sooner has received a 
message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 
103, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that 
concurrent resolution.                                       
  Page H1675
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
appointed Representative Wolf, or if not able to perform this duty, 
Representative Tom Davis (VA) to sign enrolled bills and joint 
resolutions through April 5.                                 
  Page H1675
Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and five recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H1632, 
H1639-40, H1640, H1653, H1654, H1664-65, H1674, and H1674-75. There 
were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and at 6:15 p.m., pursuant to the 
provisions of H. Con. Res. 103, it stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on 
Monday, March 21, unless it sooner has received a message from the 
Senate transmitting its adoption of the concurrent resolution, in which 
case the House shall stand adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 
2005.