[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D419-D422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, April 28, 2005

[[Page D419]]


                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate and House agreed to the Conference Report to accompany H. 
      Con. Res. 95, Budget Resolution.
      Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 29, Adjournment Resolution.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4445-S4609
Measures Introduced: Forty-four bills and seven resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 933-976, S. Res. 128-132, and S. Con. Res. 
29-30.                                                   
  Pages S4546-47
Measures Reported: Report to accompany S. 907, to amend chapter 53 of 
title 49, United States Code, to improve the Nation's public 
transportation and for other purposes. (S. Rept. No. 109-62)
  S. 136, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide 
supplemental funding and other services that are necessary to assist 
certain local school districts in the State of California in providing 
education services for students attending schools located within 
Yosemite National Park, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
adjust the boundaries of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, with 
amendments. (S. Rept. No. 109-63)
  S. 661, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the 
modernization of the United States Tax Court, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 109-64)                
Page S4545
Measures Passed:
  Commending Judge Annice M. Wagner: Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 
Res. 107, commending Annice M. Wagner, Chief Judge of the District of 
Columbia Court of Appeals, for her public service, and the resolution 
was then agreed to.                                      
  Pages S4445-46
  Public Service Recognition Week: Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 
Res. 108, expressing the sense of the Senate that public servants 
should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the 
Nation during Public Service Recognition Week, May 2 through 8, 2005, 
and the resolution was then agreed to.                   
  Pages S4446-47
  Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents: Committee on Rules and 
Administration was discharged from further consideration of H.J. Res. 
19, providing for the appointment of Shirley Ann Jackson as a citizen 
regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                               
  Page S4447
  Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents: Committee on Rules and 
Administration was discharged from further consideration of H.J. Res. 
20, providing for the appointment of Robert P. Kogod as a citizen 
regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                               
  Page S4447
  Adjournment Resolution: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 29, providing 
for a conditional adjournment or recess of the Senate.       
  Page S4479
  Celebrating Young Americans: Senate agreed to S. Res. 128, 
designating April 30, 2005, as ``Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young 
Americans''.                                             
  Pages S4602-04
  Commending Virginia Retail Merchants Association: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 129, commending the Virginia Retail Merchants Association on 100 
years of service to the community.                       
  Pages S4602-04
  North American Occupational Safety and Health Week: Senate agreed to 
S. Res. 130, designating the week of May 1 through May 7, 2005, as 
``North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH)''. 
                                                         Pages S4602-04
  Commemorating Law Enforcement Officers: Senate agreed to S. Res. 131, 
commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by 
the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as law 
enforceement officers.                                   
  Pages S4602-04

[[Page D420]]

  National Better Hearing and Speech Month: Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration of S. Res. 121, supporting May 2005 as ``National Better 
Hearing and Speech Month'' and commending those States that have 
implemented routine hearing screenings for every newborn before the 
newborn leaves the hospital, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                         Pages S4604-05
  National Hepatitis B Awareness Week: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 117, designating the 
week of May 9, 2005, as ``National Hepatitis B Awareness Week'', and 
the resolution was then agreed to.                           
  Page S4605
  Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act: Committee on the 
Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. 382, to amend 
title 18, United States Code, to strengthen prohibitions against animal 
fighting, and the bill was then passed.                  
  Pages S4605-06
  Recognizing Big Brothers and Sisters: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 
41, recognizing the second century of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and 
supporting the mission and goals of that organization.       
  Page S4606
  Terrorist Organizations List: Committee on Foreign Relations was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 82, urging the 
European Union to add Hezbollah to the European Union's wide-ranging 
list of terrorist organizations, and the resolution was then agreed to, 
after agreeing to the following amendment to the preamble:   
  Page S4606
  Frist (for Allen) Amendment No. 596, to provide a substitute to the 
preamble.                                                    
Page S4606
  Intelsat Separated Entities: Senate passed S. 976, striking the 
specific privatization criteria in ORBIT for Intelsat Separated 
Entities (New Skies) and Inmarsat and Other Technical Corrections. 
                                                             Page S4607
Transportation Equity Act: Senate continued consideration of H.R. 3, to 
authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and 
transit programs, and then began consideration of the bill, taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                               Pages S4452-63, S4465-75
Adopted:
  Thune Amendment No. 593 (to Amendment No. 567), to retain current 
levels of State authority over matters relating to preservation, 
historic, scenic natural environment, and community values. 
                                                  Pages S4465-68, S4475
  Gregg (for Isakson) Amendment No. 594 (to Amendment No. 567), to 
require the Secretary of Transportation to approve a certain 
construction project in the State of Georgia, provide for the 
reservation of Federal funds for the project, and clarify that the 
project meets certain requirements.                         
Pages S4475
Rejected:
  Bond Amendment No. 592 (to Amendment No. 567), to strike the highway 
stormwater discharge mitigation program. (By 51 yeas to 49 nays (Vote 
No. 113), Senate tabled the amendment.)        
Pages S4453-63, S4469-75
Withdrawn:
  Bayh Amendment No. 568 (to Amendment No. 567), to amend title VII of 
the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide that the provisions relating to 
countervailing duties apply to nonmarket economy countries. 
                                                            Pages S4452
Pending:
  Inhofe Amendment No. 567, to provide a complete substitute. 
                                               Pages S4452-63, S4465-75
  Salazar Amendment No. 581 (to Amendment No. 567), to modify the 
percentage of apportioned funds that may be used to address needs 
relating to off-system bridges.                          
Pages S4468-69
  During consideration of this bill today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 98 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 112), Senate agreed to the motion to 
recess until 2 p.m.                                          
Page S4463
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at 2 p.m., on Monday, May 9, 2005. 
                                                             Page S4607
Concurrent Budget Resolution--Conference Report: By 52 yeas to 47 nays 
(Vote No. 114), Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany 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, clearing the measure for the 
President.                                            
  Pages S4481-S4527
Appointments: Task Force on Slave Laborers: The Chair, on behalf of the 
President pro tempore, pursuant to S. Con Res. 130 (106th Congress), 
appointed the following individual to the Task Force on Slave Laborers: 
Curtis H. Sykes of Arkansas, and notes Senator Blanche Lincoln of 
Arkansas will serve as the designee of the Democratic Leader. 
                                                             Page S4600
  U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: The Chair, on 
behalf of the President pro tempore, upon the recommendation of the 
Democratic Leader, pursuant to Public Law 105-292, as amended by Public 
Law 106-55, and as further amended by Public Law 107-228, appointed the 
following individual to the United States Commission

[[Page D421]]

on International Religious Freedom: Most Reverend Ricardo Ramirez, 
C.S.B. of New Mexico for a term of two years (May 15, 2005-May 14, 
2007).                                                       
  Page S4600
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 S4607
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, be authorized to 
sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.               
  Page S4607
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  James C. Dever III, of North Carolina, to be United States District 
Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
  Robert J. Conrad, Jr., of North Carolina, to be United States 
District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina. 
                                                         Pages S4477-79
  Jonathan Brian Perlin, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary for Health 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs for a term of four years.
  William Cobey, of North Carolina, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for a term 
expiring May 30, 2010.
  Nancy Ann Nord, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of 
the Consumer Product Safety Commission for the remainder of the term 
expiring October 26, 2005.
  Nancy Ann Nord, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of 
the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from 
October 27, 2005.
  Joseph H. Boardman, of New York, to be Administrator of the Federal 
Railroad Administration.                                     
Page S4600
  Stephen L. Johnson, of Maryland, to be Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency. (Prior to this action, by 61 yeas to 
37 nays (Vote No. 115), Senate agreed to the motion to invoke cloture 
on the nomination.)                                      
Pages S4528-29
  Robert J. Portman, of Ohio, to be United States Trade Representative, 
with the rank of Ambassador. (Prior to this action, the pending vote on 
the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination was vitiated.) 
                                                         Pages S4529-33
  Phyllis F. Scheinberg, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Transportation.
  Daniel Fried, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of State (European Affairs). (Prior to this action, Committee 
on Foreign Relations was discharged from further consideration).
  6 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  101 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  3 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general.
  3 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps. 
                                               Pages S4600-02, S4607-09
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Donald E. Booth, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Liberia.
  Molly Hering Bordonaro, of Oregon, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Malta.
  Julie Finley, of the District of Columbia, to be U.S. Representative 
to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the 
rank of Ambassador.
  Richard J. Griffin, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
State (Diplomatic Security).
  Richard J. Griffin, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office of 
Foreign Missions, and to have the rank of Ambassador during his tenure 
of service.
  Joseph A. Mussomeli, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of 
Cambodia.
  Richard L. Skinner, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department 
of Homeland Security.
  Kevin F. Sullivan, of New York, to be Assistant Secretary for 
Communications and Outreach, Department of Education.
  Catherine Lucille Hanaway, of Missouri, to be United States Attorney 
for the Eastern District of Missouri for the term of four years.
  Dina Habib Powell, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(Educational and Cultural Affairs).                          
Page S4607
Messages From the House:                                     
  Page S4543
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S4543
Measures Read First Time:                                    
  Page S4543
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S4543-45
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S4545-46
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S4547-49
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S4549-97
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S4541-43

[[Page D422]]

Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S4597-99
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S4599
Authority for Committees to Meet:                     
  Pages S4599-S4600
Privilege of the Floor:                                      
  Page S4600
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--115) 
                                    Pages S4463, S4474-75, S4527, S4529
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and, pursuant to the 
provisions of S. Con. Res. 29, adjourned at 1:26 a.m. on Friday, April 
29, 2005, until 2 p.m., on Monday, May 9, 2005. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S4607.)