[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 62 (Thursday, May 12, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D473-D475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                             Thursday, May 12, 2005

[[Page D473]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S5007-S5185
Measures Introduced: Twenty-six bills and seven resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1008-1033, S. Res. 136-141, and S. Con. Res. 
32.
  Pages S5070-71
Measures Reported:
  S. 536, to make technical corrections to laws relating to Native 
Americans. (S. Rept. No. 109-67)
Page S5070
Measures Passed:
  National Drug Court Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 136, designating 
the month of May 2005 as ``National Drug Court Month''.
  Page S5181
  National Child Care Worthy Wage Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 137, 
designating May 1, 2005, as ``National Child Care Worthy Wage Day''. 
                                                         Pages S5181-82
  National Day of the American Cowboy: Senate agreed to S. Res. 138, 
designating July 23, 2005 as ``National Day of the American Cowboy''. 
                                                             Page S5182
  Russian Troop Withdrawal: Senate agreed to S. Res. 139, expressing 
support for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia. 
                                                         Pages S5182-83
  Greater Washington Soap Box Derby: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 86, 
authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington 
Soap Box Derby.
  Page S5183
  Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run: Senate agreed to H. Con. 
Res. 135, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District 
of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.
  Page S5183
  National Peace Officers Memorial Service:  Senate agreed to H. Con. 
Res. 136, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National 
Peace Officers' Memorial Service.
  Page S5183
  National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day: Senate 
agreed to S. Res. 141, designating September 9, 2005, as ``National 
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day''.
  Pages S5183-84
  Transportation Equity Act: Senate continued consideration of H.R. 3, 
to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, 
and transit programs, taking action on the following amendments 
proposed thereto:
  Pages S5014-62
Adopted:
  Inhofe (for Dole/Burr) Amendment No. 574 (to Amendment No. 605), to 
allow States to own the entire interest of a real estate investment 
trust without tax consequences in order to assist the State in 
preserving its railroad infrastructure.
Page S5019
  Inhofe (for Lieberman) Amendment No. 598 (to Amendment No. 605), to 
provide a 90 percent Federal match for bridge projects on the 
Interstate Highway System.
Page S5019
  Inhofe (for Murray) Modified Amendment No. 624 (to Amendment No. 
605), to provide for a comprehensive study of the damages to the Alaska 
Way Viaduct from the Nisqually earthquake to determine whether to 
repair, retrofit, or replace the Viaduct and whether emergency relief 
funding should be made available for the Viaduct.
Page S5019
  Inhofe (for Clinton) Amendment No. 628 (to Amendment No. 605), to 
reestablish the University of Buffalo as an appropriate research center 
for research on the impact of seismic activity on the Federal-aid 
highway system.
Page S5019
  Inhofe (for Dayton) Modified Amendment No. 634 (to Amendment No. 
605), to raise consumer awareness of ethanol-fueled vehicles. 
                                                         Pages S5019-20
  Inhofe (for Conrad/Dorgan) Amendment No. 643 (to Amendment No. 605), 
to establish the Federal share of the cost of constructing a bridge in 
the State of North Dakota.
Page S5020
  Inhofe (for Obama) Modified Amendment No. 670 (to Amendment No. 605), 
to provide for Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) refueling capability at new 
and existing refueling station facilities to promote energy security 
and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Pages S5020, S5025-28

[[Page D474]]


  Inhofe (for Clinton/Inhofe) Modified Amendment No. 681 (to Amendment 
No. 605), to modify provisions relating to the congestion and air 
quality improvement program.
Pages S5020-21
  Inhofe (for Landrieu) Amendment No. 621 (to Amendment No. 605), to 
provide for the conduct of a community enhancement study.
Page S5021
  Inhofe (for Landrieu) Amendment No. 622 (to Amendment No. 605), to 
provide for the development of a comprehensive coastal evacuation plan.
                                                         Pages S5021-22
  Inhofe (for Specter) Modified Amendment No. 666 (to Amendment No. 
605), to improve the high-speed magnetic levitation system deployment 
program.
Pages S5022-23
  Inhofe (for Stevens) Amendment No. 685 (to Amendment No. 605), to 
increase an amount made available for the Alaska Highway System. 
                                                             Page S5023
  Inhofe (for Salazar) Amendment No. 694 (to Amendment No. 605), to 
provide for an off-system bridges pilot program.
Page S5023
  Inhofe (for Snowe) Modified Amendment No. 705 (to Amendment No. 605), 
to allow the State of Maine to use certain transportations funds made 
available to the State to support the operation of passenger rail 
service between Boston, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine. 
                                                             Page S5023
  Inhofe (for Santorum) Modified Amendment No. 708 (to Amendment No. 
605), to provide for the reobligation and use of excess project funds 
and funds for projects that are inactive.
Page S5023
  Inhofe (for Baucus) Modified Amendment No. 713 (to Amendment No. 
605), to provide funds for the State of Montana for the operation of 
public transit activities that serve a non-attainment or maintenance 
area.
Page S5023
  Inhofe Amendment No. 737 (to Amendment No. 605), to make certain 
revisions relating to alternative methods to improve the accessibility 
of public transportation for persons with visual disabilities, tax-free 
transit benefits, authority to use government vehicles to transport 
Federal employees, and projects in Alaska and Hawaii for new fixed 
guideway systems and extension projects utilizing ferry boats. 
                                                         Pages S5023-24
  Inhofe (for Santorum/Specter) Amendment No. 725 (to Amendment No. 
605), to provide for the construction of improvements to streets and 
roads providing access to State Route 28 in the State of Pennsylvania. 
                                                             Page S5024
  Inhofe (for Levin/Stabenow) Amendment No. 755 (to Amendment No. 725), 
to reprogram funds made available for Interstate Route 75 and North 
Down River Road, Michigan.
Page S5025
  Inhofe Modified Amendment No. 726 (to Amendment No. 605), to 
establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible 
recipients for the replacement or retrofit of certain existing school 
buses.
Pages S5024-25
  Nelson (FL) (for Feingold) Amendment No. 610 (to Amendment No. 605), 
to improve the accuracy and efficacy of identity authentication systems 
and ensure privacy and security.
Page S5014
  Inhofe (for Chambliss/Isakson) Modified Amendment No. 569 (to 
Amendment No. 605), to provide that certain funds shall be appropriated 
to the Department of Transportation to carry out studies and reports 
relating to projects in the State of Georgia.
Pages S5045-46
  Inhofe (for Cornyn) Modified Amendment No. 662 (to Amendment No. 
605), to strike section 1802(c) relating to contractor suspension and 
debarment policy.
Pages S5046-54
Pending:
  Inhofe Amendment No. 605, to provide a complete substitute. 
                                                             Page S5014
  Dorgan Amendment No. 652 (to Amendment No. 605), to provide for the 
conduct of an investigation to determine whether market manipulation is 
contributing to higher gasoline prices.
Page S5014
  Inhofe (for Ensign) Amendment No. 636 (to Amendment No. 605), to 
authorize the State of Nevada to continue construction of the US-95 
Project in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pages S5015-18
  Allen/Ensign Amendment No. 611 (to Amendment No. 605), to modify the 
eligibility requirements for States to receive a grant under section 
405 of title 49, United States Code.
Pages S5054-59
  Schumer Amendment No. 674 (to Amendment No. 605), to increase the 
transit pass and van pooling benefit to $200.
Page S5059
  Sessions Modified Amendment No. 646 (to Amendment No. 605), to reduce 
funding for certain programs.
Page S5059
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 92 yeas to 7 nays (Vote No. 122), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion to close further debate on Inhofe Amendment No. 605 
(listed above).
Page S5026
  Chair sustained a point of order that Byrd Amendment No. 635 (to 
Amendment No. 605), to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow 
a credit for rural commuters, was not germane, and the amendment thus 
fell.
Pages S5028-45
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for a list of 
amendments to be the only remaining first-degree amendments, other than 
a managers' amendment to be cleared by both managers and both leaders; 
provided further, that they be subject to second-degree amendments that 
have been

[[Page D475]]

filed in accordance with Rule 22; that any amendment from the list must 
be offered by 4 p.m. on Monday, May 16; provided further, that when the 
Senate resumes consideration of the bill on Tuesday, May 17, all time 
be expired under Rule 22 and the Senate proceed to votes in relation to 
the pending amendments in the order offered; the Senate then proceed to 
a vote on Inhofe substitute Amendment No. 605, as amended, that the 
cloture vote on the underlying bill be vitiated, and the Senate then 
proceed to a vote on passage of the bill.
Page S5055
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 13, 2005. 
                                                             Page S5184
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  John Paul Woodley, Jr., of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
the Army.
Page S5185
Nominations Discharged: The following nominations were discharged from 
further committee consideration and placed on the Executive Calendar:
  Thomas C. Dorr, of Iowa, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for 
Rural Development, which was sent to the Senate on January 24, 2005, 
from the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Thomas C. Dorr, of Iowa, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation, which was sent to the Senate on 
January 24, 2005, from the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry.
Page S5181
Messages From the House:
  Page S5069
Measures Referred:
  Page S5069
Executive Communications:
  Pages S5069-70
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S5070
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S5071-73
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S5073-S5173
Additional Statements:
  Pages S5067-69
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S5173-80
Authority for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S5180-81
Privilege of the Floor:
  Page S5181
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--122) 
                                                             Page S5026
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:40 p.m. 
until 10 a.m., on Friday, May 13, 2005. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S5184-85.)