[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 21, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D942-D944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                      Wednesday, September 21, 2005

[[Page D942]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S10247-S10326
Measures Introduced: Twelve bills and two resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1738-1749, and S. Res. 245-246.  Pages S10294-95
Measures Reported:
  S. 1234, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2005, the rates of 
compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the 
rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of 
certain disabled veterans. (S. Rept. No. 109-138)
  S. 1235, to amend chapters 19 and 37 of title 38, United States Code, 
to extend the availability of $400,000 in coverage under the 
servicemembers' life insurance and veterans' group life insurance 
programs, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. 
No. 109-139)Page S10294
Measures Passed:
  Recognizing Simon Wiesenthal: Senate agreed to S. Res. 245, 
recognizing the life and accomplishments of Simon Wiesenthal. 
                                                         Pages 10254-57
  Iran Nonproliferation Amendments Act: Committee on Foreign Relations 
was discharged from further consideration of S. 1713, to make 
amendments to the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 related to 
International Space Station payments, and the bill was then passed. 
                                                         Pages 10257-58
  Statue of Po'Pay in Statuary Hall: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 242, 
providing for acceptance of a statue of Po'Pay, presented by the State 
of New Mexico, for placement in National Statuary Hall. 
                                                         Pages 10319-20
  Flexibility for Displaced Workers Act: Senate passed H.R. 3761, to 
provide special rules for disaster relief employment under the 
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 for individuals displaced by Hurricane 
Katrina, clearing the measure for the President.  Page 10320
  Coast Guard Hurricane Response: Senate agreed to S. Res. 246, to 
express the sense of the Senate regarding the missions and performance 
of the United States Coast Guard in responding to Hurricane Katrina. 
                                                         Pages 10325-26
Agriculture Appropriations: Senate continued consideration of H.R. 
2744, making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food 
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2006, taking action on the following amendments 
proposed thereto:  Pages 10264-87
Adopted:
  Bennett Amendment No. 1783, to permit the National Dairy Promotion 
and Research Board to obligate and expend funds for any activity to 
improve the environment and public health.Pages 10264-69
  Bennett Amendment No. 1803, to amend the Immigration and Nationality 
Act relative to nonprofit religious organizations in the United States.
                                                             Page 10270
  Bennett Amendment No. 1804, to prohibit funds from being used unless 
certain certifications are made relative to manufacturers of contact 
lens.Page 10270
  Bennett Amendment No. 1805, to provide that the federal facility 
located at the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in 
Poplarville, Mississippi shall be designated as the Thad Cochran 
Southern Horticultural Laboratory.Page 10270
  Bennett (for Kyl) Amendment No. 1806, to convey title in certain real 
property.Page 10270
  Bennett (for Leahy) Amendment No. 1807, to direct the Secretary of 
Agriculture to submit to Congress a report on whether to restore the 
National Organic Program.Page 10270
  Bennett (for Feingold) Amendment No. 1808, to direct the 
Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to 
publish and uniform methods and rules for addressing chronic wasting 
disease.Page 10270
  Bennett (for McConnell) Amendment No. 1809, to provide for livestock 
assistance.Pages 10270-71
  Bennett (for Smith/Wyden) Amendment No. 1786, to allow the Secretary 
to authorize the use of

[[Page D943]]

certain funds that would otherwise be recaptured under the rural 
business enterprise grant program.Page 10271
  Bennett (for McCain) Amendment No. 1785, to express the sense of the 
Senate regarding funding directives contained in H.R. 2744 or its 
accompanying report.Page 10272
  Bennett (for Baucus) Amendment No. 1800, to express the sense of the 
Senate regarding public sector funding of agricultural research and 
development.Page 10271
  Bennett (for DeWine) Amendment No. 1741, to pledge continued support 
for international hunger relief efforts and express the sense of the 
Senate that the United States Government should use resources and 
diplomatic leverage to secure food aid for countries that are in need 
of further assistance to prevent acute and chronic hunger. 
                                                         Pages 10272-73
  Bennett (for Reid) Amendment No. 1812, to provide that funds made 
available for the Plant Materials Center in Fallon, Nevada, shall 
remain available until expended.Page 10273
  Bennett (for Salazar) Amendment No. 1754, to provide for a report on 
the impact of increased prices of gas, natural gas, and diesel on 
agricultural producers, ranchers, and rural communities. 
                                                         Pages 10275-76
  Bennett (for Salazar) Amendment No. 1755, to require the Secretary of 
Agriculture to prepare a report on the conduct of activities to address 
bark beetle infestations.Page 10276
  By 55 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. 238), Coburn Amendment No. 1775, to 
require that any limitation, directive, or earmarking contained in 
either the House of Representatives or Senate report accompanying this 
bill be included in the conference report or joint statement 
accompanying the bill in order to be considered as having been approved 
by both Houses of Congress.Page 10283
  By 66 yeas to 29 nays (Vote No. 239), Bingaman/Lugar Amendment No. 
1797, to increase funds to implement and administer Team Nutrition 
programs, with an offset.Pages 10281-83, S10283-84
  Harkin Amendment 1835, to limit the use of certain funds. 
                                                         Pages 10284-86
  Kohl (for Dodd) Amendment No. 1818, to require the Food and Drug 
Administration to issue a monograph with respect to over-the-counter 
sunscreen.Page 10286
  Kohl (for Dodd) Amendment No. 1849 (to Amendment No. 1818), in the 
nature of a substitute.Pages 10286-87
Rejected:
  Coburn Amendment No. 1773, to reduce spending levels, to promote more 
efficient use of resources, and to encourage more appropriate budget 
estimates.Pages 10278-80, S10280-81
Pending:
  Dayton Modified Amendment No. 1844, to condition the use of funds for 
carrying out a provision relating to prevented planting payments, with 
an offset.Pages 10277-78
  Bingaman (for Jeffords) Amendment No. 1796, to provide funds to carry 
out the historic barn preservation program, with an offset. 
                                                             Page 10280
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  Bennett Amendment No. 1752, to establish a demonstration intermediate 
relending program for the construction and rehabilitation of housing 
for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Nation, previously agreed to on 
Tuesday, September 20, 2005, was modified by unanimous consent. 
                                                             Page 10270
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2005; 
with a vote to occur on or in relation to Dayton Amendment No. 1844 
(listed above), followed by a vote on or in relation to Bingaman (for 
Jeffords) Amendment No. 1796 (listed above), with no amendments in 
order to these amendments prior to the vote; followed by a vote on 
passage of the bill; provided further, the Senate insist on its 
amendment, request a conference with the House thereon, and the Chair 
then be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate. 
                                                             Page 10326
Hurricane Katrina Tax Relief Act: Senate concurred in the amendment of 
the House to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 3768, to provide 
emergency tax relief for persons affected by Hurricane Katrina, 
clearing the measure for the President.  Pages 10320-25
Appointments:
  United States Commission on Civil Rights: The Chair, on behalf of the 
President pro tempore and upon the recommendation of the Democratic 
Leader, pursuant to Public Law 98-183, as amended by Public Law 103-
419, appointed Arlan D. Melendez, of Nevada, to the United States 
Commission on Civil Rights.  Page 10319
Messages from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the continuation of the 
national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to 
commit, or support terrorism that was declared by Executive Order

[[Page D944]]

13224; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs. (PM-23)Page 10292
Messages From the House:  Pages10292-93 
Measures Referred:  Page 10293
Measures Placed on Calendar:  Page 10293
Measures Read First Time:  Page 10293
Executive Communications:  Pages 10293-94
Additional Cosponsors:  Pages 10295-96
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:  Pages 10296-S10307
Additional Statements:  Pages 10291-92
Amendments Submitted:  Pages 10307-19
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:  Page 10319
Authority for Committees to Meet:  Page 10319
Privilege of the Floor:  Page 10319
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--239) 
                                                   Pages S10283, S10284
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 8:36 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, September 22, 2005. (For Senate's 
program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's 
Record on page S10326.)