[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 28, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D975-D976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                      Wednesday, September 28, 2005

[[Page D975]]


                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, Fiscal 
      Years 2006 through 2009.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S10529-S10630
Measures Introduced: Ten bills and eight resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1779-1788, S.J. Res. 27, S. Res. 254-259, and S. Con. 
Res. 54.
  Page S10594
Measures Reported:
  H.R. 2863, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for 
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
Page S10594
Measures Passed:
  NASA Authorization: Senate passed S. 1281, to authorize 
appropriations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
for science, aeronautics, exploration, exploration capabilities, and 
the Inspector General, for fiscal years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 
2010, after agreeing to the committee amendments, and the following 
amendment proposed thereto:
  Pages S10610-20
  Graham (for Hutchison/Nelson (FL)) Amendment No. 1875, of a 
perfecting nature.
Page S10614
  Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act: Senate passed S. 1235, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to extend the availability of $400,000 in 
life insurance coverage to servicemembers and veterans, to make a 
stillborn child an insurable dependent for purposes of the 
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program, to make technical 
corrections to the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004, to make 
permanent a pilot program for direct housing loans for Native American 
veterans, and to require an annual plan on outreach activities of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, after agreeing to the committee 
amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. 
                                                        Pages S10620-22
  Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Affected by Hurricanes 
Katrina and Rita Act: Senate passed H.R. 3864, to assist individuals 
with disabilities affected by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita through 
vocational rehabilitation services, clearing the measure for the 
President.
  Page S10622
  Honoring Sandra Feldman: Senate agreed to S. Res. 256, honoring the 
life of Sandra Feldman.
  Pages S10622-23
  Recognizing Jacob Mock Doub: Senate agreed to S. Res. 257, 
recognizing the spirit of Jacob Mock Doub and many young people who 
have contributed to encouraging youth to be physically active and fit, 
and expressing support for ``National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day''.
                                                            Page S10623
  Commending Timothy S. Wineman: Senate agreed to S. Res. 258, to 
commend Timothy Scott Wineman.
  Page S10623
  Airport Improvement Project Grants: Senate passed S. 1786, to 
authorize the Secretary of Transportation to make emergency airport 
improvement project grants-in-aid under title 49, United States Code, 
for repairs and costs related to damage from Hurricanes Katrina and 
Rita.
  Page S10624
Montana Indian Water Rights--Referral Agreement: A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S. 1219, 
to authorize certain tribes in the State of Montana to enter into a 
lease or other temporary conveyance of water rights to meet the water 
needs of the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association, Inc., and the bill 
was then referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Page S10624
Roberts Nomination: Senate continued consideration of the nomination of 
John G. Roberts, Jr., of Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the United 
States.
  Pages S10529-78
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the nomination

[[Page D976]]

at 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, September 28, 2005, provided further, that 
the time until 10:30 a.m., be equally divided between the two leaders 
or their designees, and at 11:30 a.m., vote on confirmation of the 
nomination.
Page S10624
Removal of Injunction of Secrecy: The injunction of secrecy was removed 
from the following treaty:
  Protocol Amending the Tax Convention with France (Treaty Doc. No. 
109-4).
  The treaty was transmitted to the Senate today, considered as having 
been read for the first time, and referred, with accompanying papers, 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed. 
                                                            Page S10624
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Jendayi Elizabeth Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State (African 
Affairs), to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the African 
Development Foundation for the remainder of the term expiring September 
27, 2009.
  Horace A. Thompson, of Mississippi, to be a Member of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission for a term expiring 
April 27, 2011.
  Kent D. Talbert, of Virginia, to be General Counsel, Department of 
Education.
  Carol E. Dinkins, of Texas, to be Chairman of the Privacy and Civil 
Liberties Oversight Board.
  Alan Charles Raul, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman 
of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.
  Timothy C. Batten, Sr., of Georgia, to be United States District 
Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
  Kristi Dubose, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the 
Southern District of Alabama.
  Thomas E. Johnston, of West Virginia, to be United States District 
Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia.
  Virginia Mary Kendall, of Illinois, to be United States District 
Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.
  W. Keith Watkins, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for 
the Middle District of Alabama.
  Routine lists in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
and Public Health Service.
Pages S10629-30
Messages From the House:
  Pages S10592-93
Measures Referred:
  Page S10593
Measures Placed on Calendar:
  Page S10593
Executive Communications:
  Pages S10593-94
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S10594-96
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S10596-S10604
Additional Statements:
  Pages S10590-92
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S10604-08
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Pages S10608-09
Authority for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S10609-10
Privilege of the Floor:
  Page S10610
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 7:37 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, September 29, 2005. (For Senate's 
program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's 
Record on page S10624.)