[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1283-D1285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                        House of Representatives

Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 25 public bills, H.R. 4524-4548; 
and 13 resolutions, H.J. Res. 74; H. Con. Res. 315-316; and H. Res. 598-601, 
603-609 were introduced.
  Pages H11652-54
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H11654-55
Reports Filed: A report was filed today as follows:
  H. Res. 602, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2830) to amend 
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to reform the pension funding rules (H. Rept. 109-346); and
  H. Res. 610, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4437) to amend 
the Immigration and Nationality Act to strengthen enforcement of the 
immigration laws, to enhance border security, (H. Rept. 109-347). 
                                                 Pages H11629 H11651, H11652
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative 
Foley to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today.
  Page H11507
Discharge Petitions: Representative Marshall moved to discharge the 
Committee on Rules from the consideration of H. Res. 568, providing for the 
consideration of H.R. 3936, to protect consumers from price-gouging of 
gasoline and other fuels during energy emergencies (Discharge Petition No. 
7); and
  Representative Waxman moved to discharge the Committee on Rules from the 
consideration of H. Res. 570, providing for the consideration of H.R. 3925, 
to provide that a Federal public safety position may not be held by any 
political appointee who does not meet certain minimum requirements 
(Discharge Petition No. 8).
USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005--Conference Report: 
The House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 3199, to extend and modify 
authorities needed to combat terrorism, after agreeing to order the previous 
question, by a yea-and-nay vote of 251 yeas to 174 nays, Roll No. 627. 
                                                             Pages H11523-44
  Rejected the Conyers motion to recommit the conference report on the bill 
to the Committee of Conference with instructions to recede from disagreement 
with the Senate amendment, by a recorded vote of 202 ayes to 224 noes, Roll 
No. 626.
Pages H11542-43
  H. Res. 595, the rule providing for consideration of the conference 
report, was agreed to by voice vote, after agreeing to order the previous 
question.
Pages H11515-23
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006--Conference Report: The House agreed to 
the conference report on H.R. 3010, to make appropriations for the 
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related 
Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, by a yea-and-nay 
vote of 215 yeas to 213 nays, Roll No. 628.
  Pages H11544-52
  H. Res. 596, the rule providing for consideration of the conference 
report, was agreed to by voice vote, after agreeing to order the previous 
question.
Pages H11512-15
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following 
measures:
  CFTC Reauthorization Act of 2005: H.R. 4473, to reauthorize and amend the 
Commodity Exchange Act to promote legal certainty, enhance competition, and 
reduce systemic risk in markets for futures and over-the-counter 
derivatives;
  Pages H11553-61
  Commending the outstanding efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina by 
members and employees of the Coast Guard, to provide temporary relief to 
certain persons affected by such hurricane with respect to certain laws 
administered by the Coast Guard: H.R. 4508, to commend the outstanding 
efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina by members

[[Page D1284]]

and employees of the Coast Guard, to provide temporary relief to certain 
persons affected by such hurricane with respect to certain laws administered 
by the Coast Guard;
  Pages H11567-69
  Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005: H.R. 972, 
amended, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 for the 
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, by a yea-and-nay vote of 426 
yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 632;
  Pages H11570-79, H11585-86
  Reverse Mortgages to Help America's Seniors Act: H.R. 2892, to amend 
section 255 of the National Housing Act to remove the limitation on the 
number of reverse mortgages that may be insured under the FHA mortgage 
insurance program for such mortgages;
  Pages H11586-88
  2005 District of Columbia Omnibus Authorization Act: H.R. 3508, amended, 
to authorize improvements in the operation of the government of the District 
of Columbia;
  Pages H11588-96
  Congratulating Tony Stewart on winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup 
Championship: H. Res. 587, to congratulate Tony Stewart on winning the 2005 
NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship;
  Pages H11602-05
  Recognizing Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer of the United 
States Navy: H.J. Res. 38, to recognize Commodore John Barry as the first 
flag officer of the United States Navy;
  Pages H11605-06
  Reauthorizing the Congressional Award Act: S. 335, to reauthorize the 
Congressional Award Act--clearing the measure for the President; 
                                                             Pages H11606-07
  Providing certain authorities for the Department of State: H.R. 4436, 
amended, to provide certain authorities for the Department of State; 
                                                             Pages H11607-09
  Expressing the sense of Congress that the Government of the United States 
should actively support the aspirations of the democratic political and 
social forces in the Republic of Nicaragua toward an immediate and full 
restoration of functioning democracy in that country: H. Con. Res. 252, 
amended, to express the sense of Congress that the Government of the United 
States should actively support the aspirations of the democratic political 
and social forces in the Republic of Nicaragua toward an immediate and full 
restoration of functioning democracy in that country;
  Pages H11609-12
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read ``Expressing the sense of Congress 
that the Government of the United States should support democracy, the rule 
of law, and human rights in the Republic of Nicaragua and work cooperatively 
with regional and international organizations to bolster Nicaraguan efforts 
to establish the requisite conditions for free, fair, transparent, and 
inclusive presidential and legislative elections in 2006.''.
  Remembering and commemorating the lives and work of Maryknoll Sisters 
Maura Clarke and Ita Ford, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel, and Cleveland Lay 
Mission Team Member Jean Donovan, who were executed by members of the armed 
forces of El Salvador on December 2, 1980: H.R. 458, amended, to remember 
and commemorate the lives and work of Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita 
Ford, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel, and Cleveland Lay Mission Team Member 
Jean Donovan, who were executed by members of the armed forces of El 
Salvador on December 2, 1980;
  Pages H11612-18
  Recommending the integration of the Republic of Croatia into the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization: H. Res. 529, amended, to recommend the 
integration of the Republic of Croatia into the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization;
  Pages H11618-21
  Honoring the victims of the Cambodian genocide that took place from April 
1975 to January 1979: H. Con. Res. 238, amended, to honor the victims of the 
Cambodian genocide that took place from April 1975 to January 1979 
                                                             Pages H11629-30
Suspensions--Failed: The House failed to agree to suspend the rules and pass 
the following measure:
  Establishing the Task Force on Ocean Policy: H. Res. 599, to establish the 
Task Force on Ocean Policy, by a yea-and-nay vote of 103 yeas to 327 nays, 
Roll No. 631.
  Pages H11561-67, H11585
Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed: The House completed debate on the 
following measures under suspension of the rules. Further consideration will 
continue at a later date on the measures:
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and 
traditions of Christmas should be protected: H. Res. 579, amended, to 
express the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and 
traditions of Christmas should be protected;
  Pages H11596-H11600
  Urging the President to issue a proclamation for the observance of an 
American Jewish History Month: H. Con. Res. 315, to urge the President to 
issue a proclamation for the observance of an American Jewish History Month;
                                                             Pages H11600-02
  Urging the Government of the Russian Federation to withdraw or modify 
proposed legislation that would have the effect of severely restricting the 
establishment, operations, and activities of domestic and foreign 
nongovernmental organizations in the Russian Federation: H. Con. Res. 312, 
amended, to urge the Government of the Russian Federation to withdraw or 
modify proposed legislation that would have the effect of severely 
restricting the establishment, operations, and activities of domestic and 
foreign nongovernmental organizations in the Russian Federation; 
                                                             Pages H11621-24
  Calling on the international community to condemn the Laogai, the system 
of forced labor prison camps in the People's Republic of China, as a tool

[[Page D1285]]

for suppression maintained by the Chinese Government: H. Con. Res. 294, 
amended, to call on the international community to condemn the Laogai, the 
system of forced labor prison camps in the People's Republic of China, as a 
tool for suppression maintained by the Chinese Government;
  Pages H11624-29
  Condemning the Government of Zimbabwe's ``Operation Murambatsvina'' under 
which homes, businesses, religious structures, and other buildings and 
facilities were demolished in an effort characterized by the Government of 
Zimbabwe as an operation to ``restore order'' to the country: H. Res. 409, 
amended, condemning the Government of Zimbabwe's ``Operation Murambatsvina'' 
under which homes, businesses, religious structures, and other buildings and 
facilities were demolished in an effort characterized by the Government of 
Zimbabwe as an operation to ``restore order'' to the country; 
                                                             Pages H11630-37
  Providing that Hamas and other terrorist organizations should not 
participate in elections held by the Palestinian Authority: H.R. 575, 
amended, providing that Hamas and other terrorist organizations should not 
participate in elections held by the Palestinian Authority; 
                                                             Pages H11637-42
  Recognizing the importance and credibility of an independent Iraqi 
judiciary in the formation of a new and democratic Iraq: H. Res. 534, to 
recognize the importance and credibility of an independent Iraqi judiciary 
in the formation of a new and democratic Iraq; and
  Pages H11642-44
  Condemning actions by the Government of Syria that have hindered the 
investigation of the assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik 
Hariri conducted by the United Nations International Independent 
Investigation Commission (UNIIIC), expressing support for extending the 
UNIIIC's investigative mandate, and stating concern about similar 
assassination attempts apparently aimed at destabilizing Lebanon's security 
and undermining Lebanon's sovereignty: H. Res. 598, to condemn actions by 
the Government of Syria that have hindered the investigation of the 
assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri conducted by 
the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission 
(UNIIIC), expressing support for extending the UNIIIC's investigative 
mandate, and stating concern about similar assassination attempts apparently 
aimed at destabilizing Lebanon's security and undermining Lebanon's 
sovereignty.
  Pages H11644-49
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006--Motion to go to Conference: 
The House disagreed to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2863, to make 
appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2006, and agreed to a conference.
  Page H11580
  Agreed to the Murtha motion to instruct conferees on the bill by a yea and 
nay vote of 308 yeas to 122 nays, Roll No. 630, after ordering the previous 
question.
Pages H11580-83, H11584-85
  Agreed to close portions of the conference when classified national 
security material is being discussed by a yea and nay vote of 415 yeas to 9 
nays, Roll No. 629.
Pages H11583-84
  Later, the Chair appointed as conferees: Messrs. Young of Florida, Hobson, 
Bonilla, Frelinghuysen, Tiahrt, Wicker, Kingston, Ms. Granger, Messrs. 
Walsh, Aderholt, Lewis of California, Murtha, Dicks, Sabo, Visclosky, Moran 
of Virginia, Ms. Kaptur, Messrs. Edwards, and Obey.
Page H11586
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H11606.
Senate Referrals: S. 1231 was referred to the Committees on Resources and 
Energy and Commerce and S. 449 was referred to the Committee on Resources. 
                                                                 Page H11651
Quorum Calls--Votes: Six yea and nay votes and one recorded vote developed 
during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H11542-43, H11543, 
H11552, H11583-84, H11584-85, H11585, and H11585-86. There were no quorum 
calls.
Recess: The House recessed at 12:02 a.m. and reconvened at 8:15 a.m. on 
Thursday, December 15th.
  Pages H11649, H111651
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 8:16 a.m. on 
Thursday, December 15th