[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 11 (Thursday, February 2, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D48-D50]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                         Thursday, February 2, 2006

[[Page D48]]

                              Daily Digest

HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 4297, Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act
      Senate passed H.R. 4659, USA PATRIOT Act Extension


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S465-S695
Measures Introduced: Five bills and two resolutions were introduced, as 
follows: S. 2240-2244, and S. Res. 365-366.
  Page S510
Measures Reported:
  S. 265, to amend the Public Health Service Act to add requirements 
regarding trauma care. (S. Rept. No. 109-215)
Page S510
Measures Passed:
  Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act: By 66 yeas to 31 nays (Vote 
No. 10), Senate passed H.R. 4297, to provide for reconciliation 
pursuant to section 201(b) of the concurrent resolution on the budget 
for fiscal year 2006, after taking action on the following amendments 
proposed thereto:
  Pages S466-S502
Adopted:
  Frist (for Grassley/Baucus) Amendment No. 2708 (to Amendment No. 
2707), of a perfecting nature.
Pages S473, S487
  Frist (for Talent) Amendment No. 2727 (to Amendment No. 2707), to 
express the sense of the Senate regarding the permanent extension of 
the amendments to the child tax credit made by the Economic Growth and 
Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Jobs and Growth Tax 
Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.
Page S488
  Baucus (for Byrd) Amendment No. 2728 (to Amendment No. 2707), to 
provide tax incentives for the purchase of advanced mine safety 
equipment and the training of mine rescue teams.
Pages S488-89
  Grassley Amendment No. 2732 (to Amendment No. 2707), to support the 
health needs of our veterans and military personnel.
Pages S492-93
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached to waive all provisions of 
the Congressional Budget Act and budget resolutions necessary for the 
consideration of the Grassley Amendment No. 2732 (listed above), and 
for the inclusion of the language of the amendment in the consideration 
of an amendment between the Senate and House of Representatives. 
                                                              Page S493
  Grassley Amendment No. 2736 (to Amendment No. 2707), to strengthen 
America's military.
Page S495
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached to waive all provisions of 
the Congressional Budget Act and budget resolutions necessary for the 
consideration of the Grassley Amendment No. 2736 (listed above), and 
for the inclusion of the language of the amendment in the consideration 
of an amendment between the Senate and House of Representatives. 
                                                              Page S495
  By 73 yeas to 24 nays (Vote No. 9), Menendez Amendment No. 2705 (to 
Amendment No. 2707), to express the sense of the Senate that protecting 
middle-class families from the alternative minimum tax should be a 
higher priority for Congress in 2006 than extending a tax cut that does 
not expire until the end of 2008.
Pages S496-98
  Frist (for Grassley/Baucus) Amendment No. 2707, in the nature of a 
substitute.
Pages S472-73
Rejected:
  By 42 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 4), Grassley Amendment No. 2731 (to 
Amendment No. 2707), to express the sense of the Senate regarding the 
Medicare part D prescription drug program.
Pages S490-91
Withdrawn:
  Motion to commit the bill to the Committee on Finance, with 
instructions to report back forthwith, with an amendment. 
                                                       Pages S473, S487
  Frist Amendment No. 2709 (to Amendment No. 2708), to provide for an 
effective date.
Pages S473, S487

[[Page D49]]


  During consideration of this measure today, the Senate also took the 
following action:
  Frist Amendment No. 2710 (to the instructions of the motion to commit 
the bill to the Committee on Finance), in the nature of a substitute, 
fell when the motion to commit (listed above) was withdrawn. 
                                                              Page S473
  Frist (for Talent) Amendment No. 2711 (to Amendment No. 2710), to 
repeal the sunset of the provisions in EGTRRA relating to the child tax 
credit, fell when Amendment No. 2710 (listed above) fell.
Page S473
  By 44 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 3), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive under section 904 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Conrad/Bingaman Amendment No. 2729 
(to Amendment No. 2707), to provide revenue provisions. Subsequently, 
the point of order that the amendment was not germane, was sustained, 
and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S489-90
  By 52 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 5), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive under section 904 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Nelson (FL)/Bingaman Amendment No. 
2730 (to Amendment No. 2707), to provide for necessary beneficiary 
protections in order to ensure access to coverage under the Medicare 
part D prescription drug program. Subsequently, the point of order that 
the amendment was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment thus 
fell.
Pages S491-92
  By 44 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 6), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive under section 904 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Clinton Amendment No. 2716 (to 
Amendment No. 2707), to establish a congressional commission to examine 
the Federal, State, and local response to the devastation wrought by 
Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Region of the United States especially in 
the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and other areas impacted 
in the aftermath and make immediate corrective measures to improve such 
responses in the future. Subsequently, the point of order that the 
amendment was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell. 
                                                              Page S492
  By 44 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 7), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive certain sections of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Dodd Amendment No. 2735 (to 
Amendment No. 2707), to support the health needs of our veterans and 
military personnel and reduce the deficit by making tax rates fairer 
for all Americans. Subsequently, the point of order against the 
amendment was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S493-95
  By 44 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 8), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive certain provisions of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Reed Amendment No. 2737 (to 
Amendment No. 2707), to strengthen America's military, to repeal the 
extension of tax rates for capital gains and dividends, to reduce the 
deficit. Subsequently, the point of order against the amendment was 
sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S495-96
  USA PATRIOT Act Extension: By 95 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 11), Senate 
passed H.R. 4659, to amend the USA PATRIOT Act to extend the sunset of 
certain provisions of such Act, clearing the measure for the President.
                                                          Pages S502-03
  National Week of Prayer for Uganda: Senate agreed to S. Res. 366, 
affirming the importance of increased international action and a 
national week of prayer for the Ugandan victims of Joseph Kony's Lord's 
Resistance Army, and expressing the sense of the Senate that Sudan, 
Uganda, and the international community bring justice and humanitarian 
assistance to Northern Uganda and that February 2 through 9, 2006 
should be designated as a national week of prayer and reflection for 
the people of Uganda.
  Pages S692-95
  Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that during this adjournment of the Senate, the 
Majority Leader, and Majority Whip, be authorized to sign duly enrolled 
bills or joint resolutions.
  Page S695
Reading of Washington's Farewell Address: A unanimous-consent agreement 
was reached providing that, notwithstanding the Resolution of the 
Senate of January 24, 1901, the traditional reading of Washington's 
Farewell Address take place, on Friday, February 17, 2006, at a time 
determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the 
Democratic Leader.
  Page S695
Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that the Senate begin 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 852, to 
create a fair and efficient system to resolve claims of victims for 
bodily injury caused by asbestos exposure, on Monday, February 6, 2006; 
that if a motion to invoke cloture is filed on Monday, February 6, 
2006, on the motion to proceed to the bill,

[[Page D50]]

that notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXII, the vote occur at 6 
p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2006.
  Page S695
Executive Communications:
  Pages S508-10
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S510-12
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S512-15
Additional Statements:
  Pages S507-08
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S515-S692
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Page S692
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S692
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S692
Record Votes: Nine record votes were taken today. (Total--11) 
             Pages S489-90, S491, S492, S495, S496, S498, S501-02, S503
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 10:28 p.m., 
until 2 p.m., on Monday, February 6, 2006. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S695.)