[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 17, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D500-D502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page D500]]




                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 15 public bills, H.R. 5399-
5414; 1 private bill, H.R.5415; and 6 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 402-
406; and H. Res. 819 were introduced.
  Pages H2704-05
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H2705-06
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H. Res. 817, providing for further consideration of H. Con. Res. 376, 
establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government 
for fiscal year 2007 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for 
fiscal years 2008 through 2011 (H. Rept. 109-468);
  H. Res. 818, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5386) 
making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, 
and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007 (H. 
Rept. 109-469); and
  H.R. 5252, to promote the deployment of broadband networks and 
services (H. Rept. 109-470).
Page H2705
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. Ted A. 
Hartley, Pastor, Farina United Methodist Church, Farina, Illinois. 
                                                             Page H2643
Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act: The House passed H.R. 4200, 
to improve the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
Secretary of the Interior to promptly implement recovery treatments in 
response to catastrophic events affecting Federal lands under their 
jurisdiction, including the removal of dead and damaged trees and the 
implementation of reforestation treatments, to support the recovery of 
non-Federal lands damaged by catastrophic events, to revitalize Forest 
Service experimental forests, by a recorded vote of 243 ayes to 182 
noes, Roll No. 151.
  Pages H2648-80, H2687-90
  Pursuant to the rule, in lieu of the amendment recommended by the 
Committee on Resources now printed in the bill, the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute printed in the Congressional Record and numbered 
1 pursuant to clause 8 of rule XVIII, shall be considered as an 
original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule 
and shall be considered as read.
Pages H2648, H2667
Rejected:
  Rahall amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 109-467) that sought to 
strike all waivers of existing conservation laws by removing the bill's 
exemptions from requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act, 
the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The amendment also specifically 
requires that the Secretary concerned comply with the NEPA in utilizing 
the authorities under H.R. 4200 (by a recorded vote of 189 ayes to 236 
noes, Roll No. 147);
Pages H2673-75, H2687-88
  Defazio amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 109-467) that sought to 
allow the emergency procedures authorized by H.R. 4200 to be used on 
lands managed for timber production. For all other lands, except where 
prohibited, such as wilderness areas, the Secretary would be required 
to amend land management plans to incorporate salvage and restoration 
activities (by a recorded vote of 184 ayes to 240 noes, Roll No. 148); 
                                                  Pages H2675-77, H2688
  Inslee amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 109-467) that sought to 
exempt any provision in the underlying bill from being applicable to 
any inventoried roadless area within the National Forest System set 
forth in the maps contained in the Forest Service Roadless Area 
Conservation, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Volume 2, dated 
November 2000 (by a recorded vote of 191 ayes to 231 noes, Roll No. 
149); and
Pages H2677-79, H2688-89
  Udall of New Mexico amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 109-467) 
that sought to add language in Sec 102(e) directing the relevant 
Secretary to consider the effect of any pre-approved management 
practice or catastrophic event recovery or research project on fire 
risk and forest regeneration. It further states that the Secretary may 
not implement the practice or carry out the recovery or research 
project unless the Secretary is able to certify that the activity will 
not increase fire risk or decrease forest regeneration (by a recorded 
vote of 197 ayes to 228 noes, Roll No. 150).
Pages H2679-80 H2689-90
  H. Res. 816, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was 
agreed to by voice vote, after agreeing to order the previous question 
without objection.
Recess: The House recessed at 4:09 p.m. and reconvened at 5:45 p.m. 
                                                             Page H2691
Recess: The House recessed at 7:07 p.m. and reconvened at 8 p.m. 
                                                             Page H2701
  Agreed by unanimous consent that during consideration of H. Con. Res. 
376 , pursuant to H. Res. 817, the amendment that Representative Spratt 
placed at the desk may be in order in lieu of amendment No. 3 printed 
in part B of H. Rept 109-468.
Page H2753
Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2007: The House agreed to H. Con. 
Res. 376, to establish the

[[Page D501]]

congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2007 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2008 through 2011, by a yea-and-nay vote of 218 yeas to 210 nays, Roll 
No. 158, after ordering the previous question. Consideration of the 
measure began on April 6th and was concluded as unfinish business. 
                                                         Pages H2709-53
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendments printed in part A of this report 
shall be considered as adopted. The rule provides that the concurrent 
resolution, as amended, shall be considered as read.
Page H2714
Rejected:
  Watt amendment in the nature of a substitute (Congressional Black 
Caucus), (No. 1 printed in part B of H. Rept. 109-468) that sought to 
balance the budget in FY 2011, and assumes a savings of almost $25 
billion on interest on the national debt. Funds essential social 
services--especially education, health care and reconstruction of the 
Gulf Coast--and national security needs--particularly providing support 
for the troops in Iraq, increasing the Army's active duty personnel, 
maintaining current National Guard Strength and funding Navy 
Shipbuilding, as well as funding port security and Veterans programs 
and benefits (by a recorded vote of 131 ayes to 294 noes, Roll No. 
155);
Pages H2719-30
  Hensarling amendment in the nature of a substitute (Republican Study 
Committee), (No. 2 printed in part B of H. Rept. 109-468) that sought 
to balance the federal budget by FY 2011, without increasing taxes. 
Extends the President's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and provide AMT relief. 
Eliminates roughly 150 federal programs, realizes a $392 billion net 
deficit reduction over five years, while increasing defense and 
veterans' spending and making no changes to Social Security. Calls for 
$358 billion in reconciliation savings over five years, achieved in 
part by block granting Medicaid, SCHIP, and most federal education and 
job training programs, and capping the growth of Medicare at 5.4% 
annually. Significantly restructures the Departments of Commerce, 
Energy, and Education, reduces foreign aid by $31 billion over five 
years, allows drilling in ANWR, repeals the Davis-Bacon, and eliminates 
highway (SAFTEA-LU) earmarks. Repeals the Gephardt rule, includes 
reforms to emergency spending, and creates Budget Protection Accounts 
to divert spending to deficit reduction and further tax relief (by a 
recorded vote of 94 ayes to 331 noes with 1 voting ``present'', Roll 
No. 156); and
Pages H2730-39, H2747
  Spratt amendment in the nature of a substitute (Democrat), (Modified, 
in lieu of No. 3 printed in part B of H. Rept. 109-468) that sought to 
establish a 10-year budget through fiscal year 2016. Balances the 
budget by 2012. Contains smaller deficits than the House Republican 
budget for 2007 and over five years. Accumulates less debt over five 
years than House Republican budget. Rejects cuts to important domestic 
priorities, such as education, health, veterans, and the environment. 
Provides more funding than the Republican budget for homeland security 
functions, including port security. Contains no reconciliation 
instructions. Provides middle-class tax relief. Provides for budget 
enforcement rules to restore fiscal discipline (by a recorded vote of 
184 ayes to 241 noes, Roll No. 157).
Pages H2739-48
  Agreed to H. Res. 815, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule 
XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from 
the Committee on Rules, by a yea-and-nay vote of 227 yeas to 195 nays, 
Roll No. 152.
Pages H2680, H2691
  H. Res. 817, the rule providing for further consideration of the 
measure was agreed to by a recorded vote of 226 ayes to 193 noes, Roll 
No. 154, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay 
vote of 224 yeas to 192 nays, Roll No. 153.
Pages H2691, H2701-02
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measure which were debated on Tuesday, May 16th:
  Calling on the Government of the United Kingdom to immediately 
establish a full, independent, public judicial inquiry into the murder 
of Northern Ireland defense attorney Pat Finucane, as recommended by 
international Judge Peter Cory as part of the Weston Park agreement and 
a way forward for the Northern Ireland Peace Process: H. Res. 740, 
amended, to call on the Government of the United Kingdom to immediately 
establish a full, independent, public judicial inquiry into the murder 
of Northern Ireland defense attorney Pat Finucane, as recommended by 
international Judge Peter Cory as part of the Weston Park agreement and 
a way forward for the Northern Ireland Peace Process, by a yea-and-nay 
vote of 390 yeas to 5 nays with 6 voting ``present'', Roll No. 159. 
                                                         Pages H2753-54
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``Calling on the Government 
of the United Kingdom immediately to establish a full, independent, 
public judicial inquiry into the murder of Northern Ireland defense 
attorney Patrick Finucane, as recommended by Judge Peter Cory as part 
of the Weston Park agreement, in order to move forward on the Northern 
Ireland Peace Process.''.
Page H2754
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H2643.
Senate Referrals: S. 879 was referred to the Committee on Science. 
                                                             Page H2703

[[Page D502]]

Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
page H2707.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea-and-nay votes and nine recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H2687-88, 
H2688, H2688-89, H2689-90, H2690, H2691, H2701-02, H2702, H2729-30, 
H2747, H2747-48, H2753, H2753-54. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 1:14 a.m.