[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15200]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           TAX RELIEF, SIMPLIFICATION, AND EQUITY ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate a 
message from the House with respect to H.R. 1308; that the Senate 
disagree to the House amendments to the Senate amendments, agree to the 
request for a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the 
two Houses, and that the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on 
the part of the Senate.
  Mr. REID. Reserving the right to object, I believe this is on the 
Lincoln child tax credit legislation; is that true?
  Mr. SMITH. I believe that is true.
  Mr. REID. I am glad this is happening. I hope the message to the 
Republican leaders, at least from us, is that it will be a real 
conference and that they will work toward resolving this most important 
issue. I have no objection.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message 
from the House of Representatives:

       Resolved, That the House insist upon its amendments to the 
     Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 1308) entitled ``An Act 
     to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to end certain 
     abusive tax practices, to provide tax relief and 
     simplification, and for other purposes'', and ask a 
     conference with the Senate on the disagreeing votes of the 
     two Houses thereon.
       Ordered, That the following Members be the managers of the 
     conference on the part of the House.
       For consideration of the House amendments to the Senate 
     amendments to the House bill, and modifications committed to 
     conference: Mr. Thomas, Mr. DeLay, and Mr. Rangel.

  The Presiding Officer (Mr. Alexander) appointed Mr. Grassley, Mr. 
Nickles, Mr. Lott, Mr. Baucus, and Mrs. Lincoln conferees on the part 
of the Senate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from the great State of Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Senator from New Hampshire has been more 
than generous with his patience. I would ask, however, unanimous 
consent that the time until 11 o'clock be for debate only on this 
matter. I have spoken to the majority, and they are in agreement with 
that. So I ask the time until 11 o'clock be for debate only on the 
bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. Has the bill been reported this morning?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair will now make that statement.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, my consent deals with the Medicare bill.

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