[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4419]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHANIE HERSETH

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 2005

  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to participate 
in votes on the floor of the House of Representatives on March 8 and 9, 
2005. I was absent to attend the funeral of a relative back in South 
Dakota. I submit this statement today to establish for the record how I 
would have voted had I been present for these votes.
  On March 8, 2005, the House of Representatives held three votes.
  The first vote held was on approval of House Journal. Had I been 
present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.
  The second vote was on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to the 
H.R. 133, a resolution providing funds for continuing expenses of 
standing and select committees of the House of Representatives during 
the month of April, 2005. Had I been present, I would have voted 
``yea'' on that question.
  The final vote was on motion to suspend the rules and agree to the 
H.R. 122, a resolution expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives regarding the study of languages and supporting the 
designation of a Year of Languages. Had I been present, I would have 
voted ``yea'' on that question.
  On March 9, 2005, the House of Representatives held five votes.
  The first vote held was roll No. 56 on an amendment by Mr. Conaway 
which would have exempted commercial motor vehicle operators working in 
field operations for the natural gas and oil industry from Federal 
hours-of-service rules. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' 
on that question.
  The second vote held was roll No. 57, on an amendment by Mr. Moran of 
Kansas to expand the types of agricultural commodities covered by the 
bill's exemption from the 2003 hours-of-service regulations to include 
livestock, food, feed, fiber and other farm products. Had I been 
present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.
  The third vote held was roll No. 58, on an amendment by Mr. Osborne 
of Nebraska that would grant the State of Nebraska the authority to 
harmonize its vehicle length limits with those of surrounding states 
during the grain harvest season. I strongly support this amendment and, 
had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.
  The fourth vote was roll No. 59, on an amendment by Mr. Kennedy of 
Minnesota that would have prevented States and localities from 
collecting tolls on exiting highways. Had I been present, I would have 
voted ``yea'' on that question.
  The fifth vote was roll No. 60, on an amendment by Mr. Graves that 
would have eliminated ``vicarious liability'' language under certain 
State laws for motor vehicle rental and leasing companies. Had I been 
present, I would have voted ``nay'' on that question.

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