[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 7539-7542]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 621. Mr. BUNNING submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2007 and 2009 through 2012; as follows:

       At the end of title III, add the following:

     SEC.__. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR REPEAL OF THE 1993 
                   INCREASE IN THE INCOME TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY 
                   BENEFITS.

       The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may 
     revise the allocations, aggregates, and other levels in this 
     resolution by the amounts provided by a bill, joint 
     resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that 
     would repeal the 1993 increase in the income tax on Social 
     Security benefits, provided that such legislation would not 
     increase the deficit over the total of the period of fiscal 
     years 2007 through 2012.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 622. Mr. GREGG proposed an amendment to the concurrent resolution 
S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012; as 
follows:

     SEC.__. POINT OF ORDER--20% LIMIT ON NEW DIRECT SPENDING IN 
                   RECONCILIATION LEGISLATION.

       (a) (1) In the Senate, it shall not be in order to consider 
     any reconciliation bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, 
     or any conference report on, or an amendment between the 
     Houses in relation to, a reconciliation bill pursuant to 
     section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, that 
     produces an increase in outlays, if--
       (A) the effect of all the provisions in the jurisdiction of 
     any committee is to create gross new direct spending that 
     exceeds 20% of the total savings instruction to the 
     committee; or
       (B) the effect of the adoption of an amendment would result 
     in gross new direct spending that exceeds 20% of the total 
     savings instruction to the committee.
       (2)(A) A point of order under paragraph (1) may be raised 
     by a Senator as provided in section 313( e) of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
       (B) Paragraph (1) may be waived or suspended only by an 
     affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen 
     and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members 
     of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to 
     sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of 
     order raised under paragraph (1).
       (C) If a point of order is sustained under paragraph (1) 
     against a conference report in the Senate, the report shall 
     be disposed of as provided in section 313(d) of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 623. Mr. CONRAD proposed an amendment to the concurrent resolution 
S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012; as 
follows:

       On page 36, line 15, strike beginning with ``If'' through 
     line 19 and insert ``When the Senate is considering a 
     conference report on, or an amendment between the Houses in 
     relation to, a bill, upon a point of order being made by any 
     Senator pursuant to this section, and such point of order 
     being sustained, such material contained in such conference 
     report shall be deemed stricken, and the Senate shall proceed 
     to consider the question of whether the Senate shall recede 
     from its amendment and concur with a further amendment, or 
     concur in the House amendment with a further amendment, as 
     the case may be, which further amendment shall consist of 
     only that portion of the conference report or House 
     amendment, as the case may be, not so stricken. Any such 
     motion in the Senate shall be debatable. In any case in which 
     such point of order is sustained against a conference report 
     (or Senate amendment derived from such conference report by 
     operation of this subsection), no further amendment shall be 
     in order.''.
       On page 39, line 19, strike beginning with ``If'' through 
     line 23 and insert ``When the Senate is considering a 
     conference report on, or an amendment between the Houses in 
     relation to, a bill, upon a point of order being made by any 
     Senator pursuant to this section, and such point of order 
     being sustained, such material contained in such conference 
     report shall be deemed stricken, and the Senate shall proceed 
     to consider the question of whether the Senate shall recede 
     from its amendment and concur with a further amendment, or 
     concur in the House amendment with a further amendment, as 
     the case may be, which further amendment shall consist of 
     only that portion of the conference report or House 
     amendment, as the case may be, not so stricken. Any such 
     motion in the Senate shall be debatable. In any case in which 
     such point of order is sustained against a conference report 
     (or Senate amendment derived from such conference report by 
     operation of this subsection), no further amendment shall be 
     in order.''
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 624. Mr. ENSIGN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2007 and 2009 through 2012; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

[[Page 7540]]

       On page 23, line 12, increase the amount by $17,300,000.
       On page 23, line 13, increase the amount by $15,570,000.
       On page 23, line 17, increase the amount by $1,730,000.
       On page 9, line 8, decrease the amount by $17,300,000.
       On page 9, line 9, decrease the amount by $15,570,000.
       On page 9, line 13, decrease the amount by $1,730,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 625. Mr. GREGG submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2007 and 2009 through 2012; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 41, strike lines 9 through 11 and insert the 
     following:
       (2) for fiscal year 2008,
       (A) for the National Defense function (050) and the 
     Veterans function (700), $541,899,000,000 in new budget 
     authority and $549,693,000,000 in outlays; and
       (B) for all other functions, $400,413,000,000 in new budget 
     authority and $471,714,000,000 in outlays.
       On page 62, insert after line 7 the following new section:

     SEC. __ . DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR GI BILL OF RIGHTS 
                   AND BENEFITS.

       The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee may revise the 
     aggregates, allocations, and other levels in this resolution 
     for a bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, or 
     conference report that would enhance benefits and rights for 
     returning members of the military serving in wars and all 
     other military personnel who have provided a service to their 
     country, by the amounts provided in such legislation for that 
     purpose, provided that such legislation is deficit-neutral 
     over the total of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 626. Mr. NELSON of Nebraska (for himself, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. 
Baucus, Ms. Landrieu, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Nelson of Florida, 
and Mr. Pryor) proposed an amendment to the concurrent resolution S. 
Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012; as 
follows:

       At the end of title III, insert the following:

     SEC. __. ESTATE TAX REFORM INITIATIVE.

       The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may 
     revise the aggregates, allocations, and other appropriate 
     levels in this resolution for a bill, joint resolution, 
     amendment, motion, or conference report that would provide 
     for estate tax reform legislation that addresses the current 
     flaws in the estate tax law by establishing an estate tax 
     exemption level of $5,000,000, an estate tax rate of 35 
     percent, and a 5 percent surcharge on the largest estates, 
     provided that such legislation does not increase the deficit 
     over the total of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 627. Mr. PRYOR (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the concurrent resolution 
S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012; as 
follows:

       On page 18, line 12, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 18, line 13, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 18, line 16, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 18, line 17, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 18, line 20, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 18, line 21, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 18, line 24, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 18, line 25, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 19, line 3, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 19, line 4, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 12, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 13, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 16, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 17, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 20, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 21, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 24, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 25, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 27, line 3, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 27, line 4, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 628. Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mrs. Lincoln) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the concurrent resolution 
S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 50, line 8, insert ``and including the reduction of 
     the income threshold for the refundable child tax credit 
     under section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
     $10,000 with no inflation adjustment'' after ``refundable tax 
     relief''.

                                 ______
                                 
  SA 629. Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. Rockefeller) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the concurrent resolution 
S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012; as 
follows:

       On page 50, line 8, insert ``and including the 
     reauthorization of the new markets tax credit under section 
     45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for an additional 5 
     years and $17,000,000,000 in tax credit authority'' after 
     ``refundable tax relief''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 630. Ms. SNOWE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2007 and 2009 through 2012; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 50, line 8, insert ``and including the creation of 
     SIMPLE cafeteria plans as provided in section 2 of S. 555 of 
     the 110th Congress'' after ``refundable tax relief''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 631. Mr. GREGG submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2007 and 2009 through 2012; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 31, after line 11, insert the following:
       (d) Application to Appropriations.--For the purposes of 
     enforcing this resolution, notwithstanding rule 3 of the 
     Budget Scorekeeping Guidelines set forth in the joint 
     explanatory statement of the committee of conference 
     accompanying Conference Report 105-217, provisions of any 
     appropriations bill, act, joint resolution, an amendment 
     thereto, or a motion or a conference report thereon (only to 
     the extent that such provision was not committed to 
     conference), that would have been estimated as changing 
     direct spending or receipts for any fiscal year after 2008 
     under section 252 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985 (as in effect prior to September 
     30, 2002) were they included in an Act other than an 
     appropriations Act shall be treated as direct spending or 
     receipts legislation, as appropriate, under this section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 632. Mr. LEVIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2007 and 2009 through 2012; as follows:

       At the end of title III, add the following:

     SEC. ___. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR MANUFACTURING 
                   INITIATIVES.

       The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may 
     revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate 
     levels in this resolution for one or more bills, joint 
     resolutions, amendments, motions, or conference reports, 
     including tax legislation, that would revitalize the United 
     States domestic manufacturing sector by increasing Federal 
     research and development, by expanding the scope and 
     effectiveness of manufacturing programs across the Federal 
     government, by increasing support for development of 
     alternative fuels and leap-ahead automotive and energy 
     technologies, and by establishing tax incentives to encourage 
     the continued production in the United States of advanced 
     technologies and the infrastructure to support such 
     technologies, by the amounts provided in that legislation for 
     those purposes, 
     
     
[[Page 7541]]    
     
     provided that such legislation would not 
     increase the deficit over the total of the period of fiscal 
     years 2007 through 2012.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 633. Mrs. DOLE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2007 and 2009 through 2012; as follows:

       On page 16, line 10, increase the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 16, line 11, increase the amount by $7,500,000.
       On page 16, line 14, increase the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 16, line 15, increase the amount by $15,000,000.
       On page 16, line 18, increase the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 16, line 19, increase the amount by $30,000,000.
       On page 16, line 22, increase the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 16, line 23, increase the amount by $40,000,000.
       On page 17, line 2, increase the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 17, line 3, increase the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 26, line 12, decrease the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 26, line 13, decrease the amount by $7,500,000.
       On page 26, line 16, decrease the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 26, line 17, decrease the amount by $15,000,000.
       On page 26, line 20, decrease the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 26, line 21, decrease the amount by $30,000,000.
       On page 26, line 24, decrease the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 26, line 25, decrease the amount by $40,000,000.
       On page 27, line 3, decrease the amount by $50,000,000.
       On page 27, line 4, decrease the amount by $50,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 634. Mr. ENSIGN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2007 and 2009 through 2012; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 23, line 12, increase the amount by $17,300,000.
       On page 23, line 13, increase the amount by $15,570,000.
       On page 23, line 17, increase the amount by $1,730,000.
       On page 9, line 8, decrease the amount by $17,300,000.
       On page 9, line 9, decrease the amount by $15,570,000.
       On page 9, line 13, decrease the amount by $1,730,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 635. Mr. ENZI (for himself, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Baucus, 
Mr. Grassley, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Salazar, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Durbin, Ms. 
Snowe, Mr. Vitter, and Mr. Thune) submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting 
forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for 
fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for 
fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND TO IMPROVE HEALTH 
                   INSURANCE.

       If a Senate committee reports a bill or joint resolution, 
     or if an amendment is offered thereto, or if a conference 
     report is submitted thereon, that, with appropriate 
     protections for consumers, reduces growth in the number of 
     uninsured Americans, improves access to affordable and 
     meaningful health insurance coverage, improves health care 
     quality, or reduces growth in the cost of private health 
     insurance by facilitating market-based pooling, including 
     across State lines, and a bill or joint resolution, or if an 
     amendment is offered thereto, or if a conference report is 
     submitted thereon, that, with appropriate protections for 
     consumers, provides funding for State high risk pools or 
     financial assistance, whether directly, or through grants to 
     States to enhance the effectiveness of such pooling or to 
     provide other assistance to small businesses or individuals, 
     including financial assistance, for the purchase of private 
     insurance coverage, the Chairman of the Committee on the 
     Budget may make appropriate adjustments in allocations and 
     aggregates for fiscal year 2007 and for the period of fiscal 
     years 2008 through 2012, provided that such legislation would 
     not increase the deficit over the total of the period of 
     fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 636. Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Smith, and Mr. 
Specter) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional 
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008 and 
including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 
2009 through 2012; as follows:

       At the end of title III, insert the following:

     SEC. __. RESERVE FUND TO IMPROVE MEDICARE HOSPITAL PAYMENT 
                   ACCURACY.

       If the Senate Committee on Finance--
       (1) reports a bill, or if an amendment is offered thereto, 
     or if a conference report is submitted thereon, that--
       (A) addresses the wide and inequitable disparity in the 
     reimbursement of hospitals under the Medicare program;
       (B) includes provisions to reform the area wage index used 
     to adjust payments to hospitals under the Medicare hospital 
     inpatient prospective payment system under section 1886(d) of 
     the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)); and
       (C) includes a transition to the reform described in 
     subparagraph (B); and
       (2) is within its allocation as provided under section 
     302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,

     the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may revise 
     allocations of new budget authority and outlays, the revenue 
     aggregates, and other appropriate measures to reflect such 
     legislation provided that such legislation would not increase 
     the deficit for the period of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 637. Mrs. DOLE (for himself and Mr. Roberts) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the concurrent resolution 
S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 20, line 12, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 20, line 13, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 20, line 16, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 20, line 17, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 20, line 20, increase the amount by $3,000,000.
       On page 20, line 21, increase the amount by $3,000,000.
       On page 20, line 24, increase the amount by $0.
       On page 20, line 25, increase the amount by $0.
       On page 21, line 3, increase the amount by $0.
       On page 21, line 4, increase the amount by $0.
       On page 26, line 12, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 13, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 16, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 17, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 20, decrease the amount by $3,000,000.
       On page 26, line 21, decrease the amount by $3,000,000.
       On page 26, line 24, decrease the amount by $0.
       On page 26, line 25, decrease the amount by $0.
       On page 27, line 3, decrease the amount by $0.
       On page 27, line 4, decrease the amount by $0.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 638. Mr. GREGG (for himself and Mr. Conrad) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. 
Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States 
Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate budgetary 
levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012; as follows:

       At the end of Title II insert the following:

     SEC. __. POINT OF ORDER AGAINST PROVISIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS 
                   LEGISLATION THAT CONSTITUTES CHANGES IN 
                   MANDATORY PROGRAMS WITH NET COSTS.

       (a) In General.--It shall not be in order in the Senate to 
     consider any appropriations legislation, including any 
     amendment thereto, motion in relation thereto, or conference 
     report thereon, which includes one or more provisions that 
     would have been estimated as affecting direct spending or 
     receipts under section 252 of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (as in effect prior to 
     September 30, 2002) were they included in legislation other 
     than appropriations legislation, if such provision has a net 
     
     
[[Page 7542]]


     cost over the total of the period of the current year, the 
     budget year, and all fiscal years covered under the most 
     recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget.
       (b) Determination.--For purposes of this section, the 
     determination of whether a provision violates paragraph (a) 
     shall be made by the Committee on the Budget of the Senate.
       (c) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--This section may be 
     waived or suspended only by an affirmative vote of three-
     fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative 
     vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly 
     chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of 
     the ruling of the chair on a point of order raised under this 
     section.
       (d) General Point of Order.--lt shall be in order for a 
     Senator to raise a single point of order that several 
     provisions of a bill, resolution, amendment, motion, or 
     conference report violate this section. The Presiding Officer 
     may sustain the point of order as to some or all of the 
     provisions against which the Senator raised the point of 
     order. If the Presiding Officer so sustains the point of 
     order as to some of the provisions (including provisions of 
     an amendment, motion, or conference report) against which the 
     Senator raised the point of order, then only those provisions 
     (including provision of an amendment, motion, or conference 
     report) against which the Presiding Officer sustains the 
     point of order shall be deemed stricken pursuant to this 
     section. Before the Presiding Officer rules on such a point 
     of order, any Senator may move to waive such a point of order 
     as it applies to some or all of the provisions against which 
     the point of order was raised. Such a motion to waive is 
     amendable in accordance with rules and precedents of the 
     Senate. After the Presiding Officer rules on such a point of 
     order, any Senator may appeal the ruling of the Presiding 
     Officer on such a point of order as it applies to some or all 
     of the provisions on which the Presiding Officer ruled.
       (e) Form of the Point of Order.--When the Senate is 
     considering a conference report on, or an amendment between 
     the Houses in relation to, a bill, upon a point of order 
     being made by any Senator pursuant to this section, and such 
     point of order being sustained, such material contained in 
     such conference report or amendment shall be deemed stricken, 
     and the Senate shall proceed to consider the question of 
     whether the Senate shall recede from its amendment and concur 
     with a further amendment, or concur in the House amendment 
     with a further amendment, as the case may be, which further 
     amendment shall consist of only that portion of the 
     conference report or House amendment, as the case may be, not 
     so stricken. Any such motion shall be debatable. In any case 
     in which such point of order is sustained against a 
     conference report (or Senate amendment derived from such 
     conference report by operation of this subsection), no 
     further amendment shall be in order.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 639. Mr. CONRAD (for Mr. Baucus (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. 
Gregg, and Mrs. Clinton)) proposed an amendment to the concurrent 
resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for 
the United States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the 
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 
2012; as follows;

       At the end of title III, add the following:

     SEC. __. RESERVE FUND TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

       If the Senate Committee on Finance--
       (1) reports a bill, or if an amendment is offered thereto, 
     or if a conference report is submitted thereon, that--
       (A) creates a framework and parameters for the use of 
     Medicare data for the purpose of conducting research, public 
     reporting, and other activities to evaluate health care 
     safety, effectiveness, efficiency, quality, and resource 
     utilization in Federal programs and the private health care 
     system; and
       (B) includes provisions to protect beneficiary privacy and 
     to prevent disclosure of proprietary or trade secret 
     information with respect to the transfer and use of such 
     data; and
       (2) is within its allocation as provided under section 
     302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,

     the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may revise 
     allocations of new budget authority and outlays, the revenue 
     aggregates, and other appropriate measures to reflect such 
     legislation provided that such legislation would not increase 
     the deficit for fiscal year 2008, and for the period of 
     fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 640. Mr. CONRAD (for Mrs. Dole) proposed an amendment to the 
concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional 
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008 and 
including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 
2009 through 2012; as follows;

       On page 20, line 12, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 20, line 13, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 20, line 16, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 20, line 17, increase the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 20, line 20, increase the amount by $3,000,000.
       On page 20, line 21, increase the amount by $3,000,000.
       On page 26, line 12, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 13, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 16, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 17, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
       On page 26, line 20, decrease the amount by $3,000,000.
       On page 26, line 21, decrease the amount by $3,000,000.

                          ____________________