Sunday, December 18, 2005 [[Page D1315]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS The House passed H.R. 1815, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006--Conference Report. The House passed H.R. 2863, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006--Conference Report. The House passed S. 1932, Deficit Reduction Act of 2005-- Conference Report. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S13971-S13973 Messages From the House: Page S13973 Additional Cosponsors: Page S13973 Adjournment: Senate convened at 6 p.m., and adjourned at 8:37 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Monday, December 19, 2005. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S13972.) Committee Meetings No committee meetings were held. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 12 public bills, H.R. 4635- 4646; and 9 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 326-328, and H. Res. 635-638, 641-642, were introduced. Pages H12288-89 Additional Cosponsors: Page H12290 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: Conference report on H.R. 2863, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 (H. Rept. 109-359); Conference report on H.R. 1815, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2006 (H. Rept. 109-360); H. Res. 639, waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 2863) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 (H. Rept. 109- 361); and Conference report on S. 1932, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202(a) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006 (H. Con. Res. 95) (H. Rept. 109-362). H. Res. 640, waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany the bill (S. 1932) to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 201(a) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006 (H. Rept. 109-363). Page H12288 Rule for consideration of suspensions: The House agreed to H. Res. 631, providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules by voice vote, after agreeing to the Sessions amendment by voice vote and the previous question. Pages H12172-76 Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures: [[Page D1316]] Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the arrest of Sanjar Umarov in Uzbekistan: H. Res. 545, to express the sense of the House of Representatives on the arrest of Sanjar Umarov in Uzbekistan; Pages H12178-79 Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the 2005 presidential and parliamentary elections in Egypt: H. Con. Res. 284, amended, to express the sense of Congress with respect to the 2005 presidential and parliamentary elections in Egypt, by a yea-and-nay vote of 388 yeas to 22 nays, Roll No. 667; Pages H12179-82, H12243-44 Passport Services Enhancement Act of 2005: H.R. 4501, amended, to amend the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, to authorize the Secretary of State to establish and collect a surcharge to cover the costs of meeting the increased demand for passports as a result of actions taken to comply with section 7209(b) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004; Page H12182 Authorizing the transfer of items in the War Reserves Stockpile for Allies, Korea: S. 1988, to authorize the transfer of items in the War Reserves Stockpile for Allies, Korea--clearing the measure for the President; Pages H12182-83 Terrorist Rewards Enhancement Act: H.R. 2329, to permit eligibility in certain circumstances for an officer or employee of a foreign government to receive a reward under the Department of State Rewards Program; Expressing support for the memorandum of understanding signed by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement on August 15, 2005, to end the conflict in Aceh, a province in Sumatra, Indonesia: H. Res. 456, to express support for the memorandum of understanding signed by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement on August 15. 2005, to end the conflict in Aceh, a province in Sumatra, Indonesia; Pages H12185-86 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the education curriculum in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: H. Con. Res. 275, to express the sense of Congress regarding the education curriculum in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; by a yea-and-nay vote of 351 yeas to 1 nay, with 2 voting ``present'', Roll No. 671; Pages H12186-87, H12277 Native American Housing Enhancement Act of 2005: H.R. 797, with a Senate amendment, to amend the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 and other Acts to improve housing programs for Indians; Pages H12187-89 Little Rock Central High School Desegregation 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act: H.R. 358, with a Senate amendment, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of the Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas; and Pages H12189-92 Honoring Helen Sewell on the occasion of her retirement from the House of Representatives and expressing the gratitude of the House for her many years of service: H. Res. 633, to honoring Helen Sewell on the occasion of her retirement from the House of Representatives and expressing the gratitude of the House for her many years of service, by voice vote, after agreeing by unanimous consent that the House vacate the ordering of the yeas and nays on adoption of the House Resolution to the end that the Chair may put the question on the resolution de novo. Pages H12192-95, H12269 Recess: The House recessed at 4:10 p.m. and reconvened at 11:53 p.m. Pages H12195, H12199 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006--Conference Report: The House began consideration of the conference report on H.R. 1815, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, by a yea-and-nay vote of 374 yeas to 41 nays, Roll No. 665. Pages H12200-12, H12242 Agreed by unanimous consent that the House vacate the ordering of the yeas and nays on adoption of House Resolution 632 to the end that the Chair may put the question on the resolution de novo. Page H12200 Agreed to H. Res. 632, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of Rule XIII with respect to the same day consideration of certain resolutions reported by the Rules Committee, by voice vote. Pages H12176-78 Agreed by unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to consider a conference report to accompany H.R. 1815; that all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration be waived; that the conference report be considered as read. Pages H12199-H12200 Designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 332 South Main Street in Flora, Illinois, as the ``Robert T. Ferguson Post Office Building'': The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 1287, amended, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 332 South Main Street in Flora, Illinois, as the ``Robert T. Ferguson Post Office Building''. Page H12212 [[Page D1317]] Agreed to amend the title so as to read ``To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 312 East North Avenue in Flora, Illinois, as the ``Robert T, Ferguson Post Office Building''.''. Page H12212 Designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8135 Forest Lane in Dallas, Texas, as the ``Dr. Robert E. Price Post Office Building'': The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R 4246, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8135 Forest Lane in Dallas, Texas, as the ``Dr. Robert E. Price Post Office Building''. Page H12212 Designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3000 Homewood Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``State Senator Verda Welcome and Dr. Henry Welcome Post Office Building'': The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 4108, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3000 Homewood Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``State Senator Verda Welcome and Dr. Henry Welcome Post Office Building''. Pages H12212-13 Designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6101 Liberty Road in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``United States Representative Parren J. Mitchell Post Office'': The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 4109, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6101 Liberty Road in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``United States Representative Parren J. Mitchell Post Office''. Page H12213 Designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4422 West Sciota Street in Scio, New York, as the ``Corporal Jason L. Dunham Post Office'': The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 4515, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4422 West Sciota Street in Scio, New York, as the ``Corporal Jason L. Dunham Post Office''. Page H12213 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week: The House agreed by unanimous consent to H. Res. 483, amended, to support the goals and ideals of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week, after agreeing to the Issa amendment. Pages H12213-14 Agreed to amend the title so as to read ``Supporting the ideals of National Teen Dating Violence and Prevention Week.''. Page H12214 Commemorating the life, achievements, and contributions of Alan Reich: The House agreed by unanimous consent to H. Res. 586, amended, to commemorate the life, achievements, and contributions of Alan Reich, after agreeing to the Issa amendment. Pages H12214-15 Buffalo Soldiers Commemoration Act of 2005: The House agreed by unanimous consent to S. 205, to authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish in the State of Louisiana a memorial to honor the Buffalo Soldiers--clearing the measure for the President. Page H12215 Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemoration Act of 2005: The House agreed by unanimous consent to S. 652, to provide financial assistance for the rehabilitation of the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the development of an exhibit to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin--clearing the measure for the President. Page H12215 Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Natural Gas Pipeline Enlargement Act: The House agreed by unanimous consent to S. 1310, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation to increase the diameter of a natural gas pipeline located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, to allow certain commercial vehicles to continue to use Route 209 within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and to extend the termination date of the National Park System Advisory Board to January 1, 2007--clearing the measure for the President. Pages H12215-16 Public Lands Corps Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005: The House agreed by unanimous consent to S. 1238, to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to provide for the conduct of projects that protect forests--clearing the measure for the President. Pages H12216-17 Indian Land Probate Reform Technical Corrections Act of 2005: The House agreed by unanimous consent to S. 1481, to amend the Indian Land Consolidation Act to provide for probate reform--clearing the measure for the President. Pages H12217-18 Amending Public Law 107-153 to modify a certain date: The House agreed by unanimous consent to S. 1892, to amend Public Law 107-153 to modify a certain date--clearing the measure for the President. Page H12218 Spent Nuclear Fuel On-Site Storage Security Act of 2005: The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 2099, to amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to require commercial nuclear utilities to transfer spent nuclear fuel from spent nuclear fuel pools into spent nuclear fuel dry casks and convey to the Secretary of Energy title to all spent nuclear fuel thus safely stored. Pages H12218-24 [[Page D1318]] Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006--Conference Report: The House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 2863, to make appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, by a yea-and-nay vote of 308 yeas to 106 nays with 2 voting ``present'', Roll No. 669. Pages H12244-69 Rejected the Obey motion to recommit the conference report to the conference committee with instructions to the managers on the part of the House not to include Chapter 8 of Title III of Division B, by a recorded vote of 183 ayes to 231 noes, Roll No. 660. Pages H12267-68 Agreed to H. Res. 639, providing for consideration of the conference report, by a yea-and-nay vote of 214 yeas to 201 nays, Roll No. 666, after agreeing to order the previous question. Pages H12224-33, H12242-43 Deficit Reduction Act of 2005--Conference Report: The House agreed to the conference report on S. 1932, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202(a) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006 (H. Con. Res. 95), by a yea-and-nay vote of 212 yeas to 206 nays, Roll No. 670, after ordering the previous question. Pages H12269-77 H. Res. 640, the rule providing for consideration of the conference report, was agreed to by voice vote. Pages H12233-41 Junior Duck Stamp Reauthorization Amendments Act of 2005: The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 3179, to reauthorize and amend the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994. Pages H12277-78 Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to revise certain repayment contracts with the Bostwick Irrigation District in Nebraska, the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District No. 2, the Frenchman-Cambridge Irrigation District, and the Webster Irrigation District No. 4, all a part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program: The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 4000, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to revise certain repayment contracts with the Bostwick Irrigation District in Nebraska, the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District No. 2, the Frenchman-Cambridge Irrigation District, and the Webster Irrigation District No. 4, all a part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. Page H12278 Enacting the technical and conforming amendments necessary to implement the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005: The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 4636, to enact the technical and conforming amendments necessary to implement the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005. Pages H12278-83 Directing the Joint Committee on the Library to accept the donation of a bust depicting Sojourner Truth and to display the bust in a suitable location in the rotunda of the Capitol: The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 4510, amended, to direct the Joint Committee on the Library to accept the donation of a bust depicting Sojourner Truth and to display the bust in a suitable location in the rotunda of the Capitol, after agreeing to the Jackson-Lee amendment. Pages H12283-85 Making certain technical corrections in amendments made by the Energy Policy Act of 2005: The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 4635, to make certain technical corrections in amendments made by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Page H12285 Reauthorizing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program through March 31, 2006: The House agreed by unanimous consent to H.R. 4635, to reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program through March 31, 2006. Page H12285 Adjournment Resolution: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 326, providing for the sine die adjournment of the One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session. Pages H12285-86 Extension of Remarks: Agreed that Members may have until publication of the last edition of the Congressional Record authorized for the first session of the 109th Congress by the Joint Committee on Printing to revise and extend their remarks and to include brief, related extraneous material on any matter occurring before the adjournment of the first session sine die. Page H12286 Resignations--Appointments: Agreed that during the second session of the 109th Congress, the Speaker, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader be authorized to accept resignations and to make appointments authorized by law or by the House. Page H12286 Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Gilchrest, Representative Wolf, and Representative Tom Davis of Virginia to act as Speaker pro tempore to sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions through January 31, 2006. Page H12286 Quorum Calls--Votes: Six yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages H12242, H12242-43, H12243-44, H12267-68, [[Page D1319]] H12268-69, H12276-77, and H12277. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 1 p.m. and at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, December 19th, pursuant to the previous order of the House of today, the House stands adjourned until 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2005, unless it sooner has received a message or messages from the Senate transmitting its adoption of a conference report to accompany H.R. 2863, its adoption of a conference report to accompany H.R. 3010, and it's adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 326, in which case the House shall stand adjourned sine die pursuant to that concurrent resolution. Committee Meetings DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS, FY 2006--CONFERENCE REPORT Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 2863, Department of Defense Appropriations, FY 2006, and against its consideration. The rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. Testimony was heard from Chairman Young of Florida and Representative Burton. DEFICIT CONTROL ACT 2005--CONFERENCE REPORT Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points of order against the conference report to accompany S. 1932, Deficit Control Act of 2005, and against its consideration. The rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. The rule provides that Section 2 of House Resolution 619 is amended to read as follows: ``On any legislative day of the second session of the One Hundred Ninth Congress from January 3, 2006, through January 30, 2006, the Speaker may dispense with organizational and legislative business,'' Testimony was heard from Chairman Nussle. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2005 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House No committee meetings are scheduled. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. 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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D1320]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Monday, December 19 Senate Chamber Program for Monday: Senate will be in a period of morning business. Also, Senate expects to consider any cleared legislative and executive matters, including conference reports when available. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES To be announced. House Chamber Program for Monday: To be announced.