Thursday, February 9, 2006 [[Page D73]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S875-S1045 Measures Introduced: Nine bills were introduced, as follows: S. 2262- 2270. Pages S978-79 Measures Passed: Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act: Senate passed H.R. 22, to reform the postal laws of the United States, after striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof, the text of S. 662, Senate companion measure, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S898-S943 Frist (for Collins/Bond) Amendment No. 2750, to modify provisions relating to objectives, unused rate adjustment authority, transition rules, rate and service complaints. Pages S926-27 Frist (for Harkin) Amendment No. 2751, to provide for procedures by the Postal Service to give notice on certain actions affecting communities. Pages S926-27 Frist (for Reid) Amendment No. 2752, to modify qualifications and terms of Governors of the United States Postal Service. Pages S926-27 Frist (for Stevens) Amendment No. 2753, to modify contracts for the transportation of mail by air. Pages S926-27 Senate insisted on its amendment, requested a conference with the House thereon, and the Chair was authorized to appoint the following conferees on the part of the Senate: Senators Collins, Stevens, Voinovich, Coleman, Bennett, Lieberman, Akaka, and Carper. Page S942 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that S. 662 be returned to the calendar, and that it not be in order for the Senate to consider any conference report or House amendments to H.R. 22, if it would cause a net increase in on- or off-budget direct spending in excess of $5 billion in any of the four 10-year periods beginning in 2016-2055, as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office. Page S942 Honoring Coal Miners: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 331, honoring the sacrifice and courage of the 16 coal miners killed in various mine disasters in West Virginia, and recognizing the rescue crews for their outstanding efforts in the aftermath of the tragedies. Page S1044 Hurricane Election Relief Act: Committee on Rules and Administration was discharged from further consideration of S. 2166, to direct the Election Assistance Commission to make grants to States to restore and replace election administration supplies, materials, records, equipment, and technology which were damaged, destroyed, or dislocated as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, and the bill was then passed. Page S1044 Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 852, to create a fair and efficient system to resolve claims of victims for bodily injury caused by asbestos exposure, withdrawing the committee amendments, and taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S879-98, S944-68 Pending: Frist (for Specter/Leahy) Amendment No. 2746, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S879-98, S944-57 Specter Modified Amendment No. 2747 (to Amendment No. 2746), to provide guidelines in determining which defendant participants may receive inequity adjustments the Administrator shall give preference. Pages S880-98, S944-57, S968 Kyl Amendment No. 2754 (to Amendment No. 2746), to reduce the impact of the trust fund on smaller companies and to expand hardship adjustments. Pages S957-68 Ensign point of order that the pending bill and the pending amendment in the nature of a substitute (Frist (for Specter/Leahy)) Amendment No. 2746 (listed above) violate section 407 of H. Con. Res. 95, the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006. Pages S960-68 Specter motion to waive the point of order (listed above). Pages S960-68 Rejected: Cornyn Amendment No. 2748 (to the language proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 2746), [[Page D74]] to provide a new system by which to resolve claims for bodily injury caused by asbestos exposure. (By 70 yeas to 27 nays (Vote No. 13), Senate tabled the amendment). Pages S882-98, S944-57 During consideration of this bill, Senate also took the following action: Cornyn Amendment No. 2749 (to Amendment No. 2748), in the nature of a substitute, fell when Cornyn Amendment No. 2748 (listed above) was tabled. Pages S884-98, S944-57 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at approximately 10 a.m., on Friday, February 10, 2005. Page S1045 Appointments: United States-China Economic Security Review Commission: The Chair, on behalf of the President pro tempore, pursuant to Public Law 106-398, as amended by Public Law 108-7, in accordance with the qualifications specified under section 1238(b)(3)(E) of Public Law 106-398, and upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Finance, appointed the following individual to the United States-China Economic Security Review Commission: Daniel A. Blumenthal of the District of Columbia for a term expiring December 31, 2007. Pages S1044-45 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination: Eric S. Edelman, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Pages S1044, S1045 (Prior to the confirmation of the nomination, Senate vitiated the vote on the motion to invoke cloture.) Page S1044 Messages From the House: Page S978 Measures Referred: Page S978 Executive Communications: Page S978 Additional Cosponsors: Page S979 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S979-82 Additional Statements: Pages S975-78 Amendments Submitted: Pages S982-S1037 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S1037 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S1037-38 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--13) Page S957 Recess: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and recessed at 8:28 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, February 10, 2006. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S1045.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) TSA'S PASSENGER PRE-SCREENING PROGRAMS Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held an oversight hearing to examine commercial aviation security, focusing on Transportation Security Administration's aviation passenger pre- screening programs, Secure Flight and Registered Traveler, to discuss issues that have prevented these programs from being launched, and to determine their future, receiving testimony from Kip Hawley, Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security; Cathleen A. Berrick, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office; James C. May, Air Transport Association of America, Inc., and Timothy D. Sparapani, American Civil Liberties Union, both of Washington, D.C.; and Charles Barclay, American Association of Airport Executives, on behalf of The American Association of Airport Executives and Airports Council International-North America, and Bill Connors, National Business Travel Association, both of Alexandria, Virginia. Hearings recessed subject to the call. BUDGET: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of Energy, after receiving testimony from Samuel Bodman, Secretary of Energy. NATURAL GAS PRICES Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change, and Nuclear Safety concluded a hearing to examine the impact of clean air regulations on natural gas prices, including electricity generation, after receiving testimony from Howard K. Gruenspecht, Deputy Administrator, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy; William Wehrum, Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency; Arthur E. Smith, Jr., NiSource, Inc., Washington, D.C., on behalf of the American Gas Association; and Joel Bluestein, Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., and Jack N. Gerard, American Chemistry Council, both of Arlington, Virginia. [[Page D75]] BUDGET: HHS Committee on Finance: Committee held a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of Health and Human Services, receiving testimony from Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Hearings recessed subject to the call. COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine new initiatives in cooperative threat reduction, focusing S. 1949, to provide for coordination of proliferation interdiction activities and conventional arms disarmament, after receiving testimony from Robert G. Joseph, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. HURRICANE KATRINA Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on the Defense Department's role in the response, after receiving testimony from Paul McHale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense; Admiral Timothy J. Keating, USN, Commander, United States Northern Command; Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum, Chief, National Guard Bureau; Lieutenant General Russel L. Honore, Commander, First U.S. Army; and Major General Bennett C. Landreneau, The Adjutant General, State of Louisiana, and Director, Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee held a hearing to examine the role of education in global competitiveness, focusing on the knowledge of math and science, and the respective high school reform and national security language initiatives, receiving testimony from Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education. Hearing recessed subject to the call. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community. Committee recessed subject to call. House of Representatives Chamber Action The House was not in session today. The House is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 2006. Committee Meetings U.S. COMPETITIVENESS--21ST CENTURY MARKETPLACE Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``Sharpening Our Edge--Staying Competitive in the 21st Century Marketplace.'' Testimony was heard from Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary of Commerce; and public witnesses. Joint Meetings RUSSIA Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): on Wednesday, February 9, 2006, Commission concluded a hearing to examine the current situation and future prospects for human rights, civil society, and democratic governance in Russia, after receiving testimony from Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, and Barry F. Lowenkron, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, both of the Department of State; Allison Gill, Human Rights Watch, Moscow, Russia; Andrew C. Kuchins, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Andrei Piontkovsky, Hudson Institute, and Natalia Bourjaily, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, all of Washington, D.C.; and Nicolai N. Petro, University of Rhode Island, Kingston. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2006 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: to continue hearings to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on the roles of the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency leadership, 9:30 a.m., SD-342. 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 D76]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Friday, February 10 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 10 a.m.), Senate will continue consideration of S. 852, Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2 p.m., Tuesday, February 14 House Chamber Program for Tuesday: To be announced.