Friday, September 30, 2005 [[Page D998]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate passed H.J. Res. 68, Continuing Resolution. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S10773-S10811 Measures Introduced: Five bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 1804-1808, S. Res. 262, and S. Con. Res. 56. Pages S10796-97 Measures Passed: Continuing Resolution: Senate passed H.J. Res. 68, making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2006, clearing the measure for the President, after taking action on the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S10773-80 Rejected: By 39 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 246), Harkin Amendment No. 1921, to continue funding for the Community Services Block Grant at no less than last year's level. Pages S10773-78 Natural Disaster Student Aid Fairness Act: Senate passed H.R. 3863, to provide the Secretary of Education with waiver authority for the reallocation rules in the Campus-Based Aid programs, and to extend the deadline by which funds have to be reallocated to institutions of higher education due to a natural disaster, clearing the measure for the President. Page S10809 Department of Defense Appropriations: Senate continued consideration of H.R. 2863, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, which will be considered as original text for the purpose of further amendment, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S10780, S10781-83 Adopted: Stevens Amendment No. 1922, to provide funding for the Community Services Block Grant program. Page S10780 Salazar Amendment No. 1903, to provide that certain local educational agencies shall be eligible to receive a fiscal year 2005 payment under section 8002 or 8003 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Pages S10781-83 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at 3 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2005. Page S10809 Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that during this adjournment of the Senate, the Majority Leader and Senator Sessions, be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions. Page S10809 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: Israel Hernandez, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service. David H. McCormick, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration. Darryl W. Jackson, of the District of Columbia to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Kim Kendrick, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Patrick M. O'Brien, of Minnesota, to be an Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing, Department of the Treasury. Keith A. Nelson, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Darlene F. Williams, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Keith E. Gottfried, of California, to be General Counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Emil W. Henry, Jr., of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Margaret Spellings, of Texas, to be a Representative of the United States of America to the Thirty- [[Page D999]] third Session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. (Prior to this action, Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged from further consideration.) 46 Air Force nominations in the rank of general. 9 Army nominations in the rank of general. Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy. Pages S10807-09, S10810-11 Messages From the House: Page S10796 Measures Referred: Page S10796 Measures Placed on Calendar: Page S10796 Enrolled Bills Presented: Page S10796 Additional Cosponsors: Page S10797 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S10797-S10806 Amendments Submitted: Pages S10806-07 Authority for Committees to Meet: Page S10807 Privilege of the Floor: Page S10807 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--246) Page S10778 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 3:04 p.m., until 3 p.m., on Monday, October 3, 2005. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S10809-10.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) NOMINATIONS: Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations: of John Hillen, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs, who was introduced by Senator Allen, Barry F. Lowenkron, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, both of the Department of State, and Kent R. Hill, of Virginia, and Jacqueline Ellen Schafer, of the District of Columbia, both to be Assistant Administrator, United States Agency for International Development, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. NOMINATIONS: Committee on the Judiciary: on Thursday, September 29, Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Margaret Mary Sweeney, of Virginia, and Thomas Craig Wheeler, of Maryland, each to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims, John Richard Smoak, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Florida, who was introduced by Senator Nelson (FL), Brian Edward Sandoval, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada, who was introduced by Senators Reid and Ensign, and Harry Sandlin Mattice, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee, who was introduced by Senators Frist and Alexander, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. House of Representatives Chamber Action The House was not in session today. It will meet at 4 p.m. on Monday, October 3 in pro forma session and at 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 6 for legislative business. Committee Meetings No committee meetings were held. NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D964) H.R. 3649, to ensure funding for sportfishing and boating safety programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund through the end of fiscal year 2005. Signed on September 29, 2005. (Public Law 109-74) S. 1340, to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to extend the date after which surplus funds in the wildlife restoration fund become available for apportionment. Signed on September 29, 2005. (Public Law 109-75) [[Page D1000]] S. 1368, to extend the existence of the Parole Commission. Signed on September 29, 2005. (Public Law 109-76) CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD Week of October 3 through October 8, 2005 Senate Chamber On Monday, at 3 p.m., Senate resume consideration of H.R. 2863, Department of Defense Appropriations. During the balance of the week, Senate will consider any other cleared legislative and executive business, including any appropriation bills, when available. Senate Committees (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Committee on Armed Services: October 6, to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Michael W. Wynne, of Florida, to be Secretary of the Air Force, and Donald C. Winter, of Virginia, to be Secretary of the Navy, 9:30 a.m., SD-106. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: October 6, to hold hearings to examine the implementation of the Exon-Florio provision by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Department of the Treasury, which seeks to serve U.S. investment policy through reviews that protect national security while maintaining the credibility of open investment policy, 10 a.m., SD-538. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: October 6, to hold hearings to examine Hurricanes Katrina and Rita's effects on energy infrastructure and the status of recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast region, 10 a.m., SD-366. October 6, Subcommittee on Water and Power, to hold hearings to examine S. 1025, to amend the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the construction of the Cheney division, Wichita Federal reclamation project, Kansas'' to authorize the Equus Beds Division of the Wichita Project, S. 1498, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain water distribution facilities to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, S. 1529, to provide for the conveyance of certain Federal land in the city of Yuma, Arizona, S. 1578, to reauthorize the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin endangered fish recovery implementation programs, and S. 1760, to authorize early repayment of obligations to the Bureau of Reclamation within Rogue River Valley Irrigation District or within Medford Irrigation District, 3 p.m., SD-366. Committee on Environment and Public Works: October 5, to hold hearings to examine the status of efforts to reduce greenhouse gases relating to the Kyoto Protocol, 2:30 p.m., SD-406. October 6, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine actions of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Highway Administration relating to Hurricane Katrina, 9:30 a.m., SD-406. Committee on Finance: October 6, to hold hearings to examine the future of the Gulf Coast by using tax policy to help rebuild businesses and communities and support families after disasters, 10 a.m., SD-215. October 6, Subcommittee on International Trade, to hold hearings to examine the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, 2:30 p.m., SD-215. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: October 6, to hold hearings to examine Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) status report on recovery efforts in the Gulf States, 10 a.m., SD-342. October 6, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, to hold hearings to examine improving Department of Defense logistics, focusing on a piece of the Department's business transformation efforts, supply chain management, 2:30 p.m., SD-342. October 6, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security, to hold hearings to examine how the Federal government leases needed space, 2:30 p.m., SD-562. Committee on the Judiciary: October 6, to hold hearings to examine pending judicial nominations, 2:30 p.m., SD-226. Select Committee on Intelligence: October 5, to receive a closed briefing regarding certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. October 6, Full Committee, to receive a closed briefing regarding certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. Special Committee on Aging: October 5, to hold hearings to examine preparing for and meeting the needs of older Americans during a disaster, 10:30 a.m., SH-216. House Committees Committee on Appropriations, October 6, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, hearing on Financial Oversight of Supplemental Appropriations for Hurricane Katrina, 2 p.m., 2359 Rayburn. October 6, Subcommittee on the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies, hearing on Department of Transportation (Hurricane Katrina), 10 a.m., 2358 Rayburn. Committee on the Budget, October 6, hearing on After the Hurricanes: Impact on the Fiscal Year 2007 Budget, 2 p.m., 210 Cannon. Committee on Energy and Commerce, October 6, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``FCC's E-rate Plans to Assist Gulf Coast Recovery,'' 1 p.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Government Reform, October 5, Subcommittee on Federal Workforce and Agency Organization, hearing entitled ``Mom, Apple Pie, and Working for America: Accountability and Rewards for the Federal Workforce,'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. [[Page D1001]] Committee on International Relations, October 6, hearing entitled ``The Six-Party Talks and the North Korean Nuclear Issues: Old Wine in New Bottles?'' 10:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. October 6, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, hearing entitled ``India's Unfinished Agenda: Equality and Justice for 200 Million Victims of the Caste System,'' 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on the Judiciary, October 6, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, hearing on H.R. 1369, To prevent certain discriminatory taxation of natural gas pipeline property, 2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn. October 6, Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property, oversight hearing on Improving Federal Court Adjudication of Patent Cases, 4:30 p.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Resources, October 6, Subcommittee on Water and Power, hearing on the following bills: H.R. 122, Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water System Pressurization and Expansion Project; H.R. 2341, To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of a project to reclaim and reuse wastewater within and outside of the service area of the City of Austin Water and Wastewater Utility, Texas; H.R. 3418, Central Texas Water Recycling Act of 2005; and H.R. 3929, To amend the Water Desalination Act of 1996 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to assist in research and development, environmental and feasibility studies, and preliminary engineering for the Municipal Water District of Orange County, California, Dana Point Desalination Project located at Dana Point, California, 2 p.m., 1324 Longworth. October 7, Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, oversight hearing entitled ``Restoration after Recent Hurricanes and other Natural Disasters: Federal Role in Recovery after Catastrophic Events Affecting Forest Lands,'' 9 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Committee on Science, October 7, hearing on NOAA Hurricane Forecasting, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, October 7, hearing entitled ``Small Businesses and Hurricane Katrina: Rebuilding the Economy,'' 10:30 a.m., 2360 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, October 6, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, oversight hearing entitled ``Recovering after Katrina: Ensuring that FEMA is up to the task,'' 11 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Ways and Means, October 7, Subcommittee on Health, hearing on gainsharing to align the interests of health care providers, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth. Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina, October 6, to continue hearings on Hurricane Katrina, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Joint Meetings Joint Economic Committee: October 7, to hold hearings to examine the employment situation for September, 9:30 a.m., 1334 LHOB. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. The public proceedings of each House of Congress, as reported by the Official Reporters thereof, are printed pursuant to directions of the Joint Committee on Printing as authorized by appropriate provisions of Title 44, United States Code, and published for each day that one or both Houses are in session, excepting very infrequent instances when two or more unusually small consecutive issues are printed one time. Public access to the Congressional Record is available online through GPO Access, a service of the Government Printing Office, free of charge to the user. 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