Thursday, January 6, 2005 [[Page D12]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS The House and Senate met in joint session to count electoral votes. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S35-S76 Measures Submitted: Two resolutions were submitted, as follows: S. Res. 5-6. Page S66 Measures Passed: Majority Party Committee Appointments: Senate agreed to S. Res. 5, making majority party appointments to certain Senate committees for the 109th Congress. Pages S39-40 Minority Party Committee Appointments: Senate agreed to S. Res. 6, making minority party appointments to certain Senate committees for the 109th Congress. Page S40 Tsunami Relief Contribution Tax Deductibility: Senate passed H.R. 241, to accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Pages S39, S56-57 Adjournment Resolution: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 2, providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate. Page S68 Objection to Presidential Electoral Vote Certificate From Ohio: By 1 yea to 74 nays (Vote No. 1), the objection to the Presidential electoral votecertificate from the State of Ohio was not sustained. Pages S41-56 Messages from the President: Senate received the following message from the President of the United States: Transmitting, pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, an Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation extending the agreement on Mutual Fisheries Relations of May 31, 1999; referred jointly, pursuant to the order of January 30, 1975, as modified by the order of April 11, 1986; which was referred to the Committees on Foreign Relations; andCommerce, Science, and Transportation. (PM-1) Page S62 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: 1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral. Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy. Pages S68-76 Messages From the House: Pages S62-63 Executive Communications: Pages S63-66 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S66 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S66-67 Additional Statements: Pages S60-62 Authority for Committees to Meet: Pages S67-68 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--1) Page S56 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and, in accordance with the provisions of H. Con. Res. 2, adjourned at 5:20 p.m., until 3 p.m., on January 20, 2005. Page S68 Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) NOMINATION Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of Mike Johanns, of Nebraska, to be Secretary of Agriculture. Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on the nomination of Mr. Johanns, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators Hagel and Nelson (NE), testified and answered questions in his own behalf. [[Page D13]] TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS/IRAQ Committee on Armed Services: on Wednesday, January 5, Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on U.S. Government tsunami relief efforts in the Indian Ocean region, on the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, and on other significant military issues around the world from Peter W. Rodman, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs; Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, USN, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; Lieutenant General James T. Conway, USMC, Director for Operations, J3, and Major General Ronald L. Burgess, Jr., USA, Director for Intelligence, J2, both of The Joint Staff; Evans J. R. Revere, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; and Ronald L. Schlicher, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq. NOMINATION Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of Carlos M. Gutierrez, of Michigan, to be Secretary of Commerce. Prior to this action, on Wednesday, January 5, Committee concluded a hearing on the nomination of Mr. Gutierrez, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators Levin and Stabenow, testified and answered questions in his own behalf. NOMINATION Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of Margaret Spellings, of Texas, to be Secretary of Education. Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on the nomination of Ms. Spellings, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator Cornyn, testified and answered questions in her own behalf. NOMINATION Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nomination of Alberto R. Gonzales, of Texas, to be Attorney General of the United States, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators Cornyn and Salazar, testified and answered questions in his own behalf. Testimony was also received from Admiral John D. Hutson, USN (Ret.), Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, New Hampshire; Harold Hongju Koh, Yale Law School, New Haven, Connecticut; and Douglas A. Johnson, Center of Victims of Torture, Minneapolis, Minnesota. House of Representatives Chamber Action Measures Introduced: 73 public bills, H.R. 19, 44, 50, 58, 91, 101-107, 130, 153-154, 163, 173, 189, 226-228, 232, 238-289; 2 private bills, H.R. 290-291; and; 20 resolutions, H.J. Res. 9, 14-18; H. Con. Res. 7- 8, 10-13, and H. Res. 19, 32-38 were introduced. Pages H135-138 Additional Cosponsors: Reports Filed: No reports were filed today. Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Simpson to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H81 Committee Elections: The House agreed to H. Res. 32, electing the following Members of the Majority to serve on standing committees of the House of Representatives: Committee on Agriculture: Representative Goodlatte, Chairman. Committee on Appropriations: Representative Lewis (CA), Chairman; Representatives Young (FL), Regula, Rogers (KY), Wolf, Kolbe, Walsh, Taylor (NC), Hobson, Istook, Bonilla, Knollenberg, Kingston, Frelinghuysen, Wicker, Cunningham, Tiahrt, Wamp, Latham, Northup, Aderholt, Emerson, Granger, Peterson (PA), Goode, Doolittle, LaHood, Sweeney, Sherwood, Weldon (FL), Simpson, Culberson, Kirk, Crenshaw, Rehberg, Carter, and Alexander. Committee on Armed Services: Representative Hunter, Chairman. Committee on Budget: Representative Nussle, Chairman. Committee on Education and the Workforce: Representative Boehner, Chairman. Committee on Energy and Commerce: Representative Barton, Chairman; Representatives Hall, Bilirakis, Upton, Stearns, Gillmor, Deal, Whitfield, Cubin, Shimkus, Wilson (NM), Pickering, Fossella, Blunt, Buyer, Radanovich, Bass, Pitts, Bono, Walden, Terry, Ferguson, Mike Rogers (MI), Otter, Myrick, Sullivan, Murphy, Burgess, and Blackburn. Committee on Financial Services: Representative Oxley, Chairman. Committee on Government Reform: Representative Tom Davis (VA), Chairman. Committee on Homeland Security: Representative Cox, Chairman. Committee on House Administration: Representative Ney, Chairman. Committee on International Relations: Representative Hyde, Chairman. Committee [[Page D14]] on the Judiciary: Representative Sensenbrenner, Chairman. Committee on Resources: Representative Pombo, Chairman. Committee on Rules: Representative Gingrey. Committee on Science: Representative Boehlert, Chairman. Committee on Small Business: Representative Manzullo, Chairman. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Representative Young (AL), Chairman. Committee on Veteran's Affairs: Representative Buyer, Chairman. Committee on Ways and Means: Representative Thomas, Chairman; Representatives Shaw, Johnson (CT), Herger, McCrery, Camp, Ramstad, Nussle, Johnson (TX), Portman, English, Hayworth, Weller, Hulshof, Lewis (KY), Foley, Brady, Reynolds, Ryan (WI), Cantor, Linder, Hart, Beauprez, and Chocola. Pages H81-82 Committee Elections: The House agreed to H. Res. 33, electing the following Members of the Minority to serve on standing committees of the House of Representatives: Committee on Agriculture: Representative Peterson (MN). Committee on Appropriations: Representative Obey. Committee on Armed Services: Representative Skelton. Committee on the Budget: Representative Spratt. Committee on Education and the Workforce: Representative George Miller of California. Committee on Energy and Commerce: Representative Dingell. Committee on Financial Services: Representative Frank (MA). Committee on Government Reform: Representative Waxman. Committee on Homeland Security: Representative Thompson (MS). Committee on International Relations: Representative Lantos. Committee on the Judiciary: Representative Conyers. Committee on Resources: Representative Rahall. Committee on Rules: Representative Slaughter. Committee on Science: Representative Gordon. Committee on Small Business: Representative Velazquez. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Representative Oberstar. Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Representative Evans. Committee on Ways and Means: Representative Rangel. Page H83 Electoral College Vote Tellers: Pursuant to S. Con. Res. 1, to provide for the counting on January 6, 2005, of the electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United States, and the order of the House of January 4, 2005, the Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of Representatives Ney of Ohio and Larson of Connecticut as tellers on the part of the House to count electoral votes. Page H83 Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of Representative Harman to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Page H83 Accelerating income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for relief of the Indian Ocean tsunami: The House agreed to H.R. 241, to accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Pages H83-84 Recess: The House recessed at 11:21 a.m. and reconvened at 12:55 p.m. Page H84 Administration of the Oath of Office: Representative-elect Shadegg presented himself in the well of the House and was administered the oath of office by the Speaker. Page H84 Joint Session: The Joint Session was called to order at 1:05 p.m. and dissolved at 1:22 p.m. for consideration of the objection to the electoral votes for Ohio. Following consideration, the joint session resumed at 5:08 p.m. and dissolved at 5:18 p.m. Page H84 Declaration of the Election of President and Vice President: Pursuant to the provisions of S. Con. Res. 1, and the requirements of the Constitution and laws relating to the election of President and Vice President of the United States, the two Houses of Congress met in joint session with Vice President Cheney as the presiding officer to count the electoral votes. The following votes were cast for George W. Bush of Texas, 286; John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, 251; and John Edwards, 1. The following votes were cast for Vice President: Dick Cheney of Wyoming, 286; and John Edwards, 252. Page H129 During the joint session, a Representative objected to the certification of electoral votes from Ohio. The objection, having been signed by a Senator, was received and the joint meeting was dissolved for the purpose of considering the objection in each House. Pages H85-86 The objection was not agreed to in the House by a yea and nay vote of 31 yeas to 267 nays, Roll No. 7. Subsequently notification was received in the House that the Senate disposed of the objection by a vote of 1 aye to 74 nays. Upon resumption of the joint session, the Vice President announced that the original certification submitted by the State of Ohio would stand as regular in form and authentic. Page H127 Administration of Oath of Office: Representative-elect Norwood presented himself in the well of the House and was administered the Oath of Office by the Speaker. Page H127 Funeral of the late Honorable Robert T. Matsui: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following members of the House to the Committee to attend the funeral of the late Honorable Robert T. Matsui: Representatives Stark, Pelosi, George Miller (CA), Waxman, Lewis (CA), Thomas, Dreier, Hunter, Lantos, Berman, Gallegly, Herger, [[Page D15]] Cox, Rohrabacher, Cunningham, Doolittle, Waters, Becerra, Calvert, Eshoo, Filner, McKeon, Pombo, Roybal-Allard, Royce, Woolsey, Farr, Lofgren, Radanovich, Millender-McDonald, Sherman, Loretta Sanchez (CA), Tauscher, Capps, Bono, Lee, Gary Miller (CA) Napolitano, Thompson (CA), Baca, Harman, Davis (CA), Honda, Issa, Schiff, Solis, Watson, Cardoza, Nunes, Linda Sanchez (CA), Lungren, Costa, Rangel, Oberstar, Markey, Kildee, Levin, Pomeroy, Jackson-Lee (TX), Hinojosa, Kucinich, Holt, and McCollum. Page H129 Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he transmitted notification of the extension of the Mutual Fisheries Agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation-- referred to the Committee on Resources and ordered printed (House Doc. 109-5). Page H130 Senate Message: Messages received from the Senate today appear on page H129-130. Quorum Calls--Votes: 1 yea and nay vote developed during the proceedings today and appear on pages H127. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 11 a.m. and at 5:42 p.m. pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 2, it stands adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 20. Committee Meetings No Committee meetings were held. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2005 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House No committee meetings are scheduled. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). 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 at 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. The online database is updated each day the Congressional  Record is published. The database includes both text and graphics  from the beginning of the 103d Congress, 2d session (January 1994)  forward. It is available through GPO Access at  www.gpo.gov/gpoaccess. Customers can also access this information  with WAIS client software, via telnet at swais.access.gpo.gov, or  dial-in using communications software and a modem at (202) 512ÿ091661.  Questions or comments regarding this database or GPO Access can be  directed to the GPO Access User Support Team at: E-Mail:  gpoaccess@gpo.gov; Phone 1ÿ09888ÿ09293ÿ096498 (toll-free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091530  (D.C. area); Fax: 202ÿ09512ÿ091262. The Team's hours of availability are  Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, except Federal holidays. ÿ1AThe Congressional Record paper and 24x  microfiche edition will be furnished by mail to subscribers, free of postage,  at the following prices: paper edition, $217.00 for six months,  $434.00 per year, or purchased for $6.00 per issue, payable in  advance; microfiche edition, $141.00 per year, or purchased for $1.50  per issue payable in advance. The semimonthly Congressional Record  Index may be purchased for the same per issue prices. To place an  order for any of these products, visit the U.S. Government Online  Bookstore at: bookstore.gpo.gov. Mail orders to: Superintendent of  Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250ÿ097954, or phone  orders to (866) 512ÿ091800 toll free, (202) 512ÿ091800 (D.C. Area), or  fax to (202) 512ÿ092250. Remit check or money order, made payable to  the Superintendent of Documents, or use VISA, MasterCard, Discover,  American Express, or GPO Deposit Account. ÿ1AFollowing each session  of Congress, the daily Congressional Record is revised, printed,  permanently bound and sold by the Superintendent of Documents in  individual parts or by sets. ÿ1AWith the exception of copyrighted  articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material  from the Congressional Record. 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. ``Periodicals'' postage is paid at Washington, D.C. [[Page D16]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 3 p.m., Thursday, January 20 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: Senate expects to consider certain executive business. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Thursday, January 20 House Chamber Program for Thursday: Inauguration of the President of the United States. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Lee, Barbara, Calif., E40 Tauscher, Ellen O., Calif., E34 Farr, Sam, Calif., E40 Sherman, Brad, Calif., E42 Berman, Howard L., Calif., E41 Waters, Maxine, Calif., E44 Sanchez, Linda T., Calif., E45 Baca, Joe, Calif., E36 Musgrave, Marilyn N., Colo., E34, E38, E39 DeLauro, Rosa L., Conn., E39, E43 Shays, Christopher, Conn., E36 Stearns, Cliff, Fla., E40 Meek, Kendrick B., Fla., E37, E38 Diaz-Balart, Lincoln, Fla., E31, E33 Diaz-Balart, Mario, Fla., E36 Barrow, John, Ga., E37 Emanuel, Rahm, Ill., E31, E32 Davis, Danny K., Ill., E43 Costello, Jerry F., Ill., E38 Burton, Dan, Ind., E41 Cummings, Elijah E., Md., E42, E43 Ehlers, Vernon J., Mich., E32, E33 Upton, Fred, Mich., E40 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E31, E33 Sabo, Martin Olav, Minn., E41 Graves, Sam, Mo., E34, E38, E39 Andrews, Robert E., N.J., E44 Garrett, Scott, N.J., E36 Menendez, Robert, N.J., E31, E32 Israel, Steve, N.Y., E35 Weiner, Anthony D., N.Y., E34 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E44 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E37 Reynolds, Thomas M., N.Y., E42 Ney, Robert W., Ohio, E35 Blackburn, Marsha, Tenn., E35 Tanner, John S., Tenn., E43 Kind, Ron, Wisc., E44 Faleomavaega, Eni F.H., American Samoa, E42 Norton, Eleanor Holmes, D.C., E34 Christensen, Donna M., The Virgin Islands, E36