Monday, March 7, 2005 [[Page D188]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S2111-S2198 Measures Introduced: Ten bills were introduced, as follows: S. 534-543. Page S2148 Measures Reported: S. 177, to further the purposes of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 by directing the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to carry out an assessment and demonstration program to control salt cedar and Russian olive. (S. Rept. No. 109-15) S. 178, to provide assistance to the State of New Mexico for the development of comprehensive State water plans. (S. Rept. No. 109-16) S. 214, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with the States on the border with Mexico and other appropriate entities in conducting a hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, and modeling program for priority transboundary aquifers. (S. Rept. No. 109-17) S. 229, to clear title to certain real property in New Mexico associated with the Middle Rio Grande Project. (S. Rept. No. 109-18) Pages S2147-48 Bankruptcy Reform Act: Senate resumed consideration of S. 256, a bill to amend title 11 of the United States Code, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S2111-43 Adopted: Leahy Modified Amendment No. 26, to restrict access to certain personal information in bankruptcy documents. Pages S2139-43 Withdrawn: By 46 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 26), Kennedy Amendment No. 44, to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage. Pages S2113-22, S2125-32 By 38 yeas to 61 nays (Vote No. 27), Santorum Amendment No. 128, to promote job creation, family time, and small business preservation in the adjustment of the Federal minimum wage. Pages S2122-25, S2132-33 Pursuant to the order of March 3, 2005, the above actions were vitiated. Pages S2132-33 Feinstein Amendment No. 19, to enhance disclosures under an open end credit plan. Page S2133 Pending: Dorgan/Durbin Amendment No. 45, to establish a special committee of the Senate to investigate the awarding and carrying out of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism. Page S2111 Pryor Amendment No. 40, to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit the use of any information in any consumer report by any credit card issuer that is unrelated to the transactions and experience of the card issuer with the consumer to increase the annual percentage rate applicable to credit extended to the consumer. Page S2111 Reid (for Baucus) Amendment No. 50, to amend section 524(g)(1) of title 11, United States Code, to predicate the discharge of debts in bankruptcy by an vermiculite mining company meeting certain criteria on the establishment of a health care trust fund for certain individuals suffering from an asbestos related disease. Page S2111 Dodd Amendment No. 52, to prohibit extensions of credit to underage consumers. Page S2111 Dodd Amendment No. 53, to require prior notice of rate increases. Page S2111 Kennedy (for Leahy/Sarbanes) Amendment No. 83, to modify the definition of disinterested person in the Bankruptcy Code. Harkin Amendment No. 66, to increase the accrual period for the employee wage priority in bankruptcy. Page S2125 Dodd Amendment No. 67, to modify the bill to protect families. Pages S2133-34 Kennedy Amendment No. 68, to provide a maximum amount for a homestead exemption under State law. Page S2134 Kennedy Amendment No. 69, to amend the definition of current monthly income. Page S2134 Kennedy Amendment No. 70, to exempt debtors whose financial problems were caused by failure to receive alimony or child support, or both, from means testing. Page S2134 Kennedy Amendment No. 72, to ensure that families below median income are not subjected to means test requirements. Page S2134 [[Page D189]] Kennedy Amendment No. 71, to strike the provision relating to the presumption of luxury goods. Page S2134 Kennedy Amendment No. 119, to amend section 502(b) of title 11, United States Code, to limit usurious claims in bankruptcy. Page S2134 Akaka Amendment No. 105, to limit claims in bankruptcy by certain unsecured creditors. Page S2134 Feingold Amendment No. 87, to amend section 104 of title 11, United States Code, to include certain provisions in the triennial inflation adjustment of dollar amounts. Page S2135 Feingold Amendment No. 88, to amend the plan filing and confirmation deadlines. Page S2135 Feingold Amendment No. 89, to strike certain small business related bankruptcy provisions in the bill. Page S2135 Feingold Amendment No. 90, to amend the provision relating to fair notice given to creditors. Page S2135 Feingold Amendment No. 91, to amend section 303 of title 11, United States Code, with respect to the sealing and expungement of court records relating to fraudulent involuntary bankruptcy petitions. Pages S2135-36 Feingold Amendment No. 92, to amend the credit counseling provision. Page S2136 Feingold Amendment No. 93, to modify the disclosure requirements for debt relief agencies providing bankruptcy assistance. Pages S2136-37 Feingold Amendment No. 94, to clarify the application of the term disposable income. Page S2137 Feingold Amendment No. 95, to amend the provisions relating to the discharge of taxes under chapter 13. Page S2137 Feingold Amendment No. 96, to amend the provisions relating to chapter 13 plans to have a 5-year duration in certain cases and to amend the definition of disposable income for purposes of chapter 13. Page S2137 Feingold Amendment No. 97, to amend the provisions relating to chapter 13 plans to have a 5-year duration in certain cases and to amend the definition of disposable income for purposes of chapter 13. Page S2137 Feingold Amendment No. 98, to modify the disclosure requirements for debt relief agencies providing bankruptcy assistance. Page S2137 Feingold Amendment No. 99, to provide no bankruptcy protection for insolvent political committees. Pages S2137-38 Feingold Amendment No. 100, to provide authority for a court to order disgorgement or other remedies relating to an agreement that is not enforceable. Page S2138 Feingold Amendment No. 101, to amend the definition of small business debtor. Page S2138 Talent Amendment No. 121, to deter corporate fraud and prevent the abuse of State self-settled trust law. Page S2138 Schumer Amendment No. 129 (to Amendment No. 121), to limit the exemption for asset protection trusts. Pages S2138-39 Durbin Amendment No. 110, to clarify that the means test does not apply to debtors below median income. Page S2139 Durbin Amendment No. 111, to protect veterans and members of the armed forces on active duty or performing homeland security activities from means testing in bankruptcy. Page S2139 Durbin Amendment No. 112, to protect disabled veterans from means testing in bankruptcy under certain circumstances. Page S2139 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at 9:45 a.m., on Tuesday, March 8, 2005. Page S2197 Measures Read First Time: Pages S2147, S2197 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S2148-49 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S2149-71 Additional Statements: Pages S2145-47 Amendments Submitted: Pages S2171-97 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S2197 Authority for Committees to Meet: Page S2197 Privilege of the Floor: Page S2197 Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--27) Pages S2132, S2133 Adjournment: Senate convened at 2 p.m., and adjourned at 7:32 p.m., until 9:45 a.m., on Tuesday, March 8, 2005. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S2197-98.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION Committee on Appropriations: Committee announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies: Senators Bennett (Chair), Cochran, Specter, Bond, McConnell, Burns, Craig, Brownback, Kohl, Harkin, Dorgan, Feinstein, Durbin, Johnson, and Landrieu. Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science: Senators Shelby (Chair), Gregg, Stevens, Domenici, [[Page D190]] McConnell, Hutchison, Brownback, Bond, Mikulski, Inouye, Leahy, Kohl, Murray, Harkin, and Dorgan. Subcommittee on Defense: Senators Stevens (Chair), Cochran, Specter, Domenici, Bond, McConnell, Shelby, Gregg, Hutchison, Burns, Inouye, Byrd, Leahy, Harkin, Dorgan, Durbin, Reid, Feinstein, and Mikulski. Subcommittee on District of Columbia: Senators DeWine (Chair), Cochran, Allard, Landrieu, and Durbin. Subcommittee on Energy and Water: Senators Domenici (Chair), Cochran, McConnell, Bennett, Burns, Craig, Bond, Hutchison, Allard, Reid, Byrd, Murray, Dorgan, Feinstein, Johnson, Landrieu, and Inouye. Subcommittee on Homeland Security: Senators Gregg (Chair), Cochran, Stevens, Specter, Domenici, Shelby, Craig, Bennett, Allard, Byrd, Inouye, Leahy, Mikulski, Kohl, Murray, Reid, and Feinstein. Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies: Senators Burns (Chair), Stevens, Cochran, Domenici, Bennett, Gregg, Craig, Allard, Dorgan, Byrd, Leahy, Reid, Feinstein, Mikulski, and Kohl. Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies: Senators Specter (Chair), Cochran, Gregg, Craig, Hutchison, Stevens, DeWine, Shelby, Harkin, Inouye, Reid, Kohl, Murray, Landrieu, and Durbin. Subcommittee on Legislative Branch: Senators Brownback (Chair), DeWine, Allard, Durbin, and Johnson. Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs: Senators Hutchison (Chair), Burns, Craig, DeWine, Brownback, Allard, McConnell, Feinstein, Inouye, Johnson, Landrieu, Byrd, and Murray. Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: Senators McConnell (Chair), Specter, Gregg, Shelby, Bennett, Bond, DeWine, Brownback, Leahy, Inouye, Harkin, Mikulski, Durbin, Johnson, and Landrieu. Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development: Senators Bond (Chair), Shelby, Specter, Bennett, Hutchison, DeWine, Brownback, Stevens, Domenici, Burns, Murray, Byrd, Mikulski, Reid, Kohl, Durbin, Dorgan, Leahy, and Harkin. NOMINATION Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nomination of Michael Jackson, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, after the nominee testified and answered questions in his own behalf. House of Representatives Chamber Action Measures Introduced: 6 public bills, H.R. 1134-1139; and 1 resolution, H. Con. Res. 87, were introduced. Page H988 Additional Cosponsors: Page H988-89 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 3, to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, amended (H. Rept. 109-12). Page H988 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Neugebauer to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H987 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H 987. Senate Referral: S.J. Res. 4 was held at the desk. Quorum Calls--Votes: There were no votes or quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 12 noon and adjourned at 12:02 p.m. Committee Meetings No committee meetings were held. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2005 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: to hold hearings to examine the reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 10 a.m., SD-106. Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, to hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2006 for defense wide and navy budget overview, 2:30 p.m., SD-138. Committee on Armed Services: to hold hearings to examine military strategy and operational requirements in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2006, 9:30 a.m., SH-216. Full Committee, to receive a closed briefing on current operations in Iraq, 5 p.m., SR-222. [[Page D191]] Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, to hold hearings to examine S. 213, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, S. 267, to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, S. 305, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to recruit volunteers to assist with or facilitate the activities of various agencies and offices of the Department of the Interior, S. 179, to provide for the exchange of land within the Sierra National Forest, California, S. 476, to authorize the Boy Scouts of America to exchange certain land in the State of Utah acquired under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, and S. 485, to reauthorize and amend the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992, 10 a.m., SD-366. Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine ways to encourage the diversification of power generation resources, 2:30 p.m., SD-366. Committee on Finance: to hold hearings to examine physician-owned specialty hospitals, 10 a.m., SD-628. Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on European Affairs, to hold hearings to examine the future of democracy in the Black Sea area, 2:30 p.m., SD-419. Committee on the Judiciary: to hold hearings to examine the nomination of Thomas B. Griffith, of Utah, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, 9:30 a.m., SD- 226. Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security, to hold hearings to examine terrorism and the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) threat to homeland security, 2:30 p.m., SD-226. Committee on Rules and Administration: to hold hearings to examine S. 271, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to clarify when organizations described in section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 must register as political committees, 9:30 a.m., SR-301. Committee on Veterans' Affairs: to hold joint hearings with the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to examine the legislative presentation of the Disabled American Veterans, 2 p.m., 345 CHOB. Select Committee on Intelligence: to hold closed hearings to examine intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. House Committee on Appropriations, to mark up a Fiscal Year 2005 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, 4 p.m., 2359 Rayburn. Subcommittee on the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, on the Administration for Children and Families/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 10 a.m., 2358 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life, and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, on Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 10 a.m., and 1 p.m., 2362A Rayburn. Subcommittee on Science, The Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies, on Director of the FBI, 10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn. Committee on Government Reform, hearing entitled ``Is Uncle Sam Still Passing the Buck? The Burden of Unfunded Mandates on State, County, and City Governments,'' 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats, to mark up H. Res. 101, Urging the European Union to add Hezbollah to the European Union's wide-ranging list of terrorist organizations, 5 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property, hearing entitled ``Digital Music Licensing and Section 115 of the Copyright Act,'' 4:30 p.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Rules, to consider H.R. 3, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, 4 p.m., H-313 Capitol. Committee on Small Business, hearing on Small Business Priorities for the 109th Congress, will discuss H. Res. 22, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that American small businesses are entitled to a Small Business Bill of Rights, 3 p.m., 311 Cannon. Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health, hearing on Physician-Owned Specialty Hospitals, 4 p.m., B-318 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, hearing on the President's Proposal for Single-Employer Pension Funding Reform, 3 p.m., 1100 Longworth. Joint Meetings Joint Meetings: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to hold joint hearings with the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to examine the legislative presentation of the Disabled American Veterans, 2 p.m., 345 CHOB. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: to hold hearings to examine the challenges facing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2005, focusing on security and human rights, 3 p.m., SD-192. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). 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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. ``Periodicals'' postage is paid at Washington, D.C. [[Page D192]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:45 a.m., Tuesday, March 8 Senate Chamber Program for Tuesday: Senate will continue consideration of S. 256, Bankruptcy Reform Act; at 10:15 a.m., Senate will consider Schumer Amendment No. 47, and at 12:15 p.m. vote on, or in relation to the amendment; and at 2:15 p.m., Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the bill. (Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. for their respective party conferences.) Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 8 House Chamber Program for Tuesday: Consideration of Suspensions: (1) H. Res. 133, providing amounts from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives for continuing expenses of standing and select committees of the House from April 1, 2005, through April 30, 2005; and (2) H. Res. 122, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the study of languages and supporting the designation of a Year of Languages. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Boehlert, Sherwood, N.Y., E372 Davis, Susan A., Calif., E371 Higgins, Brian, N.Y., E372 Meek, Kendrick B., Fla., E372 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E371 Serrano, Jose E., N.Y., E372