Monday, May 1, 2006 [[Page D407]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS See Resume of Congressional Activity. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S3769-S3849 Measures Introduced: Seven bills and five resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2683-2689, S. Res. 456-458, and S. Con. Res. 90-91. Page S3801 Measures Passed: Release of Terrorist Mohammed Ali Hammadi: Senate agreed to S. Res. 457, expressing the sense of the Senate that the citizens of the United States and the United States Government have serious concerns regarding the release of convicted terrorist and murderer Mohammad Ali Hammadi by the Government of Germany. Pages S3846-47 Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps: Committee on Armed Services was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 415, expressing the continuing support of the Senate to the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), and commending the efforts of that vital program as it carries out its mission of instilling the values of citizenship and service in the hearts and minds of the youth of the United States, and the resolution was then agreed to. Page S3848 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations: Senate continued consideration of H.R. 4939, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S3771-88, S3792-93, S3847-48 Adopted: Cochran (for Bennett/Kohl) Amendment No. 3676, to clarify the availability of certain funds made available for the wildlife habitat incentive program. Page S3786 Cochran (for Nelson (FL)) Amendment No. 3711, to provide that funds made available for the Air Force for military construction for the Satellite Processing Operations Support Facility at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, shall be made available instead for the Satellite Alert Facility at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida. Page S3786 Cochran (for Hutchison) Amendment No. 3774, to clarify the availability of certain Construction, Major Projects, funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Page S3786 Chambliss/Isakson Amendment No. 3702, relating to the comprehensive review of the procedures of the Department of Defense on mortuary affairs. Pages S3771, S3786 Cochran (for Salazar) Amendment No. 3644, to require a report on the strategy of the Department of Defense for providing training to members of the Armed Forces on countering improvised explosive devices. Page S3786 Cochran (for Lugar) Amendment No. 3597, to provide certain authorities necessary to carry out foreign policy objectives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pages S3792-93 Cochran (for Leahy) Modified Amendment No. 3661, to provide for notification to the Committees on Appropriations. Page S3793 Cochran (for Leahy) Modified Amendment No. 3663, of a technical nature. Page S3793 Frist (for Hutchison) Amendment No. 3791, to clarify the availability and use of funds. Pages S3847-48 Vitter Modified Amendment No. 3648, to expand the scope of use of amounts appropriated for hurricane disaster relief and recovery to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Operations, Research, and Facilities. Pages S3847-48 Frist (for Landrieu) Amendment No. 3630, to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to report to Congress on the status of its 2006 Atlantic hurricane season disaster response plan. Pages S3847-48 Frist (for Landrieu) Amendment No. 3631, to require monthly reporting regarding the Disaster Loan Program of the Small Business Administration. Pages S3847-48 [[Page D408]] Pending: McCain/Ensign Amendment No. 3616, to strike a provision that provides $74.5 million to states based on their production of certain types of crops, livestock and or dairy products, which was not included in the Administation's emergency supplemental request. Page S3771 McCain/Ensign Amendment No. 3617, to strike a provision providing $6 million to sugarcane growers in Hawaii, which was not included in the Administration's emergency supplemental request. Page S3771 McCain/Ensign Amendment No. 3618, to strike $15 million for a seafood promotion strategy that was not included in the Administration's emergency supplemental request. Page S3771 McCain/Ensign Amendment No. 3619, to strike the limitation on the use of funds for the issuance or implementation of certain rulemaking decisions related to the interpretation of ``actual control'' of airlines. Page S3771 Warner Amendment No. 3620, to repeal the requirement for 12 operational aircraft carriers within the Navy. Page S3771 Coburn Amendment No. 3641 (Divisions IV through XIX), of a perfecting nature. Page S3771 Vitter Amendment No. 3627, to designate the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita as HUBZones and to waive the Small Business Competitive Demonstration Program Act of 1988 for the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. Page S3771 Vitter/Landrieu Modified Amendment No. 3626, to increase the limits on community disaster loans. Page S3771 Vitter Modified Amendment No. 3628, to base the allocation of hurricane disaster relief and recovery funds to States on need and physical damages. Page S3771 Wyden Amendment No. 3665, to prohibit the use of funds to provide royalty relief for the production of oil and natural gas. Page S3771 Santorum Modified Amendment No. 3640, to increase by $12,500,000 the amount appropriated for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, to increase by $12,500,000 the amount appropriated for the Department of State for the Democracy Fund, to provide that such funds shall be made available for democracy programs and activities in Iran, and to provide an offset. Page S3771 Salazar/Baucus Amendment No. 3645, to provide funding for critical hazardous fuels and forest health projects to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires and mitigate the effects of widespread insect infestations. Page S3771 Vitter Amendment No. 3668, to provide for the treatment of a certain Corps of Engineers project. Page S3771 Burr Amendment No. 3713, to allocate funds to the Smithsonian Institution for research on avian influenza. Page S3771 Coburn (for Obama/Coburn) Amendment No. 3693, to reduce wasteful spending by limiting to the reasonable industry standard the spending for administrative overhead allowable under Federal contracts and subcontracts. Page S3771 Coburn (for Obama/Coburn) Amendment No. 3694, to improve accountability for competitive contracting in hurricane recovery by requiring the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to approve contracts awarded without competitive procedures. Page S3771 Coburn (for Obama/Coburn) Amendment No. 3695, to improve financial transparency in hurricane recovery by requiring the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to make information about Federal contracts publicly available. Page S3771 Coburn (for Obama/Coburn) Amendment No. 3697, to improve transparency and accountability by establishing a Chief Financial Officer to oversee hurricane relief and recovery efforts. Page S3771 Menendez Amendment No. 3675, to provide additional appropriations for research, development, acquisition, and operations by the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, for the purchase of container inspection equipment for developing countries, for the implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program, and for the training of Customs and Border Protection officials on the use of new technologies. Page S3771 Murray (for Harkin) Amendment No. 3714, to increase by $8,500,000 the amount appropriated for Economic Support Fund assistance, to provide that such funds shall be made available to the United States Institute of Peace for programs in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to provide an offset. Page S3771 Conrad/Clinton Amendment No. 3715, to offset the costs of defense spending in the supplemental appropriation. Page S3772 Levin Amendment No. 3710, to require reports on policy and political developments in Iraq. Page S3772 Schumer/Reid Amendment No. 3723, to appropriate funds to address price gouging and market manipulation and to provide for a report on oil industry mergers. Page S3772 Schumer Amendment No. 3724, to improve maritime container security. Page S3772 Murray (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 3716, to provide funds to promote democracy in Iraq. Page S3772 [[Page D409]] Murray (for Kennedy) Modified Amendment No. 3688, to provide funding to compensate individuals harmed by pandemic influenza vaccine. Pages S3772, S3776-79 Cornyn Amendment No. 3722, to provide for immigration injunction reform. Page S3772 Cornyn Amendment No. 3699, to establish a floor to ensure that States that contain areas that were adversely affected as a result of damage from the 2005 hurricane season receive at least 3.5 percent of funds set aside for the CDBG program. Page S3772 Cornyn Amendment No. 3672, to require that the Secretary of Labor give priority for national emergency grants to States that assist individuals displaced by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita. Page S3772 Murray (for Byrd) Amendment No. 3708, to provide additional amounts for emergency management performance grants. Page S3772 Domenici/Reid Amendment No. 3769, to provide additional construction funding for levee improvements in the New Orleans metropolitan area, gulf coast restoration. Pages S3772-76 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at 10:45 a.m., on Tuesday, May 2, 2006; that second-degree amendments be filed no later than 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, May 2, 2006; and that at approximately 10:45 a.m., Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the bill. Page S3848 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: John M. R. Kneuer, of New Jersey, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. Paul Cherecwich, Jr., of Utah, to be a Member of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board for a term expiring September 14, 2009. Donald V. Hammond, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board for a term expiring September 21, 2010. Catherine G. West, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board for a term expiring September 14, 2008. Deborah L. Wince-Smith, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board for a term expiring September 14, 2010. Dawn M. Liberi, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. William B. Taylor, Jr., of Virginia, to be Ambassador to Ukraine. Michael Wood, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to Sweden. Page S3849 Messages From the House: Page S3798 Measures Referred: Page S3798 Measures Placed on Calendar: Page S3798 Executive Communications: Pages S3798-S3801 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S3801-03 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S3803-07 Additional Statements: Page S3798 Amendments Submitted: Pages S3807-46 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S3846 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S3846 Privileges of the Floor: Page S3846 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--102) Page S3791 Adjournment: Senate convened at 2 p.m., and adjourned at 7:34 p.m., until 9:45 a.m., on Tuesday, May 2, 2006. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S3848- 49.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) ENERGY POLICY AND COAL GASIFICATION Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the economic and environmental issues associated with coal gasification technology and on implementation of the provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 addressing coal gasification, after receiving testimony from David K. Garman, Under Secretary of Energy; Brian Ferguson, Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, Tennessee; Antonia Herzog, Natural Resources Defense Council, Washington, D.C.; William F. Bruce, BRI Energy, New Smyrna Beach, Florida; William C. Douglas, Econo-Power International Corporation, Houston, Texas; and William A. Boycott, Agrium U.S. Inc., Kenai, Alaska. [[Page D410]] House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 1 public bill, H.R. 5252, was introduced. Page H1921 Additional Cosponsors: Page H1921 Reports Filed: Report was filed on Friday, April 28, 2006 as follows: H.R. 4954, to improve maritime and cargo security through enhanced layered defenses, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 109-447, Pt. 1). Page H1921 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Campbell to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H1919 Quorum Calls--Votes: There were no yea-and-nay votes, and there were no recorded votes. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at noon and adjourned at 12:03 p.m. Committee Meetings DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS REFORM PROPOSALS Committee on Government Reform: On April 28, the Committee held a hearing entitled ``Making the Grade? Examining District of Columbia Public Schools Reform Proposals.'' Testimony was heard from Henry L. Johnson, Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education; the following officials of the District of Columbia: Clifford B. Janey, Superintendent; and John Musso, Chief Financial Officer, both with DC Public Schools; and Charles J. Willoughby, Inspector General; and a public witness. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2006 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: to hold hearings to examine the implementation of the peanut provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, 9:30 a.m., SH- 216. Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel, closed business meeting to markup those provisions which fall under the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2007, 2:30 p.m., SR-222. Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, closed business meeting to markup those provisions which fall under the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2007, 3:30 p.m., SR-232A. Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, closed business meeting to markup those provisions which fall under the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2007, 5:30 p.m., SR-222. Committee on the Budget: to hold hearings to examine S. 2381, to amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to provide line item rescission authority, 9:30 a.m., SD-608. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Science and Space, to hold hearings to examine National Science Foundation, 2:30 p.m., SD-562. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: business meeting to consider S. 2459, to improve cargo security, H.R. 2066, to amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a Federal Acquisition Service, to replace the General Supply Fund and the Information Technology Fund with an Acquisition Services Fund, proposed resolution thanking Joyce Rechtschaffen for her service to the Senate and to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the nominations of Uttam Dhillon, of California, to be Director of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, Mark D. Acton, of Kentucky, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Rate Commission, and a committee report entitled ``Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared.'', 10 a.m., SD-342. Committee on the Judiciary: to hold hearings to examine Federal Bureau of Investigation oversight, 9:30 a.m., SD-226. Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine certain judicial and executive nominations, 4 p.m., SD-226. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Subcommittee on Select Education, hearing on the Seniors Independence Act of 2006, 2:30 p.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, hearing entitled ``U.N. After Oil-for-Food: Still a Viable Diplomatic Tool?'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack, executive, briefing on the Defense Science Board's 2005 study ``Reducing Vulnerabilities to Weapons of Mass Destruction,'' 5 p.m., H2-176 Ford. Committee on Rules, to consider H.R. 4954, SAFE Port Act, 5 p.m., H-313 Capitol. *These figures include all measures reported, even if there was no accompanying report. A total of 49 reports have been filed in the Senate, a total of 83 reports have been filed in the House. [[Page D411]] Resume of Congressional Activity SECOND SESSION OF THE ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS The first table gives a comprehensive resume of all legislative business transacted by the Senate and House. The second table accounts for all nominations submitted to the Senate by the President for Senate confirmation. DATA ON LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY January 3 through April 30, 2006 Senate House Total Days in session............... 48 30 .. Time in session............... 360 hrs., 41 206 hrs., 5 .. Congressional Record: Pages of proceedings........... 3,767 1,918 .. Extensions of Remarks.......... .. 668 .. Public bills enacted into law. 14 43 57 Private bills enacted into law .. .. .. Bills in conference........... 1 5 .. Measures passed, total........ 146 129 275 Senate bills................... 15 14 .. House bills.................... 35 40 .. Senate joint resolutions....... 1 1 .. House joint resolutions........ 3 3 .. Senate concurrent resolutions.. 8 2 .. House concurrent resolutions... 11 23 .. Simple resolutions............. 73 46 .. Measures reported, total...... *47 *76 123 Senate bills................... 34 3 .. House bills.................... 10 44 .. Senate joint resolutions....... 1 .. .. House joint resolutions........ .. 1 .. Senate concurrent resolutions.. 2 .. .. House concurrent resolutions... .. 3 .. Simple resolutions............. .. 25 .. Special reports............... 1 6 .. Conference reports............ .. 1 .. Measures pending on calendar.. 205 136 .. Measures introduced, total.... 636 815 1,451 Bills.......................... 506 598 .. Joint resolutions.............. 8 9 .. Concurrent resolutions......... 14 66 .. Simple resolutions............. 108 142 .. Quorum calls.................. .. 1 .. Yea-and-nay votes............. 101 61 .. Recorded votes................ .. 48 .. Bills vetoed.................. .. .. .. Vetoes overridden............. .. .. .. DISPOSITION OF EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS January 3 through April 30, 2006 Civilian nominations, totaling 294 (including 148 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed...........................................83... Unconfirmed........................................204... Withdrawn............................................7... Other Civilian nominations, totaling 1,668 (including 780 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed........................................1,236... Unconfirmed........................................432... Air Force nominations, totaling 5,596 (including 100 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed........................................3,607... Unconfirmed......................................1,989... Army nominations, totaling 3,110 (including 608 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed........................................2,947... Unconfirmed........................................163... Navy nominations, totaling 460 (including 21 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed...........................................25... Unconfirmed........................................435... Marine Corps nominations, totaling 1,276 (including 2 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed........................................1,271... Unconfirmed..........................................5... Summary Total nominations carried over from the First Session1,659 Total nominations received this Session.............10,745 Total confirmed......................................9,169 Total unconfirmed....................................3,228 Total withdrawn..........................................7 Total returned to the White House........................0 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. 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[[Page D412]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:45 a.m., Tuesday, May 2 Senate Chamber Program for Tuesday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 60 minutes), Senate will continue consideration of H.R. 4939, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, with a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the bill at approximately 10:45 a.m. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 2 House Chamber Program for Tuesday: Consideration of suspensions as follows: (1) H.R. 5107--Earl D. Hutto Post Office Building Designation Act; (2) H.R. 4811--John Paul Hammerschmidt Post Office Building Designation Act; (3) H.R. 4674--Governor John Anderson, Jr. Post Office Building Designation Act; (4) H.R. 4995--Ronald Bucca Post Office Designation Act; (5) H.R. 4101--Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy Post Office Building Designation Act; (6) H.R. 3351--Native American Technical Corrections Act of 2006; (7) H.R. 2720--Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act; (8) H.R. 3929--Dana Point Desalination Project Authorization Act; (9) H.R. 3418--Central Texas Water Recycling Act of 2005; (10) H. Res. 697--Congratulating the people and Government of Italy, the Torino Olympic Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, the 2006 United States Olympic Team, and all international athletes upon the successful completion of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy; (11) H. Con. Res. 392-- Recognizing the 58th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel; (12) H. Con. Res. 90--Conveying the sympathy of Congress to the families of the young women murdered in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, and encouraging increased United States involvement in bringing an end to these crimes; (13) H. Res. 658--Supporting the goals and ideals of World Water Day; and (14) H.R. 4943--Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Brown, Corrine, Fla., E669 Cummings, Elijah E., Md., E669 Hinojosa, Ruben, Tex., E670 Waxman, Henry A., Calif., E669, E671