[Daily Digest]
[Pages D693-D697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Friday, June 27, 1997

[[Page D693]]

Daily Digest

HIGHLIGHTS

Senate passed Revenue Reconciliation.

Senate

Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6669-S6873
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and six resolutions were introduced,
as follows: S. 975-985, S.J. Res. 32-34, S. Res. 104 and 105, and S.
Con. Res. 35.
Pages S6727-28
Measures Reported: Reports were made as follows:
S. 621, to repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, to
enact the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1997, with amendments.
(S. Rept. No. 105-41)
Page S6727
Measures Passed:
Revenue Reconciliation: By 80 yeas to 18 nays (Vote No. 160), Senate
passed H.R. 2014, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to subsections
(b) (2) and (d) of section 105 of the concurrent resolution on the
budget for fiscal year 1998, after striking all after the enacting
clause and inserting in lieu thereof the text of S. 949, as amended,
and after taking action on further amendments/motions proposed thereto:
Pages S6670-S6720, S6786, S6792
Adopted:
By a unanimous vote of 98 yeas (Vote No. 138). Nickles Modified
Amendment No. 551, to provide for an increase in deduction for health
insurance costs of self-employed individuals, and to modify rules for
allocating interest expense to tax-exempt interest.
Page S6670
By 98 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. 141), Domenici/Lautenberg Amendment
No. 537, to implement the enforcement provisions of the Bipartisan
Budget Agreement, enforce the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, extend the
Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 through fiscal year 2002, and make
technical and conforming changes to the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Pages S6670, S6672-73
Biden Amendment No. 539 (to Amendment No. 537), to provide for the
transfer of funds from the general fund to the Violent Crime Reduction
Trust Fund.
Pages S6670, S6672
Subsequently, a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with
respect to consideration of Amendment No. 537, listed above, was agreed
to by unanimous-consent.
Page S6673
By 92 yeas to 8 nays (Vote No. 148), Byrd Amendment No. 572, to
extend the number of hours for debate on a reconciliation bill and make
other improvements.
Pages S6680-81
Jeffords Modified Amendment No. 522, to provide for a trust fund for
District of Columbia school renovations.
Pages S6670, S6681-82
By 59 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. 150), Coverdell Amendment No. 574, to
allow tax-free expenditures from an education individual retirement
account for elementary and secondary school expenses and to adjust the
modifications to the minimum tax.
Pages S6683-84
Kohl Amendment No. 575, to provide a credit against tax for employers
who provide child care assistance for dependents of their employees.
Page S6685
Torricelli/Landrieu Amendment No. 578, to exclude certain severance
payment amounts from income and to modify the time periods for
carryback and carryforward of unused credits.
Pages S6686-87
Roth (for Graham) Amendment No. 583, relating to the exception of
certain coins, the increase in certain liability funding limit, and to
classify certain ministers for participation.
Pages S6393-96
Roth (for Nickles/Bond) Amendment No. 584, to express the sense of
the Senate with respect to the proposed regulations of the Internal
Revenue Service with respect to self-employment income for limited
partners.
Pages S6393-96
Roth (for Specter) Amendment No. 585, to allow penalty-free IRA
withdrawals for adoption expenses.
Pages S6393-96

[[Page D694]]

Roth (for Faircloth) Amendment No. 586, to permit the current
refunding of certain tax-exempt bonds.
Pages S6393-96
Roth (for Gorton) Amendment No. 587, relating to repeal of bad debt
reserve method for thrift savings associations.
Pages S6393-96
Roth (for Santorum) Amendment No. 588, to express the sense of the
Senate that America's middle-class taxpayers shoulder the biggest tax
burden and that only those who pay Federal income taxes should benefit
from the federal income tax cuts contained in the Revenue
Reconciliation Act of 1997.
Pages S6393-96
Roth (for Burns) Amendment No. 589, to allow farmers to income
average over 3 years.
Pages S6393-96
Roth (for Enzi) Amendment No. 591, to allow non-Amtrak states to
provide alternative intercity transport assistance.
Pages S6696-97
Wellstone Amendment No. 592, to provide for full mental health parity
with respect to health plans purchased through the use of amounts
provided under a block grant to States.
Rejected:
By 46 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 139), Gramm Amendment No. 552, to
allow families to decide for themselves how best to use their child tax
credit.
Pages S6670-71
By 33 yeas to 67 nays (Vote No. 151), Bingaman Amendment No. 541, to
strike provisions establishing IRA Plus Accounts.
Page S6684
Moseley-Braun Amendment No. 581, to provide for a tax credit for
public elementary and secondary school construction.
Pages S6688-89
By 30 yeas to 69 nays (Vote No. 155), McCain Amendment No. 548, to
strike the provision relating to the extension and modification of
subsidies for alcohol fuels.
Pages S6689-90
By 41 yeas to 57 nays (Vote No. 159), Allard Amendment No. 577, to
provide for the indexing of assets to determine capital gain.
Page S6696
Wellstone Amendment No. 590, to make the HOPE credit refundable.
Page S6696
Withdrawn:
Dorgan Amendment No. 515, to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury
to abate the accrual of interest on income tax underpayments by
taxpayers located in Presidentially declared disaster areas if the
Secretary extends the time for filing returns and payment of tax (and
waives any penalties relating to the failure to so file or so pay) for
such taxpayers.
Pages S6670, S6684-85
Dorgan Amendment No. 516, to provide tax relief for taxpayers located
in Presidentially declared disaster areas.
Pages S6670, S6684-85
During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the
following action:
By 39 yeas to 60 nays (Vote No. 140), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Kerry Amendment No. 554, to allow payroll taxes to be
included in the calculation of tax liability for receiving the
children's tax credit. Subsequently, a point of order that the
amendment was in violation of section 302(b) of the Congressional
Budget Act was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S6670-72
By 37 yeas to 63 nays (Vote No. 142), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Gramm Amendment No. 566, to guarantee a balanced
Federal budget and expand tax relief options. Subsequently, a point of
order that the amendment was in violation of section 313(b)(1)(A) of
the Congressional Budget Act was sustained, and the amendment thus
fell.
Pages S6673-74
By 48 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 143), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Bumpers Amendment No. 568, to prohibit the scoring,
for budget purposes, of revenues associated with the sale of certain
federal lands. Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment was in
violation of the Congressional Budget Act was sustained, and the
amendment thus fell.
Pages S6674-75
By 42 yeas to 58 nays (Vote No. 144), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Craig Amendment No. 569, to modify the pay-as-you-go
requirement of the budget process to prohibit the use of tax increases
to pay for mandatory spending increases. Subsequently, a point of order
that the amendment was in violation of section 313(b)(1)(A) of the
Congressional Budget Act was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S6675-76
By 57 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 145), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Brownback/Kohl Amendment No. 570, to establish
procedures to ensure a balanced Federal budget by fiscal year 2002.
Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment was in violation

[[Page D695]]

of section 313(b)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act was sustained,
and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S6676-77
By 59 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. 146) three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Frist Amendment No. 571, to establish a 60 vote point
of order against any legislation that increases the budget deficit
after the year 2002 and to require the President to submit balanced
budgets. Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment was in
violation of section 313(b)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act was
sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S6677-78
By 53 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 147), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Abraham Amendment No. 538, to ensure that future
revenue windfalls to the federal Treasury are reserved for tax or
deficit reduction. Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment
was in violation of the Congressional Budget Act was sustained, and the
amendment thus fell.
Pages S6678-80
By 30 yeas to 70 nays (Vote No. 149), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Kennedy/Daschle Amendment No. 573, to increase the
excise tax on cigarettes by 43 cents per pack and increase the tax on
other tobacco products by a proportionate amount, and direct
$12,000,000,000 of the resulting revenues be applied to the children's
health initiative. Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment
was in violation section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act was
sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S6682-83
By 72 yeas to 28 nays (Vote No. 152), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to
a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Kohl Amendment No. 575, listed above.
Page S6685
By 57 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 153), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Jeffords Amendment No. 555, to encourage improvements
in child care services and options for meeting employment-related child
care needs. Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment was in
violation of the Congressional Budget Act was sustained, and the
amendment thus fell.
Pages S6685-86
By 51 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 154), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Harkin Amendment No. 579, to improve health care
quality and reduce health care costs by establishing a National Fund
for Health Research that would significantly expand the nation's
investment in medical research. Subsequently, a point of order that the
amendment was in violation of the Congressional Budget Act was
sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S6687-88
By 39 yeas to 59 nays (Vote No. 156), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Landrieu Amendment No. 532, to allow taxpayers with
income tax liability to take the child tax credit before the earned
income tax credit. Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment
was in violation of section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act was
sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S6690-91
By 77 yeas to 21 nays (Vote No. 157), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to
a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of section 702(d) of the bill, regarding intercity
passenger rail funding.
Pages S6691-93
By 37 yeas to 61 nays (Vote No. 158), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act with respect to
consideration of Feingold/Bumpers Amendment No. 582, to eliminate the
percentage depletion allowance for certain minerals. Subsequently, a
point of order that the amendment was in violation of section 305(b)(2)
of the Congressional Budget Act was sustained, and the amendment thus
fell.
Page S6693
Senate insisted on its amendment, requested a conference with the
House thereon, and the Chair appointed the following conferees: from
the Committee on Finance: Senators Roth, Lott, and Moynihan; and from
the Committee on the Budget: Senators Domenici, Grassley, Nickles,
Lautenberg, and Conrad.
Page S6786
Subsequently, S. 946 was returned to the Senate calendar.
Page S6792
Law Enforcement Canines Donation: Senate passed H.R. 173, to amend
the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to
authorize donation of Federal law enforcement canines that are no
longer needed for official purposes to individuals with experience
handling canines in the performance

[[Page D696]]

of law enforcement duties, clearing the measure for the President.
Page S6788
Energy Conservation Extension: Senate passed S. 417, to extend energy
conservation programs under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act
through September 30, 2002, after agreeing to a committee amendment in
the nature of a substitute.
Pages S6788-90
DOE Standardization Act: Senate passed H.R. 649, to amend sections of
the Department of Energy Organization Act that are obsolete or
inconsistent with other statutes and to repeal a related section of the
Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, clearing the measure for the
President.
Page S6790
Hong Kong Transition: Senate agreed to S. Res. 105, expressing the
sense of the Senate that the people of the United States wish the
people of Hong Kong good fortune as they embark on their historic
transition of sovereignty from Great Britain to the People's Republic
of China.
Page S6790
DOD Authorization--Cloture Motion Filed: A motion was entered to close
further debate on S. 936, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
1998 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
and to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Forces and, by unanimous-consent agreement, a vote on the cloture
motion will occur on Tuesday, July 8, 1997, at 2:15 p.m.
Page S6786
Budget Reconciliation--Conferees: Senate insisted on its amendment to
H.R. 2015, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to subsections (b)(1)
and (c) of section 105 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for
fiscal year 1998, requested a conference with the House thereon, and
the Chair appointed the following conferees: from the Committee on the
Budget--Senators Domenici, Grassley, Nickles, Gramm, Lautenberg,
Conrad, and Boxer; from the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and
Forestry--Senators Lugar, Helms, and Harkin; from the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs--Senators D'Amato, Shelby, and
Sarbanes; from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation--
Senators McCain, Stevens, and Hollings; from the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources--Senators Murkowski, Craig, and Bumpers; from the
Committee on Finance--Senators Roth, Lott, and Moynihan; from the
Committee on Governmental Affairs--Senators Thompson, Collins, and
Glenn; from the Committee on Labor and Human Resources--Senators
Jeffords, Coats, and Kennedy; and from the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs--Senators Specter, Thurmond, and Rockefeller.
Pages S6786-87
Committee Authority: All committees were authorized to file executive
and legislative reports during the adjournment of the Senate on
Tuesday, July 1, 1997, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Page S6790
Appointments:
Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress: The Chair announced,
on behalf of the Secretary of the Senate, pursuant to Public Law 101-
509, his appointment of James F. Blumstein, of Tennessee, to the
Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress.
Page S6724
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
Richard J. Tarplin, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of
Health and Human Services.
Alan S. Gold, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the
Southern District of Florida.
Kathryn O'Leary Higgins, of South Dakota, to be Deputy Secretary of
Labor.
1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.
60 Army nominations in the rank of general.
2 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general.
25 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps,
Navy.
Pages S6787-88
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
James S. Ware, of California, to be United States Circuit Judge for
the Ninth Circuit.
Nancy-Ann Minn Deparle, of Tennessee, to be Administrator of the
Health Care Financing Administration.
David A. Lipton, of Massachusetts, to be an Under Secretary of the
Treasury.
Routine lists in the Army, Marine Corps.
Pages S6792-93

[[Page D697]]

Communications:
Pages S6726-27
Petitions:
Page S6727
Statements on Introduced Bills:
Pages S6728-61
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S6761-62
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S6763-77
Notices of Hearings:
Page S6777
Authority for Committees:
Page S6777
Additional Statements:
Pages S6777-86
Record Votes: Twenty-three record votes were taken today. (Total--160)
Pages S6670-81, S6683-86, S6688, S6690-93, S6696, S6719
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9 a.m. and, pursuant to H. Con. Res.
108, adjourned at 6:56 p.m., until 12 noon, on Monday, July 7, 1997.