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Christopher's
Votes - June, 2003
Agriculture
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(300) HR 2465: Bankruptcy Protection for Farmers - Passage
June 23, 2003 - Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill that would extend Chapter 12 bankruptcy
protection for family farmers until Jan. 1, 2004. Motion agreed
to 379-3
Vote: Shays missed vote due to participation in world
economic forum, Amman, Jordan
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(314) H J Res 49: Foreign Agricultural Service Tribute
- Passage
June 25, 2003 - Goodlatte, R-Va., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the resolution that would honor the Agriculture Department's
Foreign Agricultural Service for 50 years of work to expand
and promote U.S. agricultural commodities and products. Motion
agreed to 409-0
Vote: Yea
Arts, Immigration, Social Services and
other Domestic Issues
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(227) H Res 159: Irma Rangel Tribute - Adoption
June 02, 2003 - Souder, R-Ind., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would pay tribute to the late
Irma Rangel, who in 1977 became the first Mexican-American
woman ever elected to the Texas House of Representatives.
Motion agreed to 373-0
Vote: Yea
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(228) H Res 195: Honoring Sammy Sosa - Adoption
June 02, 2003 - Souder, R-Ind., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would congratulate Sammy Sosa
for hitting on April 4, 2003, his 500th home run and thank
him for being a Latino role model. Motion agreed to 372-0
Vote: Yea
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(239) HR 1954: Citizenship for Soldiers - Passage
June 04, 2003 - Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill that would reduce from three years
to one year the length of time non-citizen members of the
U.S. military must serve before they can apply for citizenship.
It also would allow immediate family members of service members
who are citizens and who are killed in the line of duty to
apply for immigration benefits, effective retroactively to
Sept. 11, 2001. Motion agreed to 414-5
Vote: Yea
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(261) HR 2350: Temporary Welfare Extension - Passage
June 11, 2003 - Herger, R-Calif., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would extend through Sept. 30 the 1996
welfare law's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block
grant program. Motion agreed to 406-6
Vote: Yea
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(277) H Con Res 220: Medgar Evers Tribute - Adoption
June 16, 2003 - Carter, R-Texas, motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the concurrent resolution that would honor the work
and lives of civil rights advocates Medgar Wiley Evers and
Myrlie Evers-Williams. It also would support establishment
of "Medgar Evers National Week of Remembrance."
Motion agreed to 376-0
Vote: Yea
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(278) S 703: Carl T. Curtis Building - Passage
June 16, 2003 - Hayes, R-N.C., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would name the National Park Service's
midwest regional headquarters building under construction
in Omaha, Neb., after the late former Sen. Carl T. Curtis,
R-Neb., (1955-1979). Motion agreed to 378-0
Vote: Yea
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(279) H Res 276: Child Abuse Prevention and Adoption Programs
- Previous Question .........................
June 17, 2003 - Sessions, R-Texas, motion to order
the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility
of amendment) on adoption of the rule (H Res 276) to provide
for House floor consideration of the conference report on
the bill that would reauthorize through fiscal 2008 federal
programs aimed at preventing the abuse and abandonment of
children and promoting adoption services. Motion agreed to
226-200
Vote: Yea
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(282) S 342: Child Abuse Prevention and Adoption Programs
- Conference Report
June 17, 2003 - Adoption of the conference report on the bill
that would reauthorize through fiscal 2008 federal programs
aimed at preventing the abuse and abandonment of children
and promoting adoption services. The agreement would authorize
$312 million in fiscal 2004 for these federal programs. It
also would reauthorize through fiscal 2008 the Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act. Adopted (thus sent to the Senate)
421-3
Vote: Yea
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(312) S 858: Abraham Lincoln Commission - Passage
June 25, 2003 - Souder, R-Ind., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would extend through 2010 the Abraham
Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which works to educate the
public on the former president's accomplishments and leadership.
Motion agreed to 409-2
Vote: Yea
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(313) HR 2474: Anti-Poverty Fellowships - Passage
June 25, 2003 - Goodlatte, R-Va., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would require the Congressional Hunger
Center, a private volunteer organization dedicated to fighting
poverty and hunger, to administer all funds in fiscal 2003
and 2004 to the Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship and the Mickey
Leland Hunger Fellowship. Motion agreed to 411-0
Vote: Yea
Budget, Taxes and the Economy
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(273) HR 1308: Child Tax Credit and Military Tax Breaks
- Previous Question
June 12, 2003 - Pryce, R-Ohio, motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 270) that would concur with
a Senate amendment to the bill, with a further House amendment.
Motion agreed to 225-201
Vote: Yea
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(274) HR 1308: Child Tax Credit and Military Tax Breaks
- Rule
June 12, 2003 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 270) that would
concur with a Senate amendment to the bill, with a further
House amendment. The House amendment would extend through
2010 the $1,000-per-child tax credit enacted in the 2003 tax
law; increase from $110,000 to $150,000 the income limit for
couples eligible for the credit; and accelerate to 2003 the
increase in the amount of the credit that could be refunded
to low-income families, with no payments until tax returns
are filed. The amendment also would provide a number of tax
breaks for members of the armed forces. Adopted 224-201
Vote: Yea
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(275) HR 1308: Child Tax Credit and Military Tax Breaks
- Motion to Instruct
June 12, 2003 - Rangel, D-N.Y., motion to instruct House conferees
to insist on all of the provisions of the Senate-adopted amendment
including language that would allow low-income families to
receive the increased child tax credit refund immediately,
and offset the $9.8 billion cost by an extension of customs
user fees. It also would instruct conferees to not include
additional tax breaks that lack corresponding offsets. Motion
agreed to 205-201
Vote: Nay
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(284) HR 8: Estate Tax Repeal - Previous Question
June 18, 2003 - Reynolds, R-N.Y., motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 281) to provide for House floor
consideration of the bill that would make permanent the repeal
of the estate tax contained in the 2001 tax cut law (PL 107-16)
which is set to expire after 2010. Motion agreed to 227-200
Vote: Yea
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(285) HR 8: Estate Tax Repeal - Rule
June 18, 2003 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 281) to provide
for House floor consideration of the bill that make permanent
the repeal of the estate tax contained in the 2001 tax cut
law (PL 107-16) which is set to expire after 2010. Adopted
230-199
Vote: Yea
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(287) HR 8: Estate Tax Repeal - Democratic Substitute
June 18, 2003 - Pomeroy, D-N.D., substitute amendment that
would cap the estate tax rate at 49 percent and exempt from
the tax all estates under $3 million. Rejected 188-239
Vote: Nay
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(288) HR 8: Estate Tax Repeal - Passage
June 18, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would make permanent
the repeal of the estate tax contained in the 2001 tax cut
law (PL 107-16) and which is set to expire after 2010. Passed
264-163
Vote: Yea
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(291) HR 1528: Tax Filing Changes - Democratic Substitute
June 19, 2003 - McDermott, D-Wash., substitute amendment that
would make numerous revisions to the Internal Revenue Code,
including changes to tax collection practices, tax filing
procedures and IRS administrative policies. It would remove
a health-insurance waiver provision. It would include Senate-passed
language expanding the child tax credit to low-income families
and granting additional tax breaks for military personnel.
The amendment also would make other tax code changes aimed
at assisting low-income taxpayers and eliminating tax breaks
for companies that move their headquarters overseas to avoid
paying U.S. income taxes. Rejected 196-226
Vote: Nay
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(292) HR 1528: Tax Filing Changes - Recommit
June 19, 2003 - Visclosky, D-Ind., motion to recommit the
bill to the House Ways and Means Committee with instructions
that it be reported back after striking language that would
allow workers to waive federal consumer protections in exchange
for a health insurance tax credit and inserting language that
would expand the health insurance tax credit in the 2002 Trade
Act to any retiree who has had their pension taken over by
the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation or who qualifies
for Trade Adjustment Assistance. Motion rejected 199-226
Vote: Nay
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(293) HR 1528: Tax Filing Changes - Passage
June 19, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would make numerous
revisions to the Internal Revenue Code, including changes
to tax collection practices, tax filing procedures and IRS
administrative policies. It would give taxpayers filing electronically
an additional 15 days to file their taxes, allow the IRS to
enter into installment agreements with delinquent taxpayers
for less than the full amount of their tax liability, and
exclude from taxable income interest paid to taxpayers who
overpaid their taxes. Workers who lose their jobs because
of imports and receive state-based health insurance coverage
in states that do not have approved plans could waive federal
requirements related to pre-existing conditions and guaranteed
coverage in exchange for a tax credit. Passed 252-170
Vote: Yea
Business, Trade, and Consumer Affairs
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(238) H Res 201: Businesses Tribute - Adoption
June 04, 2003 - Stearns, R-Fla., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would commend businesses and
business owners who supported military reservists called to
active duty. Motion agreed to 410-0
Vote: Yea
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(243 ) HR 1474: Digital Checks - Previous Question
June 05, 2003 - Sessions, R-Texas, motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 256) to provide for House floor
consideration of the bill that would authorize the creation
of a substitute check, a new negotiable instrument that is
a paper reproduction of an original check from an electronically
transmitted image. Motion agreed to 220-198
Vote: Yea
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(246) HR 1474: Digital Checks - Passage
June 05, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would authorize the
creation of the substitute check, a new negotiable instrument
that is a paper reproduction of an original check from an
electronically transmitted image. Substitute checks would
have to accurately represent all the information on the front
and back of the original check at the time it was reproduced.
Substitute checks would have the same legal status as cancelled
paper checks and carry the same consumer protections. Banks
would be liable for any consumer losses that result from the
use of substitute checks. Passed 405-0
Vote: Yea
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(256) H Res 252: Food Biotech Products - Adoption
June 10, 2003 - Camp, R-Mich., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would support the administration's
efforts to challenge the European Union's moratorium on agriculture
and food biotech products. It also would urge President Bush
to press this issue. Motion agreed to 339-80
Vote: Yea
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(281) HR 658: SEC Investigators - Passage
June 17, 2003 - Baker, R-La., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would allow the Securities and Exchange
Commission to use an expedited process to hire professional
staff for corporate crime investigations. Accountants, economists
and securities compliance examiners would be exempted from
competitive service hiring procedures and would instead be
treated like excepted service hires such as attorneys. Once
hired, however, they would be treated like all other competitive
service employees. Motion agreed to 423-0
Vote: Yea
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(303) HR 1261: Job Training Reauthorization - Local Employers
June 24, 2003 - Manzullo, R-Ill., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would reduce the amount of money that
lenders are required to keep in reserve to cover defaults
on small business loans under the Premier Certified Lenders
Program. The bill would require 1 percent of a loan's outstanding
balance to be kept in reserve as opposed to the current requirement
of 1 percent of a loan's original value. Motion agreed to
416-3
Vote: Yea
Congress and Federal Elections
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(323) H Res 297: Wednesday Suspensions - Adoption
June 26, 2003 - Adoption of the resolution that would allow
the Speaker to consider measures under suspension of the rules
on Wednesdays for the remainder of the 108th Congress. Adopted
226-203
Vote: Yea
Crime, Drugs and Judicial Affairs
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(233) H J Res 4: Flag Desecration - Watt Substitute
June 03, 2003 - Watt, D-N.C., substitute amendment that would
grant Congress the power to prohibit the physical desecration
of the U.S. flag but only if that is consistent with the First
Amendment of the Constitution. Rejected 129-296
Vote: Nay
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(234) H J Res 4: Flag Desecration - Passage
June 03, 2003 - Passage of the joint resolution to propose
a Constitutional amendment to state that Congress shall have
the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag
of the United States. Passed 300-125
Vote: Nay
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(235) H Res 231: Law Enforcement Tribute - Adoption
June 03, 2003 - Souder, R-Ind., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would support a presidential
proclamation to declare May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial
Day in honor of law enforcement officers killed and injured
in the line of duty. Motion agreed to 422-0
Vote: Yea
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(252) HR 2143: Internet Gambling - Previous Question
June 10, 2003 - Linder, R-Ga., motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 263) to provide for House floor
consideration of the bill that would require financial institutions
and credit card companies to take steps to block the processing
of Internet wagers. Motion agreed to 222-196
Vote: Yea
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(253) HR 2143: Internet Gambling - Rule
June 10, 2003 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 263) to provide
for House floor consideration of the bill that would require
financial institutions and credit card companies to take steps
to block processing of Internet wagers. Adopted 259-158
Vote: Yea
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(254) HR 2143: Internet Gambling - State-Licensed Wagers
June 10, 2003 - Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., amendment that would
delete a provision exempting state regulated or licensed transactions
from the ban on processing Internet wagers. Rejected 186-237
Vote: Yea
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(255) HR 2143: Internet Gambling - Passage
June 10, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would require financial
institutions and credit card companies to take steps to block
the processing of Internet wagers. State regulated or licensed
transactions would be exempt from the ban. Passed 319-104
Vote: Yea
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(265) HR 1115: Class Action Lawsuits - Previous Question
June 12, 2003 - Pryce, R-Ohio, motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 269) to provide for House floor
consideration of the bill that would give federal courts original
jurisdiction over class action lawsuits in which any of the
plaintiffs are from a different state than the defendant,
at least 100 plaintiffs are involved, and at least $2 million
are expected in damages. Motion agreed to 229-193
Vote: Yea
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(266) HR 1115: Class Action Lawsuits - Rule
June 12, 2003 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 269) to provide
for House floor consideration of the bill that would give
federal courts original jurisdiction over class action lawsuits
in which any of the plaintiffs are from a different state
than the defendant, at least 100 plaintiffs are involved,
and at least $2 million are expected in damages. Adopted 235-188
Vote: Yea
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(268) HR 1115: Class Action Lawsuits - Mergers and Repatriations
June 12, 2003 - Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, amendment that would
prevent domestic corporations from evading U.S. federal court
jurisdiction through mergers or repatriations with foreign
companies. Rejected 185-238
Vote: Nay
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(269) HR 1115: Class Action Lawsuits - State Antitrust
and Consumer Protection Laws
June 12, 2003 - Lofgren, D-Calif., amendment that would allow
local prosecutors to enforce state antitrust and consumer
protection laws in state courts. Rejected 186-234
Vote: Nay
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(270) HR 1115: Class Action Lawsuits - Democratic Substitute
June 12, 2003 - Sandlin, D-Texas, substitute amendment that
would set up a multi-district litigation panel that could
consolidate class actions in state courts for pretrial proceedings.
It also would authorize the National Center for State Courts
to establish procedures for when a state court or the litigation
panel could move a class action to federal court. Rejected
170-255
Vote: Nay
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(271) HR 1115: Class Action Lawsuits - Recommit
June 12, 2003 - Weiner, D-N.Y., motion to recommit the bill
to the House Judiciary Committee with instructions that it
be reported back after striking language that would make the
bill apply to currently pending lawsuits and language that
would allow appeals of district court orders granting or denying
class certification. Motion rejected 185-240
Vote: Nay
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(272) HR 1115: Class Action Lawsuits - Passage
June 12, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would allow class
action lawsuits to be removed to federal court when fewer
than one-third of the plaintiffs live in the same state than
the defendant, at least 100 plaintiffs are involved, and damages
are expected to total at least $5 million. It would allow
judicial discretion when between one-third and two-thirds
of the plaintiffs live in the same state as the defendant.
Class actions could remain in state courts if more than two-thirds
of plaintiffs live in the same state as the defendant. The
bill also contains a "consumer class action bill of rights"
including a provision that would require a court to determine
that an award is fair, reasonable, and adequate prior to approving
any non-cash benefits. Passed 253-170
Vote: Yea
Defense and National Security
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(237) H Con Res 177: Armed Forces Tribute - Adoption
June 04, 2003 - Hunter, R-Calif., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would pay tribute to members
of the U.S. armed forces, Pentagon civilian employees, defense
contractors, allies, and others who participated in Operation
Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Motion agreed to 406-2
Vote: Yea
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(318) HR 2417: Fiscal 2004 Intelligence Authorization -
Diversity Within Intelligence Community
June 26, 2003 - Hastings, D-Fla., amendment that would require
the CIA director to establish a pilot project aimed at increasing
diversity within the intelligence community by recruiting
more ethnic and cultural minorities and women. Adopted 418-0
Vote: Yea
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(319) HR 2417: Fiscal 2004 Intelligence Authorization -
Intelligence Communications
June 26, 2003 - Kucinich, D-Ohio, amendment that would require
an audit of all telephone and electronic communications from
Sept. 11, 2001, to the start of the war in Iraq between the
CIA and Vice President Dick Cheney on the topic of Iraqi weapons
of mass destruction. Rejected 76-347
Vote: Nay
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(320) HR 2417: Fiscal 2004 Intelligence Authorization -
Intelligence Sharing with U.N. Inspectors
June 26, 2003 - Lee, D-Calif., amendment that would require
a study on how much intelligence the Pentagon and the intelligence
community shared with U.N. inspectors searching for weapons
of mass destruction in Iraq before the war. Rejected 185-239
Vote: Nay
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(324) HR 2559, HRES298: Fiscal 2004 Military Construction
Appropriations - Previous Question
June 26, 2003 - Myrick, R-N.C., motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 298) to provide for House floor
consideration of the bill that would provide $9.2 billion
in fiscal 2004 for military construction projects, including
family housing and barrack construction and modernization,
$1.5 billion less than the current level. Motion agreed to
220-200
Vote: Yea
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(325) HR 2559: Fiscal 2004 Military Construction Appropriations
- Passage
June 26, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would provide $9.2
billion in fiscal 2004 for military construction projects,
including family housing and barrack construction and modernization,
$1.5 billion less than the current level. The bill includes
$169 million for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and
$370 million for the cost of prior base closures. Passed 428-0
Vote: Yea
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(333) HR 2417: Fiscal 2004 Intelligence Authorization -
Passage
June 27, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would authorize classified
amounts in fiscal 2004 for U.S. intelligence activities and
agencies including the CIA, the National Security Agency,
the National Imagery and Mapping Agency and the Defense Intelligence
Agency. It also would require the CIA director to file a report
within one year of the bill's enactment on the intelligence
lessons learned from the war in Iraq. Passed 410-9
Vote: Yea
Education
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(280) H Res 171: University of Minnesota Women's Hockey
Tribute - Adoption
June 17, 2003 - Kline, R-Minn., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would honor the University of
Minnesota-Duluth women's hockey team for winning the 2003
National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's
ice hockey championship. Motion agreed to 423-0
Vote: Yea
Enviornment, Energy, Science and Technology
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(230) S 222: Zuni Water Rights - Passage
June 03, 2003 - Renzi, R-Ariz., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would approve a water rights settlement
agreement between the Zuni Indian tribe and non-Indian communities
in Arizona. It would authorize $19 million for the tribe to
purchase water rights from willing sellers and to restore
wetlands and other areas on the reservation. In exchange,
the tribe would waive current and all water claims in the
Little Colorado River basin. Motion rejected 224-188
Vote: Yea
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(231) S 273: Grand Teton National Park - Passage
June 03, 2003 - Cubin, R-Wyo., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would authorize the secretary of the
Interior to acquire 1,406 acres of state lands within the
exterior boundaries of the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
The land could be acquired through donation, purchase, or
through exchange with federal land. It also would set up a
process for appraising the value of state lands. Motion rejected
217-198
Vote: Yea
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(244) S 222, S273: Zuni Water and Grand Teton National
Park - Previous Question
June 05, 2003 - Hastings, R-Wash., motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 258) to provide for House floor
consideration of the bill (S 222) that would approve a water
rights settlement agreement between the Zuni Indian tribe
and non-Indian communities in Arizona and the bill (S 273)
that would authorize the secretary of the Interior to acquire
1,406 acres of state lands within the exterior boundaries
of the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Motion agreed
to 220-194
Vote: Yea
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(245) S 222, S273: Zuni Water and Grand Teton National
Park - Rule
June 05, 2003 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 258) to provide
for House floor consideration of the bill (S 222) that would
approve a water rights settlement agreement between the Zuni
Indian tribe and non-Indian communities in Arizona and the
bill (S 273) that would authorize the secretary of the Interior
to acquire 1,406 acres of state lands within the exterior
boundaries of the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Adopted
229-175
Vote: Yea
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(247) S 222: Zuni Water Rights - Passage
June 05, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would approve a water
rights settlement agreement between the Zuni Indian tribe
and non-Indian communities in Arizona. It would authorize
$19 million for the tribe to purchase water rights from willing
sellers and to restore wetlands and other areas on the reservation.
In exchange, the tribe would waive all water claims in the
Little Colorado River basin. Passed 389-3
Vote: Yea
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(248) S 273: Grand Teton National Park - Passage
June 05, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would authorize the
secretary of the Interior to acquire 1,406 acres of state
lands within the exterior boundaries of the Grand Teton National
Park in Wyoming. The land could be acquired through donation,
purchase, or through exchange with federal land. It also would
set up a process for appraising the value of state lands.
Passed 375-4
Vote: Yea
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(250) H Con Res 162: Wright Brothers Tribute - Adoption
June 09, 2003 - Turner, R-Ohio, motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would honor Dayton, Ohio, for
hosting "Inventing Flight: The Centennial Celebration,"
in tribute to Wilbur and Orville Wright's first flight on
Dec. 17, 1903. Motion agreed to 378-3
Vote: Yea
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(259) H Con Res 110: Human Genome Research - Adoption
June 11, 2003 - Bilirakis, R-Fla., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would recognize the scientific
importance of sequencing the human genome and support the
goals and ideals of Human Genome Month and DNA Day. Motion
agreed to 414-0
Vote: Yea
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(260) HR 1320: Federally-Owned Radio Spectrum - Passage
June 11, 2003 - Upton, R-Mich., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would create a trust fund to reimburse
government agencies for the cost of relocating radio spectrum
operation to other frequencies. The fund would be supported
by auction bids from private licensees. Bids would have to
be at least 110 percent of the estimated relocation costs.
Motion agreed to 408-10
Vote: Yea
Executive Branch, Federal Buildings,
and District of Columbia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(229) HR 1465: General Charles Gabriel Post Office - Passage
June 02, 2003 - Souder, R-Ind., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would name a post office in Iron Station,
North Carolina, after General Charles Gabriel. Motion agreed
to 371-0
Vote: Yea
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(232) S 763: Birch Bayh Courthouse - Passage
June 03, 2003 - LaTourette, R-Ohio, motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill that would name a federal courthouse
in Indianapolis after former Sen. Birch Evan Bayh, D-Ind.,
(1963-1981). Motion rejected 235-179
Vote: Nay
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(249) HR 1610: Walt Disney Post Office - Passage
June 09, 2003 - Turner, R-Ohio, motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would name a post office in Marceline,
Mo., after Walter Elias Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse
and founder of the Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme
parks. Motion agreed to 384-0
Vote: Yea
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(251) S 763: Birch Bayh Courthouse - Passage
June 09, 2003 - Pearce, R-N.M., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would name a federal courthouse in
Indianapolis after former Sen. Birch Evan Bayh, D-Ind. (1963-1981).
Motion agreed to 383-0
Vote: Yea
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(276) HR 2254: Bruce Woodbury Post Office - Passage
June 16, 2003 - Carter, R-Texas, motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would name a U.S. post office in Boulder
City, Nev., after Bruce Woodbury, a former local county commissioner.
Motion agreed to 369-0
Vote: Yea
Foreign Affairs
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(297) H Res 264: Algerian Earthquake - Adoption
June 23, 2003 - Green, R-Wis., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would express sympathies to
the Algerian people and the families of the victims of the
earthquake on May 21, 2003. It also would support humanitarian
aid and international support for Algeria as it recovers from
the earthquake. Motion agreed to 382-1
Vote: Shays missed vote due to participation in world
economic forum, Amman, Jordan
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(298) H Res 177: Kenyan Democracy - Adoption
June 23, 2003 - Green, R-Wis., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would commend the people of
Kenya for conducting free and fair elections and express support
for democracy in that country. Motion agreed to 380-0
Vote: Shays missed vote due to participation in world
economic forum, Amman, Jordan
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(299) H Con Res 209: Albania, Croatia and Macedonia - Adoption
June 23, 2003 - Green, R-Wis., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the concurrent resolution that would support the
U.S.-Adriatic Charter and commend Albania, Croatia and Macedonia
for their efforts to become members of the NATO and the European
Union. Motion agreed to 381-1
Vote: Shays missed vote due to participation in world
economic forum, Amman, Jordan
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(315) H Con Res 49: Condemnation of Anti-Semitism - Adoption
June 25, 2003 - Smith, R-N.J., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would express the sense of the
Congress that executive officials and members of Congress
should discuss the issue of the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe
in bilateral meetings and multilateral forums, and urge European
countries to prosecute anti-Semitic acts and promote educational
efforts to counter anti-Semitism. Motion agreed to 412-0
Vote: Yea
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(316) H Res 199: Detention of Dr. Yang Jianli - Adoption
June 25, 2003 - Smith, R-N.J., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would condemn the Chinese government's
detention of Dr. Yang Jianli, a permanent U.S. resident and
advocate for democracy in China, call for his immediate release
and urge President Bush to make his release a top U.S. foreign
policy priority. Motion agreed to 412-0
Vote: Yea
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(317) H Res 294: Terrorist Attacks in Israel - Adoption
June 25, 2003 - Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., motion to suspend the
rules and adopt the resolution that would condemn recent terrorist
attacks against Israelis, express solidarity with the Israeli
people, commend President Bush for his vision of two states,
Israel and Palestine, existing side by side in peace, recognize
Israel's right to fight terrorism, and call on all states
to cease support for Palestinian and other terrorist groups.
Motion agreed to 399-5
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(326) H Res 277: Freedoms in Hong Kong - Adoption
June 26, 2003 - Smith, R-N.J., motion to suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution that would condemn any restriction
of freedoms in Hong Kong, urge the Hong Kong and Chinese governments
not to enact laws that would criminalize subversion and other
acts against the Chinese Communist Party, and call upon the
Chinese government to leave matters related to Hong Kong law
to a legislature elected by universal suffrage. Motion agreed
to 426-1
Vote: Yea
Health
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(236) HR 760: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban - Rule
June 04, 2003 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 257) to provide
for House floor consideration of the bill that would ban a
medical procedure opponents refer to as "partial-birth"
abortion. Adopted 280-138: R 222-0
Vote: Yea
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(240) HR 760: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban - Post-Viability
Standard
June 04, 2003 - Greenwood, R-Pa., substitute amendment that
would ban an abortion after the fetus has become viable except
when a doctor determines it is necessary to avert serious
adverse health consequences to the woman or to save her life.
Rejected 133-287
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(241) HR 760: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban - Recommit
June 04, 2003 - Baldwin, D-Wis., motion to recommit the bill
to the House Judiciary Committee with instructions that it
be reported back promptly with language that would allow an
exemption from the ban when a doctor determines it is medically
necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother. Motion
rejected 165-256
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(242) HR 760: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban - Passage
June 04, 2003 - Passage of a bill that would ban a medical
procedure opponents refer to as "partial-birth"
abortion. The procedure would only be allowed when it is necessary
to save a woman's life. Those who unlawfully performed the
procedure would face fines and up to two years in prison.
Passed 282-139
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(289) HR 660: Health Plans for Small Businesses - Previous
Question
June 19, 2003 - L. Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., motion to order the
previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 283) to provide for House floor
consideration of the bill that would allow the creation of
association health plans through which small companies could
band together to buy insurance for their employees. Motion
agreed to 224-198
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(290) HR 660: Health Plans for Small Businesses - Adoption
June 19, 2003 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 283) to provide
for House floor consideration of the bill that would allow
the creation of association health plans through which small
companies could band together to buy insurance for their employees.
Adopted 224-199
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(294) HR 660: Health Plans for Small Businesses - Democratic
Substitute
June 19, 2003 - Kind, D-Wis., substitute amendment that would
allow employers with fewer than 100 employees to participate
in a Small Employer Health Benefits Plan that would be similar
to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan. Employers would
be required to pay at least half of their employees' premium
costs and to offer coverage to all employees who have completed
three months of service. Rejected 183-238
Vote: Nay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(295) HR 660: Health Plans for Small Businesses - Recommit
June 19, 2003 - McCarthy, D-N.Y., motion to recommit the bill
to the Education and the Workforce Committee with instructions
to add language that would prohibit employers from joining
a health plan if it allows for a reduction in breast cancer
coverage. Motion rejected 192-230
Vote: Nay
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(296) HR 660: Health Plans for Small Businesses - Passage
June 19, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would allow the creation
of association health plans through which small companies
could band together to buy insurance for their employees.
Association health plans that cover employees in multiple
states would be exempt from many individual state insurance
regulations but would be regulated by the Labor Department.
Passed 262-162
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(321) HR 1, HR2596, HCONRES231: Prescription Drug Benefit
and Medical Savings Accounts - Previous Question
June 26, 2003 - Pryce, R-Ohio, motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 299) to provide for House floor
consideration of the bill (HR 1) that would allow a voluntary
prescription drug benefit under Medicare with coverage provided
by private insurers, the bill (HR 2596) that would create
a pair of tax-preferred medical savings accounts to cover
unreimbursed health care expenses, and the adjournment resolution
(H Con Res 231). Motion agreed to 226-203
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(322) HR 1, HR2596, HCONRES231: Prescription Drug Benefit
and Medical Savings Accounts - Rule
June 26, 2003 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 299) to provide
for House floor consideration of the bill (HR 1) that would
allow a voluntary prescription drug benefit under Medicare
with coverage provided by private insurers, the bill (HR 2596)
that would create a pair of tax-preferred medical savings
accounts to cover unreimbursed health care expenses, and the
adjournment resolution (H Con Res 231). Adopted 221-203
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(328) HR 2596: Medical Savings Accounts - Passage
June 26, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would create a tax
deduction for contributions to either of two new medical savings
accounts and allow tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses.
The bill also would allow some unused health benefits in cafeteria
plans and flexible spending accounts to be rolled over or
deposited into the health savings accounts. Passed 237-191
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(330) HR 1: Prescription Drug Benefit - Democratic Substitute
June 27, 2003 - Rangel, D-N.Y., substitute amendment that
would establish a prescription drug benefit under Medicare.
Beneficiaries would pay a $25 monthly premium and a $100 yearly
deductible. The plan would cover 80 percent of all drug expenses
up to $2,000 after the deductible has been paid. Medicare
would cover all drug expenditures above that level. Rejected
175-255
Vote: Nay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(331) HR 1: Prescription Drug Benefit - Recommit
June 27, 2003 - Thompson, D-Calif., motion to recommit the
bill to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Energy
and Commerce Committee with instructions that it be reported
back after striking the text of the bill and substituting
new text that would provide a prescription drug benefit under
Medicare and make changes in the Medicare payment for rural
providers while keeping the total 10-year cost of the program
within the $400 million cap set in the fiscal 2004 budget
resolution. Motion rejected 208-223
Vote: Nay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(332) HR 1: Prescription Drug Benefit - Passage
June 27, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would allow a voluntary
prescription drug benefit under Medicare with coverage provided
by private insurers. Medicare beneficiaries could receive
drug coverage through either a preferred provider option or
through the traditional fee-for-service plan paired with a
government-approved private insurance plan. The benefit, available
in 2006, would carry a $250 annual deductible. Beneficiaries
would pay 20 percent of annual drug costs from $251 to $2,000.
It also would provide catastrophic coverage so that private
insurers would cover all drug costs once out-of-pocket expenses
have reached $3,500. Higher-income seniors would be required
to pay greater out of pocket costs before catastrophic coverage
would go into effect. Beginning in 2010, private insurers
could compete with standard Medicare coverage of hospital
and doctor services. The bill would lower premiums and co-payments
for low-income individuals. It also contains provisions that
would speed generic drugs to the market and allow the reimportation
of U.S.-made drugs from Canada. Passed 216-215
Vote: Yea
Housing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(283) S Con Res 43: Adequate Housing - Adoption
June 17, 2003 - Miller, R-Calif., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would express the sense of Congress
in support of the idea that everyone should have a "decent"
home in which to live. It also would support House and Senate
members participating in the construction of two houses in
the Washington, D.C. area under the "Congress Building
America" program. Motion agreed to 421-1
Vote: Yea
Transportation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(257) HR 2115: FAA Reauthorization - Previous Question
June 11, 2003 - L. Diaz-Balart, motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 265) to provide for House floor
consideration of the bill that would reauthorize the Federal
Aviation Administration through fiscal 2007. Motion agreed
to 219-195
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(258) HR 2115: FAA Reauthorization - Rule
June 11, 2003 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 265) to provide
for House floor consideration of the bill that would reauthorize
the Federal Aviation Administration through fiscal 2007. Adopted
370-43
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(262) HR 2115: FAA Reauthorization - Buy American Report
June 11, 2003 - Manzullo, R-Ill., amendment that would require
the Transportation secretary to submit a report on waivers
granted under the Federal Aviation Administration's "Buy
American Preferences" provisions. The report would be
due within 90 days of the bill's enactment. Adopted 426-0
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(263) HR 2115: FAA Reauthorization - Subsidized Airline
Service Eligibility
June 11, 2003 - Pitts, R-Pa., amendment that would require
the Transportation secretary to consult with a state's governor,
or his designee, to identify the most commonly used highway
route between a community and the closest hub airport to determine
a community's eligibility to receive subsidized airline service
under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. Adopted 422-0
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(264) HR 2115: FAA Reauthorization - Passage
June 11, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would reauthorize
the Federal Aviation Administration through fiscal 2007. The
bill would authorize $59 billion over the next four years
for airport improvement and other programs. It also would
open up additional flights at Ronald Reagan National Airport,
including 12 slots for long-distance flights and eight for
flights within 1,250 miles of Reagan National airport; streamline
environmental reviews for airport projects; and block the
privatization of air traffic controllers but not other air
traffic employees. Passed 418-8
Vote: Yea
Veterans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(304) HR 1460: Veterans and Small Businesses - Passage
June 24, 2003 - Smith, R-N.J., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would allow military veterans to use
Veterans Affairs Department education assistance to enroll
in entrepreneurial programs offered by small-business development
centers. In certain instances, it would allow federal contracting
officers to award sole source contracts to small businesses
owned by service-disabled veterans. Other military-benefits
changes in the bill include allowing disabled service members
to apply for handicapped-accessible housing prior to being
discharged and renewing a loan program that helps veterans
purchase foreclosed homes. Motion agreed to 421-0
Vote: Yea
War on Terror
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(301) HR 2555: Fiscal 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations
- Previous Question
June 24, 2003 - L. Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., motion to order the
previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on adoption of the rule (H Res 293) to provide for House floor
consideration of the bill that would provide a total of $30.4
billion, including $29.4 billion in discretionary spending,
in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Homeland Security. Motion
agreed to 221-196
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(302) HR 2555: Fiscal 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations
- Rule
June 24, 2003 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 293) to provide
for House floor consideration of the bill that would provide
a total of $30.4 billion, including $29.4 billion in discretionary
spending, in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Homeland Security.
Adopted 220-197
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(305) HR 2555: Fiscal 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations
- Ruling of the Chair
June 24, 2003 - Motion to sustain the ruling of the chair
that upheld the Rogers, R-Ky., point of order against the
Obey, D-Wis., amendment on grounds that it would constitute
legislation in an appropriations bill. The Obey amendment
would increase homeland security funding by $1 billion, including
additional money to secure the nation's ports, borders and
airports. The increase would be offset by reducing tax breaks
in the $350 billion tax cut law (PL 108-27) for individuals
with annual incomes of more than $1 million. Motion agreed
to 222-200
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(306) HR 2555: Fiscal 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations
- Ruling of the Chair
June 24, 2003 - Motion to sustain the ruling of the chair
that upheld the T. Davis, R-Va., point of order against the
Manzullo, R-Ill., amendment on grounds that it would constitute
unauthorized legislation on an appropriations bill. The Manzullo
amendment would prohibit the Homeland Security Department
from using any funds to purchase goods produced with less
than 65 percent of American content. Motion agreed to 385-28
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(307) HR 2555: Fiscal 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations
- Expedited Border Crossings
June 24, 2003 - Filner, D-Calif., amendment that would increase
the appropriation for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
by transferring $5 million from Homeland Security Department
administration funds. The money would be used to reduce the
backlog of applications for a program that allows low-risk
commuters to use dedicated commuter lanes to expedite their
crossing at the U.S.-Mexico border. Rejected 149-274
Vote: Nay
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(308) HR 2555: Fiscal 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations
- Unscreened Cargo
June 24, 2003 - Markey, D-Mass., amendment that would bar
the use of funds to approve, renew or implement any aviation
cargo security plan that allows the transporting of unscreened
or uninspected cargo on passenger planes. Adopted 278-146
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(309) HR 2555: Fiscal 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations
- Citizenship and Immigration Status
June 24, 2003 - Tancredo, R-Colo., amendment that would prohibit
the use of any funds to assist state or local governments
that have restrictions on exchanging information with the
Bureau of Immigration and Customs on an individual's citizenship
or immigration status. Rejected 102-322
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(310) HR 2555: Fiscal 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations
- Passage
June 24, 2003 - Passage of the bill that would provide a total
of $30.4 billion, including $29.4 billion in discretionary
spending, in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Homeland Security.
It would cap the number of airport screeners employed by the
Transportation Security Administration at 45,000. The bill
would provide $890 million in fiscal 2004 and $4.7 billion
in advance appropriations for Project Bioshield, an effort
to accelerate development of drugs to combat biological and
chemical weapons. It also would provide $4.4 billion in grants
for "first responder" police, fire and emergency
medical crews and $100 million in port security grants. Passed
425-2
Vote: Yea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(311) HR 1416: Homeland Security Technical Corrections
- Passage
June 24, 2003 - Cox, R-Calif., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would make numerous technical changes
to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (PL 107-296). The bill
would require that reports submitted to Congress under the
law also be submitted to the Select Committee on Homeland
Security. It would clarify that the secretary of Defense has
authority over the Coast Guard in times of war and that the
secretary of Transportation is responsible for a report on
war risk insurance for air carriers. The bill also would classify
the transfer some of the attorney general's authority over
immigration and naturalization to the secretary of Homeland
Security. Motion agreed to 415-0
Vote: Yea
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