S.Amdt. 2708

TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

SA 2703. Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Jeffords, and
Mr. Corzine) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to
the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 3, line 9, increase the amount by $1,501,000,000.
On page 3, line 10, increase the amount by $1,629,000,000.
On page 3, line 11, increase the amount by $1,696,000,000.
On page 3, line 12, increase the amount by $1,735,000,000.
On page 3, line 13, increase the amount by $1,754,000,000.
On page 3, line 17, increase the amount by $1,501,000,000.
On page 3, line 18, increase the amount by $1,629,000,000.
On page 3, line 19, increase the amount by $1,696,000,000.
On page 3, line 20, increase the amount by $1,735,000,000.
On page 3, line 21, increase the amount by $1,754,000,000.
On page 4, line 20, increase the amount by $1,501,000,000.
On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by $1,629,000,000.
On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by $1,696,000,000.
On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by $1,735,000,000.
On page 4, line 24, increase the amount by $1,754,000,000.
On page 5, line 3, decrease the amount by $1,501,000,000.
On page 5, line 4, decrease the amount by $3,130,000,000.
On page 5, line 5, decrease the amount by $4,826,000,000.
On page 5, line 6, decrease the amount by $6,561,000,000.
On page 5, line 7, decrease the amount by $8,315,000,000.
On page 5, line 11, decrease the amount by $1,501,000,000.
On page 5, line 12, decrease the amount by $3,130,000,000.
On page 5, line 13, decrease the amount by $4,826,000,000.
On page 5, line 14, decrease the amount by $6,561,000,000.
On page 5, line 15, decrease the amount by $8,315,000,000.
On page 25, line 8, decrease the amount by $1,501,000,000.
______

SA 2704. Mr. CONRAD proposed an amendment to the concurrent
resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the congressional budget for
the United States Government for fiscal year 2005 and including the
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2006 through 2009; as
follows:

At the end of title IV, insert the following:

SEC. __. POINT OF ORDER TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY FIRST.

(a) Point of Order in the Senate.--It shall not be in order
in the Senate to consider any direct spending or revenue
legislation that would increase the on-budget deficit in any
fiscal year until the budget is balanced without Social
Security.
(b) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--This section may be
waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote
of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An
affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the
Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the
Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a
point of order raised under this section.
______

SA 2705. Mr. VOINOVICH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC.   . BALANCED BUDGET POINT OF ORDER.

(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), it
shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill or
resolution (or any amendment, motion, or conference report on
that bill or resolution) that would result in an on budget
deficit larger than--
(1) in fiscal year 2004, $639,000,000,000;
(2) in fiscal year 2005, $575,000,000,000;
(3) in fiscal year 2006, $511,000,000,000;
(4) in fiscal year 2007, $447,000,000,000;
(5) in fiscal year 2008, $383,000,000,000;
(6) in fiscal year 2009, $319,000,000,000;
(7) in fiscal year 2010, $255,000,000,000;
(8) in fiscal year 2011, $191,000,000,000;
(9) in fiscal year 2012, $127,000,000,000;
(10) in fiscal year 2013, $63,000,000,000; and
(11) in fiscal year 2015, $0.
(b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply if--(1) the
President has declared a state of national emergency; or (2)
the economy is in recession, defined as 3 consecutive
quarters of negative growth in Gross Domestic Product.
(c) Supermajority.--(1) Waiver.--This section may be waived
or suspended in the Senate only by the affirmative vote of
three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
(2) Appeals.--Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of
the Chair relating to any provision of this section shall be
limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and
controlled by, the appellant and the manager of the bill or
joint resolution, as the case may be. An affirmative vote of
three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and
sworn, shall be required in the Senate to sustain an appeal
of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under
this section.
(d) Exercise of Rulemaking Powers.--Congress adopts the
provisions of this section--(1) as an exercise of the
rulemaking power of the Senate and the House of
Representatives, respectively, and as such they shall be
considered as part of the rules of each house, or of that
house to which they specifically apply, and such rules shall
supersede other rules only to the extent that they are
inconsistent therewith; and (2) with full recognition of the
constitutional right of either house to change those rules
(so far as they relate to that house) at any time, in the
same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any
other rule of that house.
______

SA 2706. Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr.
Schumer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the
concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the congressional
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2005 and
including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2006
through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 3, line 9, increase the amount by $300,000,000.
On page 3, line 10, increase the amount by $572,000,000.
On page 3, line 11, increase the amount by $470,000,000.
On page 3, line 12, increase the amount by $580,000,000.
On page 3, line 13, increase the amount by $78,000,000.
On page 3, line 17, increase the amount by $300,000,000.
On page 3, line 18, increase the amount by $572,000,000.
On page 3, line 19, increase the amount by $470,000,000.
On page 3, line 20, increase the amount by $580,000,000.

[[Page S2453]]

On page 3, line 21, increase the amount by $78,000,000.
On page 4, line 4, increase the amount by $1,000,000,000.
On page 4, line 12, increase the amount by $150,000,000.
On page 4, line 13, increase the amount by $286,000,000.
On page 4, line 14, increase the amount by $235,000,000.
On page 4, line 15, increase the amount by $290,000,000.
On page 4, line 16, increase the amount by $39,000,000.
On page 4, line 2, increase the amount by $150,000,000.
On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by $286,000,000.
On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by $235,000,000.
On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by $290,000,000.
On page 4, line 24, increase the amount by $39,000,000.
On page 5, line 3, decrease the amount by $150,000,000.
On page 5, line 4, decrease the amount by $436,000,000.
On page 5, line 5, decrease the amount by $671,000,000.
On page 5, line 6, decrease the amount by $961,000,000.
On page 5, line 7, decrease the amount by $1,000,000,000.
On page 5, line 11, decrease the amount by $150,000,000.
On page 5, line 12, decrease the amount by $436,000,000.
On page 5, line 13, decrease the amount by $671,000,000.
On page 5, line 14, decrease the amount by $961,000,000.
On page 5, line 15, decrease the amount by $1,000,000,000.
On page 20, line 17, increase the amount by
$1,000,000,000.
On page 20, line 18, increase the amount by $150,000,000.
On page 20, line 22, increase the amount by $286,000,000.
On page 21, line 1, increase the amount by $235,000,000.
On page 21, line 5, increase the amount by $290,000,000.
On page 21, line 6, increase the amount by $39,000,000.
On page 39, line 18, increase the amount by
$1,000,000,000.
On page 39, line 19, increase the amount by $150,000,000.
On page 40, line 2, increase the amount by $286,000,000.
______

SA 2707. Mr. SANTORUM submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 54, after line 22, insert the following:

SEC. __. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO
GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS, AND
MALARIA.

It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in this
concurrent resolution assume that new budget authority and
outlays for fiscal year 2005 within the major functional
category entitled ``International Affairs (150)'' have been
modified--
(1) by increasing the amount budgeted for the Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria by $300,000,000; and
(2) by decreasing the amount budgeted for bilateral
international assistance for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and
malaria by $300,000,000.
______

SA 2708. Mr. LUGAR submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 8, line 21, increase the amount by $1,100,000,000.
On page 8, line 22, increase the amount by $123,000,000.
On page 8, line 25, increase the amount by $97,000,000.
On page 9, line 1, increase the amount by $456,000,000.
On page 9, line 4, increase the amount by $98,000,000.
On page 9, line 5, increase the amount by $302,000,000.
On page 9, line 8, increase the amount by $98,000,000.
On page 9, line 9, increase the amount by $210,000,000.
On page 9, line 12, increase the amount by $98,000,000.
On page 9, line 13, increase the amount by $142,000,000.
On page 23, line 5, decrease the amount by $1,100,000,000.
On page 23, line 6, decrease the amount by $123,000,000.
On page 23, line 9, decrease the amount by $97,000,000.
On page 23, line 10, decrease the amount by $456,000,000.
On page 23, line 13, decrease the amount by $98,000,000.
On page 23, line 14, decrease the amount by $302,000,000.
On page 23, line 17, decrease the amount by $98,000,000.
On page 23, line 18, decrease the amount by $210,000,000.
On page 23, line 21, decrease the amount by $98,000,000.
On page 23, line 22, decrease the amount by $142,000,000.
______

SA 2709. Mr. PRYOR submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. 2/32/32/3. SENSE OF THE SENATE RELATING TO IRA TAX AND
PENALTY HOLIDAY.

It is the sense of the Senate that this resolution assumes
that individuals, within 1 year after exhausting unemployment
benefits, be allowed to withdraw up to $15,000 from their
individual retirement accounts tax free and without penalty.
______

SA 2710. Mr. DASCHLE (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr.
Bingaman, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Feingold, Mr.
Reid, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Graham of Florida, Mr. Leahy, Mr.
Johnson, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lieberman, and Mr. Corzine) proposed an
amendment to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth
the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal
year 2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal
years 2006 through 2009; as follows:

On page 3, line 9, increase the amount by $4,860,000,000.
On page 3, line 10, increase the amount by $486,000,000.
On page 3, line 11, increase the amount by $22,000,000.
On page 3, line 12, increase the amount by $5,000,000.
On page 3, line 17, increase the amount by $4,860,000,000.
On page 3, line 18, increase the amount by $486,000,000.
On page 3, line 19, increase the amount by $22,000,000.
On page 3, line 20, increase the amount by $5,000,000.
On page 4, line 20, increase the amount by $4,860,000,000.
On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by $486,000,000.
On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by $22,000,000.
On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by $5,000,000.
On page 5, line 3, decrease the amount by $4,860,000,000.
On page 5, line 4, decrease the amount by $5,346,000,000.
On page 5, line 5, decrease the amount by $5,368,000,000.
On page 5, line 6, decrease the amount by $5,373,000,000.
On page 5, line 7, decrease the amount by $5,373,000,000.
On page 5, line 11, decrease the amount by $4,860,000,000.
On page 5, line 12, decrease the amount by $5,346,000,000.
On page 5, line 13, decrease the amount by $5,368,000,000.
On page 5, line 14, decrease the amount by $5,373,000,000.
On page 5, line 15, decrease the amount by $5,373,000,000.
At the end of title III, insert the following:
Sec.     . Reserve Fund for Veterans' Medical Care. The
Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate shall
revise the aggregates, functional totals, allocations to the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, discretionary
spending limits, and other appropriate levels and limits in
this resolution by up to $2,700,000,000 in budget authority
for fiscal year 2005, and by the amount of outlays flowing
therefrom in 2005 and subsequent years, for a bill, joint
resolution, motion, amendment, or conference report that
provides additional fiscal year 2005 discretionary
appropriations, in excess of levels provided in this
resolution, for veterans' medical programs, excluding
construction projects and a program that provides grants to
states to build long-term care facilities, included in this
resolution for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
______

SA 2711. Mr. SMITH (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mrs. Lincoln, and
Mr. Wyden) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the
bill H.R. 4, to reauthorize and improve the program of block grants to
States for temporary assistance for needy families, improve access to
quality child care, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on
the table; as follows:

[[Page S2454]]

On page 230, between lines 22 and 23, insert the following:
(b) Limitation on Penalty for Failure To Satisfy Minimum
Participation Rates for Improving States.--Section 409(a)(3)
(42 U.S.C. 609(a)(3)), as amended by section 110(a)(2)(B), is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``If the Secretary''
and inserting ``Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), if the
Secretary''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) Limitation on application of penalty for failure to
satisfy minimum participation rate to an improving state.--
Notwithstanding the preceding subparagraphs of this
paragraph, in the case of a State that has a minimum
participation rate under section 407(a) for the fiscal year
that is at least 5 percentage points more than the
participation rate determined (taking into account the
application of any credit against such rate) under section
407(a) for the State for the preceding fiscal year, the
Secretary shall not reduce the grant payable to a State under
section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year
based on the failure of the State to comply with section
407(a).''.
______

SA 2712. Mr. DORGAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 4 line 4, decrease the amount by $70,000,000
On page 4 line 12, decrease the amount by $74,000,000
On page 4 line 13, decrease the amount by $129,000,000
On page 4 line 14, decrease the amount by $14,000,000
On page 4 line 15, increase the amount by $200,000,000
On page 4 line 16, increase the amount by $17,000,000
On page 4 line 20, increase the amount by $74,000,000
On page 4 line 21, increase the amount by $129,000,000
On page 4 line 22, increase the amount by $14,000,000
On page 4 line 23, decrease the amount by $200,000,000
On page 4 line 24, decrease the amount by $17,000,000
On page 5 line 3, decrease the amount by $74,000,000
On page 5 line 4, decrease the amount by $203,000,000
On page 5 line 5, decrease the amount by $217,000,000
On page 5 line 6, decrease the amount by $17,000,000
On page 5 line 11, decrease the amount by $74,000,000
On page 5 line 12, decrease the amount by $203,000,000
On page 5 line 13, decrease the amount by $217,000,000
On page 5 line 14, decrease the amount by $17,000,000
On page 8 line 21, decrease the amount by $1,170,000,000
On page 8 line 22, decrease the amount by $246,000,000
On page 9 line 1, decrease the amount by $445,000,000
On page 9 line 5, decrease the amount by $269,000,000
On page 9 line 9, decrease the amount by $105,000,000
On page 9 line 13, decrease the amount by $35,000,000
On page 20 line 17, increase the amount by $1,100,000,000
On page 20 line 18, increase the amount by $172,000,000
On page 20 line 22, increase the amount by $316,000,000
On page 21 line 1, increase the amount by $255,000,000
On page 21 line 5, increase the amount by $305,000,000
On page 21 line 6, increase the amount by $52,000,000
On page 39 line 18, increase the amount by $1,100,000,000
On page 39 line 19, increase the amount by $172,000,000
On page 40 line 2, increase the amount by $316,000,000
______

SA 2713. Ms. CANTWELL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by her to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 3, line 9, increase the amount by $192,000,000.
On page 3, line 10, increase the amount by $991,000,000.
On page 3, line 11, increase the amount by $261,000,000.
On page 3, line 12, increase the amount by $31,000,000.
On page 3, line 13, increase the amount by $15,000,000.
On page 3, line 17, increase the amount by $192,000,000.
On page 3, line 18, increase the amount by $991,000,000.
On page 3, line 19, increase the amount by $261,000,000.
On page 3, line 20, increase the amount by $31,000,000.
On page 3, line 21, increase the amount by $15,000,000.
On page 4, line 4, increase the amount by $745,000,000.
On page 4, line 12, increase the amount by $96,000,000.
On page 4, line 13, increase the amount by $495,000,000.
On page 4, line 14, increase the amount by $130,000,000.
On page 4, line 15, increase the amount by $16,000,000.
On page 4, line 16, increase the amount by $7,000,000.
On page 4, line 20, increase the amount by $96,000,000.
On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by $495,000,000.
On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by $130,000,000.
On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by $16,000,000.
On page 4, line 24, increase the amount by $7,000,000.
On page 5, line 3, decrease the amount by $96,000,000.
On page 5, line 4, decrease the amount by $592,000,000.
On page 5, line 5, decrease the amount by $722,000,000.
On page 5, line 6, decrease the amount by $738,000,000.
On page 5, line 7, decrease the amount by $745,000,000.
On page 5, line 11, decrease the amount by $96,000,000.
On page 5, line 12, decrease the amount by $592,000,000.
On page 5, line 13, decrease the amount by $722,000,000.
On page 5, line 14, decrease the amount by $738,000,000.
On page 5, line 15, decrease the amount by $745,000,000.
On page 15, line 16, increase the amount by $745,000,000.
On page 15, line 17, increase the amount by $96,000,000.
On page 15, line 21, increase the amount by $495,000,000.
On page 15, line 25, increase the amount by $130,000,000.
On page 16, line 4, increase the amount by $16,000,000.
On page 16, line 8, increase the amount by $7,000,000.
On page 39, line 18, increase the amount by $745,000,000.
On page 39, line 19, increase the amount by $96,000,000.
On page 40, line 2, increase the amount by $495,000,000.
______

SA 2714. Mr. VOINOVICH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC.--. BALANCED BUDGET POINT OF ORDER.

(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), it
shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill or
resolution (or any amendment, motion, or conference report on
that bill or resolution) that would result in an on budget
deficit larger than--
(1) in fiscal year 2004, $639,000,000,000;
(2) in fiscal year 2005, $575,000,000,000;
(3) in fiscal year 2006, $511,000,000,000;
(4) in fiscal year 2007, $447,000,000k,000;
(5) in fiscal year 2008, $383,000,000,000;
(6) in fiscal year 2009, $319,000,000,000;
(b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply if--(1) the
President has declared a state of national emergency; or (2)
the economy is in recession, defined as 3 consecutive
quarters of negative growth in Gross Domestic Product.
(c) Supermajority.--(1) Waiver.--This section may be waived
or suspended in the Senate only by the affirmative vote of
three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An
affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the
Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the
Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a
point of order raised under this section.
______

SA 2715. Mr. DeWINE (for himself, Mr. Nelson of Florida, and Mr.
Coleman) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the
concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the congressional
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2005 and
including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2006
through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 8, line 21, increase the amount by $100,000,000.

On page 8, line 22, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 8, line 25, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 9, line 1, increase the amount by $100,000,000.

[[Page S2455]]

On page 9, line 4, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 9, line 5, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 9, line 8, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 9, line 9, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 9, line 12, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 9, line 13, increase the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 23, line 5, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 23, line 6, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 23, line 9, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 23, line 10, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 23, line 13, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 23, line 14, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 23, line 17, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 23, line 18, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 23, line 21, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
On page 23, line 22, decrease the amount by $100,000,000.
______

SA 2716. Mr. SANTORUM submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title V, add the following:

SEC. __. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEING THE
CARE ACT OF 2003 IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE IN
NEED.

(a) Findings.--The Senate finds that--
(1) the CARE Act of 2003, the Charity Aid, Recovery, and
Empowerment Act of 2003 (S. 272/S. 476 of the 108th
Congress), will help people in need by encouraging giving,
saving, and fairness;
(2) the CARE Act of 2003 is important unfinished business
since the charity crisis continues as a result of increased
social needs and lower charitable giving;
(3) representing part of the President's Faith-based
Initiative, the CARE Act of 2003 will spur charitable giving
and assist faith-based organizations which serve the needy;
(4) more than 1,600 small and large organizations from
around the country have endorsed the CARE Act of 2003 and 23
bipartisan Senators are cosponsors;
(5) the CARE Act of 2003 passed the Senate on April 9,
2003, by a vote of 95-5;
(6) the House of Representatives passed companion
legislation, the Charitable Giving Act (H.R. 7 of the 108th
Congress) on September 17, 2003, by a vote of 408-13;
(7) charities around the country have been struggling for
several years; and
(8) the CARE Act of 2003 provides--
(A) 86,000,000 Americans who do not itemize deductions on
their Federal tax returns (representing more than two-thirds
of American taxpayers, mostly lower and middle income
taxpayers), the opportunity to deduct a portion of their
charitable contributions;
(B) incentives for individuals to give tax free
contributions from their Individual Retirement Accounts for
charitable purposes, which will help a wide range of
charities including educational institutions;
(C) incentives for an estimated $2,000,000,000 worth of
food donations from farmers, restaurants, and corporations to
help those in need which is estimated to be the equivalent of
878,000,000 meals for hungry Americans over 10 years;
(D) 300,000 low-income, working Americans the opportunity
to build assets through matched savings accounts (IDAs) to
purchase a home, expand educational opportunity, or start a
small business;
(E) $150,000,000 a year for a Compassion Capital Fund to
assist small community and faith-based organizations with
technical assistance and expand their capacity to serve; and
(F) more than $1,300,000,000 of additional finding for the
Social Services Block Grant.
(b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate
that--
(1) the CARE Act of 2003 has been bipartisan from the very
beginning;
(2) it is inexcusable that 11 months have passed since the
Senate overwhelmingly passed the CARE Act of 2003 and nearly
5 months have passed without this bipartisan bill being
allowed to go to conference; and
(3) the Senate should immediately send the bill to a
bipartisan conference in order to help those in need.
______

SA 2717. Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr.
Daschle, Mr. Bingaman, and Mr. Dorgan) submitted an amendment intended
to be proposed by him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 95,
setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government
for fiscal year 2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for
fiscal years 2006 through 2009; which was ordered to lie on the table;
as follows:

On page 11, line 9, increase the amount by $343,000,000.
On page 11, line 10, increase the amount by $84,000,000.
On page 11, line 14, increase the amount by $84,000,000.
On page 11, line 18, increase the amount by $84,000,000.
On page 11, line 22, increase the amount by $53,000,000.
On page 12, line 1, increase the amount by $38,000,000.
On page 23, line 5, decrease the amount by $343,000,000.
On page 23, line 6, decrease the amount by $84,000,000.
On page 23, line 10, decrease the amount by $84,000,000.
On page 23, line 14, decrease the amount by $84,000,000.
On page 23, line 18, decrease the amount by $53,000,000.
On page 23, line 22, decrease the amount by $38,000,000.
______

SA 2718. Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. Graham of South Carolina, Mr.
Durbin, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Levin,
and Mrs. Clinton) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him
to the bill S. 1637, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
comply with the World Trade Organization rulings on FSC/ETI benefit in
a manner that preserves jobs and production activities in the United
States, to reform and simplify the international taxation rules of the
United States, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

At the end of the bill, add the following:

TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 501. NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING CURRENCY VALUATION.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The currency of the People's Republic of China, known
as the yuan or renminbi, is artificially pegged at a level
significantly below its market value. Economists estimate the
yuan to be undervalued by between 15 percent and 40 percent
or an average of 27.5 percent.
(2) The undervaluation of the yuan provides the People's
Republic of China with a significant trade advantage by
making exports less expensive for foreign consumers and by
making foreign products more expensive for Chinese consumers.
The effective result is a significant subsidization of
China's exports and a virtual tariff on foreign imports.
(3) The Government of the People's Republic of China has
intervened in the foreign exchange markets to hold the value
of the yuan within an artificial trading range. China's
foreign reserves are estimated to be over $350,000,000,000 as
of September 2003, and have increased by over
$110,000,000,000 in the last 12 months.
(4) China's undervalued currency, China's trade advantage
from that undervaluation, and the Chinese Government's
intervention in the value of its currency violates the spirit
and letter of the world trading system of which the People's
Republic of China is now a member.
(5) The Government of the People's Republic of China has
failed to promptly address concerns or to provide a
definitive timetable for resolution of these concerns raised
by the United States and the international community
regarding the value of its currency.
(6) Article XXI of the GATT 1994 (as defined in section
2(1)(B) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C.
3501(1)(B))) allows a member of the World Trade Organization
to take any action which it considers necessary for the
protection of its essential security interests. Protecting
the United States manufacturing sector is essential to the
interests of the United States.
(b) Negotiations and Certification Regarding the Currency
Valuation Policy of the People's Republic of China.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding the provisions of title I
of Public Law 106-286 (19 U.S.C. 2431 note), on and after the
date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, unless a certification described in paragraph (2) has
been made to Congress, in addition to any other duty, there
shall be imposed a rate of duty of 27.5 percent ad valorem on
any article that is the growth, product, or manufacture of
the People's Republic of China, imported directly or
indirectly into the United States.
(2) Certification.--The certification described in this
paragraph means a certification by the President to Congress
that the People's Republic of China is no longer acquiring
foreign exchange reserves to prevent the appreciation of the
rate of exchange between its currency and the United States
dollar for purposes of gaining an unfair competitive
advantage in international trade. The certification shall
also include a determination that the currency of the
People's Republic of China has undergone a substantial upward
revaluation placing it at or near its fair market value.
(3) Alternative certification.--If the President certifies
to Congress 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act
that the People's Republic of China has made a good faith
effort to revalue its currency upward placing it at or near
its fair market value,

[[Page S2456]]

the President may delay the imposition of the tariffs
described in paragraph (1) for an additional 180 days. If at
the end of the 180-day period the President determines that
China has developed and started actual implementation of a
plan to revalue its currency, the President may delay
imposition of the tariffs for an additional 12 months, so
that the People's Republic of China shall have time to
implement the plan.
(4) Negotiations.--Beginning on the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with
the United States Trade Representative, shall begin
negotiations with the People's Republic of China to ensure
that the People's Republic of China adopts a process that
leads to a substantial upward currency revaluation within 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act. Because various
Asian governments have also been acquiring substantial
foreign exchange reserves in an effort to prevent
appreciation of their currencies for purposes of gaining an
unfair competitive advantage in international trade, and
because the People's Republic of China has concerns about the
value of those currencies, the Secretary shall also seek to
convene a multilateral summit to discuss exchange rates with
representatives of various Asian governments and other
interested parties, including representatives of other G-7
nations.

____________________