The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Highlights + Senate” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Daily Digest section on pages D807-D808 on July 15, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Thursday, July 15, 1999
Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
Senate passed Patients' Bill of Rights Act.
House passed H.R. 1691, Religious Liberty Protection Act.
House passed H.R. 2490, Treasury, Postal, and General Government
Appropriations Act.
Senate
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S8531-S8697
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and fifteen resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 1372-1382, and S. Res. 141-155.
Pages S8630-31
Measures Reported: Reports were made as follows:
S. Res. 142, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Small Business.
S. Res. 143, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Armed Services.
S. Res. 144, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on the Judiciary.
S. Res. 145, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
S. Res. 146, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
S. Res. 147, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
S. Res. 148, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Foreign Relations.
S. Res. 149, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on the Budget.
S. Res. 150, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Finance.
S. Res. 151, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Veterans Affairs.
S. Res. 152, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Rules and Administration.
S. Res. 154, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
S. Res. 155, authorizing expenditures by the Special Committee on Aging.
Measures Passed:
Congratulating U.S. Women's Soccer Team: Senate agreed to S. Res. 141, to congratulate the United States Women's Soccer Team on winning the 1999 Women's World Cup Championship.
Pages S8534-35
Patients' Bill of Rights Act: By 53 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 210), Senate passed S. 1344, to amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect consumers in managed care plans and other health coverage, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto:
Pages S8535-S8624
Adopted:
By 53 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 206), Gregg Amendment No. 1250 (to Amendment No. 1243), to protect patients and accelerate their treatment and care.
Pages S8535-53
By 54 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 207), Collins Amendment No. 1243 (to the language proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 1232), to expand deductibility of long-term care to individuals; expand direct access to obstetric and gynecological care; provide timely access to specialists; and expand patient access to emergency medical care.
Pages S8535, S8577
By 54 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 208), Frist (for Ashcroft) Amendment No. 1252 (to Amendment No. 1251), enhancing and augmenting the internal review and external appeal process, covering individuals in approved cancer clinical trials, improving point-of-service coverage, protecting individuals when a plan's coverage is terminated, and prohibiting certain group health plans from discriminating against providers on the basis of license or certification.
Pages S8564-77
Wyden Amendment No. 1251 (to Amendment No. 1232), to prohibit the imposition of gag rules, improper financial incentives, or inappropriate retaliation for health care providers; to prohibit discrimination against health care professionals, to provide for point of service coverage, and to provide for the establishment and operation of Health Insurance Ombudsmen.
Pages S8554-64, S8592
Lott Amendment No. 1254 (to Amendment No. 1232), in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S8592-S8622
Daschle Amendment No. 1232, in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S8435-S8622
Rejected:
By 48 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 209), Kerrey Amendment No. 1253 (to Amendment No. 1251), to provide for a transitional period for certain patients.
Pages S8573-92
Federal Financial Assistance Programs Improvement: Senate passed S. 468, to improve the effectiveness and performance of Federal financial assistance programs, simplify Federal financial assistance application and reporting requirements, and improve the delivery of services to the public, after agreeing to committee amendments.
Pages S8695-97
Highway Traffic Safety Corrections: Senate passed H.R. 2035, to correct errors in the authorizations of certain programs administered by the National Highway Traffic Administration, clearing the measure for the President.
Page S8697
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
Johnnie E. Frazier, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, Department of Commerce.
Pages S8695, S8697
Communications:
Pages S8629-30
Petitions:
Page S8630
Statements on Introduced Bills:
Pages S8631-47
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S8647-48
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S8655-92
Notices of Hearings:
Page S8692
Authority for Committees:
Pages S8692-93
Additional Statements:
Pages S8693-95
Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--210)
Pages S8553, S8577, S8592, S8622-23
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 9:02 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, July 16, 1999. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S8697.)
