[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 15 (Thursday, February 9, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D73-D74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                         Thursday, February 9, 2006

[[Page D73]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S875-S1045
Measures Introduced: Nine bills were introduced, as follows: S. 2262-
2270.
  Pages S978-79
Measures Passed:
  Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act: Senate passed H.R. 22, to 
reform the postal laws of the United States, after striking all after 
the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof, the text of S. 662, 
Senate companion measure, after agreeing to the committee amendment in 
the nature of a substitute, and the following amendments proposed 
thereto:
  Pages S898-S943
  Frist (for Collins/Bond) Amendment No. 2750, to modify provisions 
relating to objectives, unused rate adjustment authority, transition 
rules, rate and service complaints.
Pages S926-27
  Frist (for Harkin) Amendment No. 2751, to provide for procedures by 
the Postal Service to give notice on certain actions affecting 
communities.
Pages S926-27
  Frist (for Reid) Amendment No. 2752, to modify qualifications and 
terms of Governors of the United States Postal Service.
Pages S926-27
  Frist (for Stevens) Amendment No. 2753, to modify contracts for the 
transportation of mail by air.
Pages S926-27
  Senate insisted on its amendment, requested a conference with the 
House thereon, and the Chair was authorized to appoint the following 
conferees on the part of the Senate: Senators Collins, Stevens, 
Voinovich, Coleman, Bennett, Lieberman, Akaka, and Carper.
Page S942
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that S. 662 be 
returned to the calendar, and that it not be in order for the Senate to 
consider any conference report or House amendments to H.R. 22, if it 
would cause a net increase in on- or off-budget direct spending in 
excess of $5 billion in any of the four 10-year periods beginning in 
2016-2055, as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office.
Page S942
  Honoring Coal Miners: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 331, honoring the 
sacrifice and courage of the 16 coal miners killed in various mine 
disasters in West Virginia, and recognizing the rescue crews for their 
outstanding efforts in the aftermath of the tragedies.
  Page S1044
  Hurricane Election Relief Act: Committee on Rules and Administration 
was discharged from further consideration of S. 2166, to direct the 
Election Assistance Commission to make grants to States to restore and 
replace election administration supplies, materials, records, 
equipment, and technology which were damaged, destroyed, or dislocated 
as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, and the bill was 
then passed.
  Page S1044
Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act: Senate continued 
consideration of S. 852, to create a fair and efficient system to 
resolve claims of victims for bodily injury caused by asbestos 
exposure, withdrawing the committee amendments, and taking action on 
the following amendments proposed thereto:
  Pages S879-98, S944-68
Pending:
  Frist (for Specter/Leahy) Amendment No. 2746, in the nature of a 
substitute.
Pages S879-98, S944-57
  Specter Modified Amendment No. 2747 (to Amendment No. 2746), to 
provide guidelines in determining which defendant participants may 
receive inequity adjustments the Administrator shall give preference. 
                                           Pages S880-98, S944-57, S968
  Kyl Amendment No. 2754 (to Amendment No. 2746), to reduce the impact 
of the trust fund on smaller companies and to expand hardship 
adjustments.
Pages S957-68
  Ensign point of order that the pending bill and the pending amendment 
in the nature of a substitute (Frist (for Specter/Leahy)) Amendment No. 
2746 (listed above) violate section 407 of H. Con. Res. 95, the 
concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006. 
                                                          Pages S960-68
  Specter motion to waive the point of order (listed above). 
                                                          Pages S960-68
Rejected:
  Cornyn Amendment No. 2748 (to the language proposed to be stricken by 
Amendment No. 2746),

[[Page D74]]

to provide a new system by which to resolve claims for bodily injury 
caused by asbestos exposure. (By 70 yeas to 27 nays (Vote No. 13), 
Senate tabled the amendment).
Pages S882-98, S944-57
  During consideration of this bill, Senate also took the following 
action:
  Cornyn Amendment No. 2749 (to Amendment No. 2748), in the nature of a 
substitute, fell when Cornyn Amendment No. 2748 (listed above) was 
tabled.
Pages S884-98, S944-57
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 10 a.m., on Friday, February 
10, 2005.
Page S1045
Appointments:
  United States-China Economic Security Review Commission: The Chair, 
on behalf of the President pro tempore, pursuant to Public Law 106-398, 
as amended by Public Law 108-7, in accordance with the qualifications 
specified under section 1238(b)(3)(E) of Public Law 106-398, and upon 
the recommendation of the Majority Leader, in consultation with the 
Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Senate 
Committee on Finance, appointed the following individual to the United 
States-China Economic Security Review Commission: Daniel A. Blumenthal 
of the District of Columbia for a term expiring December 31, 2007. 
                                                         Pages S1044-45
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination:
  Eric S. Edelman, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for 
Policy.
Pages S1044, S1045
  (Prior to the confirmation of the nomination, Senate vitiated the 
vote on the motion to invoke cloture.)
Page S1044
Messages From the House:
  Page S978
Measures Referred:
  Page S978
Executive Communications:
  Page S978
Additional Cosponsors:
  Page S979
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S979-82
Additional Statements:
  Pages S975-78
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S982-S1037
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Page S1037
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S1037-38
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--13)
  Page S957
Recess: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and recessed at 8:28 p.m., until 
9:30 a.m., on Friday, February 10, 2006. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S1045.)