[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D556-D558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                             Thursday, May 25, 2006

[[Page D556]]


                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed S. 2611, Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S5135-S5301
Measures Introduced: Two hundred and six bills and two resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 3035-3240, and S. Res. 494-495. 
                                                         Pages S5226-30
Measures Reported:
  H.R. 2066, to amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a 
Federal Acquisition Service, to replace the General Supply Fund and the 
Information Technology Fund with an Acquisition Services Fund, with 
amendments. (S. Rept. No. 109-257)
  S. 2127, to redesignate the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge in 
the State of Virginia as the ``Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National 
Wildlife Refuge''. (S. Rept. No. 109-258)
  S. 3237, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for the 
intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States 
Government, the Intelligence Community Management Account, and the 
Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System. (S. Rept. 
No. 109-259)
  S. Res. 312, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need 
for the United States to address global climate change through the 
negotiation of fair and effective international commitments, and with 
an amended preamble.
  S. 559, to make the protection of vulnerable populations, especially 
women and children, who are affected by a humanitarian emergency a 
priority of the United States Government, with amendments.
  S. 1950, to promote global energy security through increased 
cooperation between the United States and India in diversifying sources 
of energy, stimulating development of alternative fuels, developing and 
deploying technologies that promote the clean and efficient use of 
coal, and improving energy efficiency, with amendments.
  S. 2039, to provide for loan repayment for prosecutors and public 
defenders.
  S. 2200, to establish a United States-Poland parliamentary youth 
exchange program, with amendments.
  S. 2560, to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control Policy, 
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 2566, to provide for coordination of proliferation interdiction 
activities and conventional arms disarmament, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
  S. 2697, to establish the position of the United States Ambassador 
for ASEAN, with amendments.
Page S5226
Measures Passed:
  Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act: By 62 yeas to 36 nays (Vote No. 
157), Senate passed S. 2611, to provide for comprehensive immigration 
reform, after taking action on the following amendments proposed 
thereto:
  Pages S5135-91
Adopted:
  By 51 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 152), Bingaman Amendment No. 4131, to 
limit the total number of aliens, including spouses and children, 
granted employment-based legal permanent resident status to 650,000 
during any fiscal year.
Pages S5141-46
  By 52 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 153), Feingold Amendment No. 4083, to 
strike the provision prohibiting a court from staying the removal of an 
alien in certain circumstances.
Pages S5146-53, S5188
  By 50 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 155), Ensign Amendment No. 4136, to 
ensure the integrity of the Earned Income Tax Credit program by 
reducing the potential for fraud and to ensure that aliens who receive 
an adjustment of this status under this bill meet their obligation to 
pay back taxes without creating a burden on the American public. 
                                                  Pages S5160-88, S5189
  By 56 yeas to 41 nays, 1 responding present (Vote No. 156), Specter/
Kennedy Amendment No. 4188, to make certain revisions to the bill. 
                                                         Pages S5189-90

[[Page D557]]

Rejected:
  By 49 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 151), Cornyn Amendment No. 4097, to 
modify the requirements for confidentiality of certain information 
submitted by an alien seeking an adjustment of status under section 
245B.
Pages S5135-41
  By 37 yeas to 60 nays (Vote No. 154), Sessions Amendment No. 4108, to 
limit the application of the Earned Income Tax Credit. 
                                               Pages S5153-60, S5188-89
  A unanimous-consent request was granted permitting Senator Landrieu 
to change her aye vote to a nay vote on Vote No. 131, changing the 
outcome of the vote to 62 yeas to 35 nays relative to Inhofe Further 
Modified Amendment No. 4064, to amend title 4 United States Code, to 
declare English as the national language of the United States and to 
promote the patriotic integration of prospective U.S. citizens, agreed 
to on Thursday, May 18, 2006.
Page S5190
  National Vigil for Lost Promise: Senate agreed to S. Res. 495, 
designating June 8, 2006, as the day of a National Vigil for Lost 
Promise.
  Page S5272
  Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act: Senate passed S. 2856, to 
provide regulatory relief and improve productivity for insured 
depository institutions.
  Pages S5272-83
  Cuban Dissident: Senate agreed to S. Res. 469, condemning the April 
25, 2006, beating and intimidation of Cuban dissident Martha Beatriz 
Roque.
  Page S5283
  National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week: Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration of S. Res. 236, recognizing the need to pursue research 
into the causes, a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic 
pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week, and the resolution was 
then agreed to.
  Pages S5283-84
  San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act: Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs was discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 1953, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in 
commemoration of the Old Mint at San Francisco otherwise known as the 
``Granite Lady'', and the bill was then passed, clearing the measure 
for the President.
  Page S5284
  American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act: Senate 
passed S. 633, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins 
in commemoration of veterans who became disabled for life while serving 
in the Armed Forces of the United States.
  Pages S5284-85
  Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act: Senate passed S. 
2784, to award a congressional gold medal to the Fourteenth Dalai Lama 
in recognition of his many enduring and outstanding contributions to 
peace, non-violence, human rights, and religious understanding. 
                                                         Pages S5284-85
  Lewis and Clark Commemorative Coin Correction Act: Senate passed H.R. 
5401, to amend section 308 of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 
Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act to make certain clarifying and 
technical amendments, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                         Pages S5284-85
Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act:Senate concurred in the amendments 
of the House of Representatives to S. 1235, to amend title 38, United 
States Code, to improve and extend housing, insurance, outreach, and 
benefits programs provided under the laws administered by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, to improve and extend employment programs for 
veterans under laws administered by the Secretary of Labor, clearing 
the measure for the President.
  Pages S5285-95
Kavanaugh Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of 
Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be United States Circuit Judge for 
the District of Columbia Circuit.
  Pages S5191-S5208
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 67 yeas to 30 nays (Vote No. 158), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.
Page S5191
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 8:45 a.m. 
on Friday, May 26, 2006, Senate continue consideration of the 
nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh (listed above) and that following the 
disposition of the nomination, Senate vote on confirmation of the 
nomination of General Michael V. Hayden, USAF, to be Director of the 
Central Intelligence Agency; provided further, that if the nomination 
of General Michael V. Hayden is confirmed, the Senate then immediately 
vote on confirmation of the nomination of Michael V. Hayden for 
appointment in the United States Air Force to the grade indicated while 
assigned to a position of importance and responsibility under title 10, 
U.S.C., section 601, to be General; that following those votes Senator 
Nelson (FL) be recognized to speak for up to five minutes and the 
Senate then vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of 
Dirk Kempthorne, of Idaho, to be Secretary of the Interior; provided 
further, that if cloture is invoked, Senator Landrieu be recognized for 
up to ten minutes,

[[Page D558]]

and the Senate then vote on confirmation of the nomination of Dirk 
Kempthorne.
Page S5296
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Robert O. Blake, Jr., of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Democratic 
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and to serve concurrently and without 
additional compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Maldives.
  Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, of the District of Columbia, to be Associate 
Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of 
fifteen years.
  Phyllis D. Thompson, of the District of Columbia, to be Associate 
Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of 
fifteen years.
  Elizabeth Dougherty, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of 
the National Mediation Board for a term expiring July 1, 2009.
  3 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  40 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Army, Navy.
Page S5301
Messages From the House:
  Page S5224
Measures Referred:
  Page S5224
Measures Read First Time:
  Page S5224
Enrolled Bills Presented:
  Page S5224
Executive Communications:
  Pages S5224-26
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S5226
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S5230-33
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S5233-59
Additional Statements:
  Pages S5219-24
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S5259-70
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Pages S5270-71
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S5271-72
Record Votes: Eight record votes were taken today. (Total--158) 
                         Pages S5141, S5146, S5188, S5189, S5190, S5191
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:15 a.m., and adjourned at 10:06 p.m., 
until 8:45 a.m., on Friday, May 26, 2006. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S5296.)