[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 119 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1005-D1007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                       Thursday, September 21, 2006

[[Page D1005]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S9859-S10009
Measures Introduced: Thirteen bills and four resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 3916-3928, and S. Res. 578-581. 
                                                         Pages S9896-97
Measures Reported:
  S. 2781, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to enhance 
the security of wastewater treatment works, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 109-345)
  H.R. 5074, to amend the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to provide 
for continued payment of railroad retirement annuities by the 
Department of the Treasury.
  H.R. 5187, to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize 
additional appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the 
Performing Arts for fiscal year 2007.
  S. 394, to promote accessibility, accountability, and openness in 
Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code 
(commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act).
  S. 3867, to designate the Federal courthouse located at 555 
Independence Street, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the ``Rush H. 
Limbaugh, Sr., Federal Courthouse''.                         
Page S9896
Measures Passed:
  Day of Remembrance: Senate agreed to S. Res. 579, designating 
December 13, 2006, as a Day of Remembrance to honor the 25th 
anniversary of the imposition of martial law by the Communist 
government in Poland.                                   
  Pages S10003-04
  National Pollinator Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 580, recognizing 
the importance of pollinators to ecosystem health and agriculture in 
the United States and the value of partnership efforts to increase 
awareness about pollinators and support for protecting and sustaining 
pollinators by designating June 24 through June 30, 2007, as ``National 
Pollinator Week''.                                          
  Page S10004
  National Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week: Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration of S. Res. 180, supporting the goals and ideals of a 
National Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week to raise public awareness 
and understanding of the disease and to foster understanding of the 
impact of the disease on patients and their families, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                              
  Page S10004
  Congratulating Kansas State University Department of Agronomy: 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry was discharged from 
further consideration of S. Res. 539, congratulating the Department of 
Agronomy in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University for 
100 years of excellent service to Kansas agriculture, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                          
  Pages S10004-05
  Supporting ``Lights on Afterschool'': Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further consideration of S. 
Con. Res. 116, supporting ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national 
celebration of afterschool programs, and the resolution was then agreed 
to.                                                         
  Page S10005
  Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act: Senate passed 
S. 2562, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2006, the rates of 
compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the 
rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of 
certain disabled veterans, after agreeing to the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                       
  Pages S10005-06
  Frist (for Craig) Amendment No. 5034, to make a technical correction 
to title 38, United States Code.                            
Page S10006
  Darfur Peace and Accountability Act: Committee on Foreign Relations 
was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3127, to impose 
sanctions against individuals responsible for genocide, war crimes, and 
crimes against humanity, to support measures for the protection of 
civilians and humanitarian operations, and to support peace efforts in 
the Darfur region of Sudan, and the bill was then passed, after 
agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:       
  Page S10007
  Frist (for Lugar) Amendment No. 5033, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                            Page S10007

[[Page D1006]]

  North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation 70th Anniversary: Committee on 
the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 574, 
recognizing the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation on the occasion 
of its 70th anniversary and saluting the outstanding service of its 
members and staff on behalf of the agricultural community and the 
people of North Carolina, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                            Page S10007
  Secure Fence Act: Senate began consideration of H.R. 6061, to 
establish operational control over the international land and maritime 
borders of the United States, after agreeing to the motion to proceed 
to its consideration, and taking action on the following amendments 
proposed thereto:                                        
  Pages S9863-86
Pending:
  Frist Amendment No. 5031, to establish the effective date. 
                                                             Page S9886
  Frist Amendment No. 5032 (to Amendment No. 5031), to amend the 
effective date.                                              
Page S9886
Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act--Committee 
Referral: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged 
from further consideration of H.R. 2965, to amend title 18, United 
States Code, to require Federal Prison Industries to compete for its 
contracts minimizing its unfair competition with private sector firms 
and their non-inmate workers and empowering Federal agencies to get the 
best value for taxpayers' dollars, to provide a 5-year period during 
which Federal Prison Industries adjusts to obtaining inmate work 
opportunities through other than its mandatory source status, to 
enhance inmate access to remedial and vocational opportunities and 
other rehabilitative opportunities to better prepare inmates for a 
successful return to society, to authorize alternative inmate work 
opportunities in support of non-profit organizations and other public 
service programs, and the bill be referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary.                                                  
  Page S10003
Bill Introduction--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that notwithstanding the adjournment of the Senate, it be in 
order for Senators to introduce bills on Friday, September 22, 2006 
until 11 a.m.; provided further, that a bill to be introduced by 
Senator Frist, or his designee, be considered as read a first time, and 
that there be an objection to its second reading.       
  Pages S10007-08
Besosa Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that at 5:20 p.m. on Monday, September 25, 2006, Senate begin 
consideration of the nomination of Francisco Augusto Besosa, of Puerto 
Rico, to be United States District Judge for the District of Puerto 
Rico; that the time until 5:30 p.m. be equally divided between the 
Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, or their 
designees; provided further, that at 5:30 p.m. Senate vote on 
confirmation of the nomination.                             
  Page S10003
Message From the President: Senate received the following messages from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the continuation of the 
national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to 
commit, or support terrorism that was established in Executive Order 
13224 on September 21, 2006; which was referred to the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM--56)                
Page S9894
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Stephen Goldsmith, of Indiana, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a 
term expiring October 6, 2010.
  Kenneth L. Wainstein, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney 
General.
  Sandra Pickett, of Texas, to be a Member of the National Museum and 
Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2010.
  Roger L. Hunt, of Nevada, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of 
the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation for a term expiring December 
10, 2009.
  John E. Kidde, of California, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees 
of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation for a term expiring 
December 10, 2011.
  Eliza McFadden, of Florida, to be a Member of the National Institute 
for Literacy Advisory Board for a term expiring January 30, 2009.
  Frank R. Jimenez, of Florida, to be General Counsel of the Department 
of the Navy.
  Jane M. Doggett, of Montana, to be a Member of the National Council 
on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2012.
  Randolph James Clerihue, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Labor.
  Arthur K. Reilly, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the National 
Science Board, National Science Foundation, for a term expiring May 10, 
2012.
  Lauren M. Maddox, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for 
Communications and Outreach, Department of Education.
  7 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral.

[[Page D1007]]


  Routine lists in the Coast Guard, Public Health Service. 
                                                    Pages S9997, S10009
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Steven R. Chealander, of Texas, to be a Member of the National 
Transportation Safety Board for the remainder of the term expiring 
December 31, 2007.
  Craig Roberts Stapleton, of Connecticut, to serve concurrently and 
without additional compensation as Ambassador to Monaco.
  Ronald Spogli, of California, to serve concurrently and without 
additional compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of San Marino.
  Curtis S. Chin, of New York, to be United States Director of the 
Asian Development Bank, with the rank of Ambassador.
  2 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  4 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy.    
Pages S10008-09
Messages From the House:                                 
  Pages S9894-95
Measures Referred:                                  
  Pages S9895, S10003
Measures Placed on Calendar:                        
  Pages S9895, S10003
Measures Read First Time:                           
  Pages S9895, S10003
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S9895-96
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S9896
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S9897-98
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:           
  Pages S9898-S9908
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S9893-94
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S9908-96
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S9996-97
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 6:50 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, September 22, 2006. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S10008.)