[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1144-D1146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                         Thursday, December 7, 2006

[[Page D1144]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S11403-S11550
Measures Introduced: Twelve bills and five resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 4099-4110, S. Res. 626-629, and S. Con. Res. 123. 
                                                        Pages S11498-99
Measures Passed:
  Stevens-Inouye International Fisheries Monitoring and Compliance 
Legacy Act: Senate passed H.R. 5946, to amend the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act to authorize activities to 
promote improved monitoring and compliance for high seas fisheries, or 
fisheries governed by international fishery management agreements, 
after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                            Page S11535
  Stevens Amendment No. 5224, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                            Page S11535
  Innocent Spouse Relief: Senate passed H.R. 6111, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that the Tax Court may review 
claims for equitable innocent spouse relief and to suspend the running 
on the period of limitations while such claims are pending, after 
agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
  Page S11535
  McConnell (for Frist) Amendment No. 5225, to make a technical 
correction.
Page S11535
  Pipeline Safety Improvement Act: Senate passed H.R. 5782, to amend 
title 49, United States Code, to provide for enhanced safety and 
environmental protection in pipeline transportation, to provide for 
enhanced reliability in the transportation of the Nation's energy 
products by pipeline, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                        Pages S11535-36
  National Transportation Safety Board Amendments Act: Senate passed 
H.R. 5076, to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal years 2007 and 2008, clearing the measure for 
the President.
  Page S11536
  Veterans Programs Extension Act: Senate passed H.R. 6342, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of 
law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to expand 
eligibility for the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance 
program, clearing the measure for the President.
  Page S11536
  Armed Forces Funeral Disruptions: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. 4042, to amend title 18, 
United States Code, to prohibit disruptions of funerals of members or 
former members of the Armed Forces, and the bill was then passed. 
                                                            Page S11536
  Social Security Trust Funds Restoration: Committee on Finance was 
discharged from further consideration of S. 4091, to provide authority 
for restoration of the Social Security Trust Funds from the effects of 
a clerical error, and the bill was then passed.
  Pages S11536-37
  Montana Land Conveyance: Senate passed S. 997, to direct the 
Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in the Beaverhead-
Deerlodge National Forest, Montana, to Jefferson County, Montana, for 
use as a cemetery, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
  Page S11537
  Arizona Land Conveyance: Senate passed S. 1529, to provide for the 
conveyance of certain Federal land in the city of Yuma, Arizona, after 
agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and 
the following amendment proposed thereto:
  Pages S11537-39
  DeWine (for Domenici) Amendment No. 5226, to modify the provision 
governing the disposition of amounts paid to the Secretary for the 
conveyance of certain United States Fish and Wildlife Service land to 
the city of Yuma.
Page S11538
  Alaska Land Conveyance: Senate passed S. 1548, to provide for the 
conveyance of certain Forest Service land to the city of Coffman Cove, 
Alaska, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, and the following amendment proposed thereto:
  Page S11539
  DeWine (for Domenici) Amendment No. 5227, to provide offsets. 
                                                            Page S11539
  Watershed Restoration: Senate passed S. 2003, to make permanent the 
authorization for watershed restoration and enhancement agreements, 
after agreeing

[[Page D1145]]

to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  Page S11539
  Vermont Water Resources: Senate passed S. 2054, to direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of water resources in the 
State of Vermont, after agreeing to the committee amendment, and the 
following amendment proposed thereto:
  Page S11539
  DeWine (for Domenici) Amendment No. 5228, to provide an offset. 
                                                            Page S11539
  Bureau of Land Management Land: Senate passed S. 2150, to direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Bureau of Land Management 
Land to the City of Eugene, Oregon, after agreeing to the committee 
amendments.
  Pages S11539-40
  Wyoming Public Land: Senate passed S. 2373, to provide for the sale 
of approximately 132 acres of public land to the city of Green River, 
Wyoming, at fair market value, after agreeing to the committee 
amendments.
  Page S11540
  Grand Teton National Park: Senate passed S. 2403, to modify the 
boundaries of Grand Teton National Park to include certain land within 
the GT Park Subdivision, after agreeing to the committee amendment in 
the nature of a substitute.
  Page S11540
  Minute Man National Historical Park Study: Senate passed H.R. 394, to 
direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a boundary study to 
evaluate the significance of the Colonel James Barrett Farm in the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the suitability and feasibility of 
its inclusion in the National Park System as part of the Minute Man 
National Historical Park, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                        Pages S11540-41
  Pine Springs Land Exchange Act: Senate passed H.R. 482, to provide 
for a land exchange involving Federal lands in the Lincoln National 
Forest in the State of New Mexico, after agreeing to the committee 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  Page S11541
  Holloman Air Force Base Land Exchange Act: Senate passed H.R. 486, to 
provide for a land exchange involving private land and Bureau of Land 
Management land in the vicinity of Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 
for the purpose of removing private land from the required safety zone 
surrounding munitions storage bunkers at Holloman Air Force Base, after 
agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                        Pages S11541-42
  River Raisin National Battlefield Study Act: Senate passed H.R. 5132, 
to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
study to determine the suitability and feasibility of including in the 
National Park System certain sites in Monroe County, Michigan, relating 
to the Battles of the River Raisin during the War of 1812, clearing the 
measure for the President.
  Page S11542
  Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Designation 
Act: Senate passed H.R. 5466, to amend the National Trails System Act 
to designate the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, 
clearing the measure for the President.
  Page S11542
  Blunt Reservoir and Pierre Canal Land Conveyance Act: Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources was discharged from further consideration 
of S. 2205, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain 
parcels of land acquired for the Blunt Reservoir and Pierre Canal 
features of the initial stage of the Oahe Unit, James Division, South 
Dakota, to the Commission of Schools and Public Lands and the 
Department of Game, Fish, and Parks of the State of South Dakota for 
the purpose of mitigating lost wildlife habitat, on the condition that 
the current preferential leaseholders shall have an option to purchase 
the parcels from the Commission, and the bill was then passed, after 
agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
  Pages S11542-43
  DeWine (for Domenici) Amendment No. 5229, in the nature of a 
substitute.
Page S11542
  Energy Efficient Computer Servers: Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5646, to 
study and promote the use of energy efficient computer servers in the 
United States, and the bill was then passed, clearing the measure for 
the President.
  Page S11543
  National Children's Memorial Day: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 590, designating the 
second Sunday in December 2006 as ``National Children's Memorial Day'' 
in conjunction with The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle 
Lighting, and the resolution was then agreed to.
  Page S11543
  Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Amendments: 
Senate agreed to 
S. Con. Res. 123, providing for correction to the enrollment of the 
bill H.R. 5946.
  Page S11543
  Retirement of Linda E. Sebold: Senate agreed to S. Res. 626, relating 
to the retirement of Linda E. Sebold.
  Pages S11543-44
  Jordan Terrorist Attacks Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 627, 
commemorating the one-year anniversary of the November 9, 2005, 
terrorist attacks in Amman, Jordan.
  Page S11544

[[Page D1146]]

  Nautical Charting 200th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 628, 
supporting the 200th anniversary of the nation's nautical charting and 
related scientific programs, which formed the basis for what is today 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and recognizing 
200 years of research, service to the people of the United States, and 
stewardship of the marine environment by the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration and its predecessor agencies. 
                                                        Pages S11544-45
  Capitol Artwork Placement: Senate agreed to S. Res. 629, establishing 
a procedure for affixing and removing permanent artwork and semi-
permanent artwork in the Senate wing of the Capitol and in the Senate 
office buildings.
  Page S11545
  Honoring Arnold ``Red'' Auerbach: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 497, 
to honor the memory of Arnold ``Red'' Auerbach.
  Pages S11545-46
  Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Amendments Act: 
Senate passed S. 1535, to amend the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe 
Equitable Compensation Act to provide compensation to members of the 
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for damage resulting from the Oahe Dam and 
Reservoir Project, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
  Pages S11546-48
  Location of Missing Children: Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 
4416, to reauthorize permanently the use of penalty and franked mail in 
efforts relating to the location and recovery of missing children, and 
the bill was then passed, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                            Page S11548
Combating Autism Act--House Message: Senate concurred in the amendment 
of the House to S. 843, to amend the Public Health Service Act to 
combat autism through research, screening, intervention and education, 
clearing the measure for the President.
  Pages S11442-45
Nomination Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing for further consideration of Kent A. Jordan, of Delaware, to 
be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, at 10:30 a.m., on 
Friday, December 8, 2006, with a vote on the motion to close further 
debate on the nomination.
  Page S11550
Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination:
  By 80 yeas 11 nays (Vote No. EX. 274), Andrew von Eschenbach, of 
Texas, to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and 
Human Services.
Pages S11404-29, S11447-51
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 89 yeas to 6 nays (Vote No. 273), 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.
Pages S11404-11
Nomination Received: Senate received the following nomination:
  Thomas Alvin Farr, of North Carolina, to be United States District 
Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Page S11550
Messages From the House:
  Page S11495
Measures Read First Time:
  Pages S11495, S11548
Executive Communications:
  Pages S11495-97
Petitions and Memorials:
  Pages S11497-98
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S11498
Additional Cosponsors:
  Page S11499
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S11500-07
Additional Statements:
  Pages S11490-95
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S11507-34
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S11534-35
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--274) 
                                                   Pages S11411, S11451
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 9:10 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, December 8, 2006. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S11550.)