[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 27, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D411-D412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Tuesday, March 27, 2007

[[Page D411]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3781-S3984
Measures Introduced: Twelve bills and six resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 991-1002, S.J. Res. 10, and S. Res. 125-129. 
                                                             Page S3835
Measures Reported:
  S. 39, to establish a coordinated national ocean exploration program 
within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-39)
  S. 558, to provide parity between health insurance coverage of mental 
health benefits and benefits for medical and surgical services, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S3834-35
Measures Passed:
  Financial Literacy Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 126, designating 
April 2007 as ``Financial Literacy Month''.
  Pages S3980-81
  National Cushing's Syndrome Awareness Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
127, designating April 8, 2007 as ``National Cushing's Syndrome 
Awareness Day''.
  Page S3981
  Legal Representation: Senate agreed to S. Res. 128, to authorize 
testimony, document production, and legal representation in United 
States v. Philip G. Balcombe, Sansi G. Coonan, John S. Dear, Jan 
Lustig, Michella A. Marusa, Martin J. Ryan, Eleanore M. Vouselas, and 
Bruno Keller.
  Pages S3981-82
  Legal Representation: Senate agreed to S. Res. 129, to authorize 
testimony, document production, and legal representation in State of 
Alaska v. Robert S. Mulford and Don G. Muller.
  Page S3982
  Congressional Gold Medal: Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban 
Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 474, to award a 
congressional gold medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D., and the bill 
was then passed.
  Pages S3982-83
  Older Americans Act of 1965: Senate passed S. 1002, to amend the 
Older Americans Act of 1965 to reinstate certain provisions relating to 
the nutrition services incentives program.
  Pages S3983-84
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations: Senate continued consideration 
of H.R. 1591, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, taking action on the following 
amendments proposed thereto:
  Pages S3785-89, S3793-S3822
Adopted:
  McConnell (for Grassley) Amendment No. 798 (to Amendment No. 680), to 
provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.
Pages S3817-18
  Kennedy Amendment No. 680, to provide for an increase in the Federal 
minimum wage.
Pages S3793, S3798, S3818
Rejected:
  By 48 yeas and 50 nays (Vote No. 116), Cochran Amendment No. 643 (to 
Amendment No. 641), to strike language that would tie the hands of the 
Commander-in-Chief by imposing an arbitrary timetable for the 
withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, thereby undermining the position 
of American Armed Forces and jeopardizing the successful conclusion of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pages S3785-89, S3804-16
Pending:
  Cochran (for Lugar) Amendment No. 690, to provide that, of the funds 
appropriated by this Act under the headings ``DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR 
PROGRAMS'' and ``ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUND'' (except for the Community 
Action Program), up to $50,000,000 may be made available to support and 
maintain a civilian reserve corps.
Page S3796
  Wyden Amendment No. 709, to reauthorize the secure rural schools and 
community self-determination program and to provide funding for the 
payments in lieu of taxes program. 
                                  Pages S3793-94, S3796-97, S3798-S3800
  Obama Amendment No. 664, to appropriate an additional $58,000,000 for 
Defense Health Program for additional mental health and related 
personnel, an additional $10,000,000 for operation and maintenance for 
each of the military departments for improved physical disability 
evaluations of members of the Armed Forces, and an additional 
$15,000,000 for Defense Health Program for women's mental health 
services.
Pages S3794-96, S3797-98

[[Page D412]]


  Burr Amendment No. 716 (to Amendment No. 709), to require that 
payments to eligible States and eligible counties only be used for 
public schools.
Pages S3798-S3800
  Webb Amendment No. 692, to prohibit the use of funds for military 
operations in Iran.
Page S3803
  Coburn Amendment No. 648, to remove $100 million in funding for the 
Republican and Democrat party conventions in 2008.
Page S3818
  Coburn Amendment No. 649, to remove a $2 million earmark for the 
University of Vermont.
Page S3818
  Coburn Amendment No. 656, to require timely public disclosure of 
Government reports submitted to Congress.
Page S3818
  Coburn Amendment No. 657, to provide farm assistance in a fiscally 
responsible manner.
Page S3818
  Coburn Amendment No. 717, to make certain provisions inapplicable. 
                                                             Page S3818
  Coburn Amendment No. 718, to make certain provisions inapplicable. 
                                                             Page S3818
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, March 28, 2007, 
that there be 30 minutes of debate to run concurrently with respect to 
Wyden Amendment No. 709 and Burr Amendment No. 716 (both listed above), 
with the time equally divided and controlled between Senators Wyden and 
Burr, or their designees; that the Burr Amendment No. 716 be modified 
to be a first-degree amendment, and that no amendments be in order to 
Burr Amendment No. 716 or Wyden Amendment No. 709; that there then be 
30 minutes of debate prior to the vote on the motion to invoke cloture 
on the bill, with the time equally divided and controlled between the 
Majority and Republican Leaders, or their designees; that upon the use 
or yielding back of time, Senate vote on or in relation to Wyden 
Amendment No. 709, to be followed by a vote on or in relation to Burr 
Amendment No. 716, and then vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the 
bill; that on Wednesday, March 28, 2007, it be in order for Senator 
Hagel to propose Amendment No. 707 and there be 90 minutes of debate 
under his control, and that upon the use or yielding back of time, the 
amendment be withdrawn.
Pages S3816, S3984
Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination:
  By unanimous vote of 95 yeas (Vote No. EX. 115), George H. Wu, of 
California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District 
of California.
Pages S3789-92, S3984
Messages from the House:
  Page S3832
Measures Referred:
  Page S3832
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
  Page S3832
Measures Read the First Time:
  Page S3832
Petitions and Memorials:
  Pages S3832-34
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S3835-37
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S3837-47
Additional Statements:
  Pages S3831-32
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S3847-S3979
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Page S3979
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S3979
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S3979
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--116) 
                                                  Pages S3792, S3815-16
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m., and adjourned at 8:01 p.m., 
until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 2007. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3984.)