[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D743-D745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                             Thursday, May 24, 2007

[[Page D743]]

                              Daily Digest

HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate completed action on U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, 
      Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6577-S6925
Measures Introduced: Sixty bills and seven resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 40, 1471-1529, S.J. Res. 14, and S. Res. 214-219. 
                                                         Pages S6844-46
Measures Reported:
  Special Report entitled ``Allocations to Subcommittee of Budget 
Totals''. (S. Rept. No. 110-74)
  S. 924, to strengthen the United States Coast Guard's Integrated 
Deepwater Program, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. 
Rept. No. 110-72)
  S. 368, to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 to enhance the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program. (S. Rept. No. 110-
73)
  H.R. 740, to amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent caller ID 
spoofing, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  H. Con. Res. 76, honoring the 50th anniversary of the International 
Geophysical Year (IGY) and its past contributions to space research, 
and looking forward to future accomplishments.
  S. Res. 110, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 30th 
anniversary of ASEAN United States dialogue and relationship.
  S. Res. 211, expressing the profound concerns of the Senate regarding 
the transgression against freedom of thought and expression that is 
being carried out in Venezuela.
  S. 1327, to create and extend certain temporary district court 
judgeships.
  S. Con. Res. 25, condemning the recent violent actions of the 
Government of Zimbabwe against peaceful opposition party activists and 
members of civil society.
Pages S6842-43
Measures Passed:
  Calling on the Government of Iran: Senate agreed to S. Res. 214, 
calling upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to 
immediately release Dr. Haleh Esfandiari.
  Pages S6597-98
  National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 217, 
designating the week beginning May 20, 2007, as ``National Hurricane 
Preparedness Week''.
  Pages S6921-22
  Printing Authorization: Senate agreed to S. Res. 218, to authorize 
the printing of a collection of the rules of the committees of the 
Senate.
  Page S6922
  Lake Sidney Lanier, Georgia: Senate agreed to S. Res. 219, 
recognizing the year 2007 as the official 50th anniversary celebration 
of the beginnings of marinas, power production, recreation, and boating 
on Lake Sidney Lanier, Georgia.
  Page S6922
  Preservation Approval Process Improvement Act: Senate passed H.R. 
1675, to suspend the requirements of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development regarding electronic filing of previous participation 
certificates and regarding filing of such certificates with respect to 
certain low-income housing investors, clearing the measure for the 
President.
  Page S6922
  Native American Home Ownership Opportunity Act: Senate passed H.R. 
1676, to reauthorize the program of the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development for loan guarantees for Indian housing, clearing the 
measure for the President.
  Page S6922
  Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Authorization: 
Senate passed S. 231, to authorize the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice 
Assistance Grant Program at fiscal year 2006 levels through 2012. 
                                                         Pages S6922-23
  Transgression Against Freedom of Thought and Expression: Senate 
agreed to S. Res. 211, expressing

[[Page D744]]

the profound concern of the Senate regarding the transgression against 
freedom of thought and expression that is being carried out in 
Venezuela.
  Page S6923
  Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens Anniversary: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 32, honoring the 
50th anniversary of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, and the resolution was 
then agreed to.
  Pages S6923-24
  Attorney General Alberto Gonzales: Senate agreed to S.J. Res. 14, 
expressing the sense of the Senate that Attorney General Alberto 
Gonzales no longer holds the confidence of the Senate and of the 
American people.
  Page S6924
  Adjournment Resolution: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 158, providing 
for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a 
conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate.
  Page S6924
Measures Considered:
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Senate continued consideration of S. 
1348, to provide for comprehensive immigration reform, and taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                            Pages S6583-97, S6598-S6687
Adopted:
  Specter (for McCain) Modified Amendment No. 1190 (to Amendment No. 
1150), to require undocumented immigrants receiving legal status to pay 
owed back taxes.
Pages S6586-87, S6592-94
  By 87 yeas to 9 nays (Vote No. 176), Akaka Modified Amendment No. 
1186 (to Amendment No. 1150), to exempt children of certain Filipino 
World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant 
visas.
Pages S6583, S6594-95, S6601
  By 59 yeas to 35 nays (Vote No. 179), Sanders Modified Amendment No. 
1223 (to Amendment No. 1150), to establish the American Competitiveness 
Scholarship Program.
Pages S6609-12, S6618, S6623
Rejected:
  By 48 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 177), Coleman/Bond Amendment No. 1158 
(to Amendment No. 1150), to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to facilitate information sharing 
between federal and local law enforcement officials related to an 
individual's immigration status.
Pages S6583-85, S6594, S6595-96
  By 48 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 178), Dorgan/Boxer Amendment No. 1181 
(to Amendment No. 1150), to sunset the Y-1 nonimmigrant visa program 
after a 5-year period.
Pages S6587-92, S6593, S6601-04
  By 29 yeas to 66 nays (Vote No. 180), Vitter/DeMint Amendment No. 
1157 (to Amendment No. 1150), to strike title VI (related to 
Nonimmigrants in the United States Previously in Unlawful Status). 
                              Pages S6605-07, S6609, S6619-20, S6624-25
Pending:
  Reid (for Kennedy/Specter) Amendment No. 1150, in the nature of a 
substitute.
Page S6583
  Grassley/DeMint Amendment No. 1166 (to Amendment No. 1150), to 
clarify that the revocation of an alien's visa or other documentation 
is not subject to judicial review.
Page S6583
  Cornyn Modified Amendment No. 1184 (to Amendment No. 1150), to 
establish a permanent bar for gang members, terrorists, and other 
criminals.
Pages S6583, S6585-86, S6612-18
  Dodd/Menendez Amendment No. 1199 (to Amendment No. 1150), to increase 
the number of green cards for parents of United States citizens, to 
extend the duration of the new parent visitor visa, and to make 
penalties imposed on individuals who overstay such visas applicable 
only to such individuals.
Pages S6596-97
  Menendez Amendment No. 1194 (to Amendment No. 1150), to modify the 
deadline for the family backlog reduction.
Pages S6598-S6601
  McConnell Amendment No. 1170 (to Amendment No. 1150), to amend the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require individuals voting in person 
to present photo identification.
Pages S6604-05
  Feingold Amendment No. 1176 (to Amendment No. 1150), to establish 
commissions to review the facts and circumstances surrounding 
injustices suffered by European Americans, European Latin Americans, 
and Jewish refugees during World War II.
Pages S6607-09
  Durbin/Grassley Amendment No. 1231 (to Amendment No. 1150), to ensure 
that employers make efforts to recruit American workers. 
                                                         Pages S6618-19
  Sessions Amendment No. 1234 (to Amendment No. 1150), to save American 
taxpayers up to $24 billion in the 10 years after passage of this Act, 
by preventing the earned income tax credit, which is, according to the 
Congressional Research Service, the largest anti-poverty entitlement 
program of the Federal Government, from being claimed by Y temporary 
workers or illegal aliens given status by this Act until they adjust to 
legal permanent resident status.
Page S6620
  Sessions Amendment No. 1235 (to Amendment No. 1150), to save American 
taxpayers up to $24 billion in the 10 years after passage of this Act, 
by preventing the earned income tax credit, which is, according to the 
Congressional Research Service, the

[[Page D745]]

largest anti-poverty entitlement program of the Federal Government, 
from being claimed by Y temporary workers or illegal aliens given 
status by this Act until they adjust to legal permanent resident 
status.
Pages S6620-22
  Lieberman Amendment No. 1191 (to Amendment No. 1150), to provide 
safeguards against faulty asylum procedures and to improve conditions 
of detention.
Pages S6623-24
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  Graham (for Hutchison) Amendment No. 1168 (to Amendment No. 1150), to 
provide local officials and the Secretary of Homeland Security greater 
involvement in decisions regarding the location of border fencing, 
previously agreed to on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, was modified by 
unanimous consent.
Page S6592
  Subsequent to its adoption, a unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that Akaka Amendment No. 1186 (to Amendment No. 1150) (listed 
above) be modified.
Pages S6583, S6601
  Text of Amendment No. 1150 is printed on pages S6625-87.
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached proving for further 
consideration of the bill at 9:30 a.m., on Friday, May 25, 2007. 
                                                             Page S6924
U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq 
Accountability Appropriations Act: By 80 yeas to 14 nays (Vote No. 
181), Senate concurred in the amendment of the House to the amendment 
of the Senate to H.R. 2206, making emergency supplemental 
appropriations and additional supplemental appropriations for 
agricultural and other emergency assistance for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2007, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                      Pages S6795-S6823
Iraqi and Afghani Translators and Interpreters Act: Senate concurred in 
the amendments of the House to S. 1104, to increase the number of Iraqi 
and Afghani translators and interpreters who may be admitted to the 
United States as special immigrants, clearing the measure for the 
President.
  Page S6924
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Preston M. Geren, of Texas, to be Secretary of the Army.
  Diane G. Farrell, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Export Import Bank of the United States for a term 
expiring January 20, 2011.
  Henrietta Holsman Fore, of Nevada, to be Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development.
  Michael W. Michalak, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam.
  James W. Holsinger, Jr., of Kentucky, to be Medical Director in the 
Regular Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to qualifications 
therefor as provided by law and regulations, and to be Surgeon General 
of the Public Health Service for a term of four years.
  William J. Powell, of West Virginia, to be United States District 
Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia.
  Amul R. Thapar, of Kentucky, to be United States District Judge for 
the Eastern District of Kentucky.
  Robert Charles Tapella, of Virginia, to be Public Printer.
  2 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration nominations in the 
rank of admiral.
Page S6925
Messages from the House:
  Pages S6840-41
Measures Referred:
  Page S6841
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
Measures Read the First Time:
  Page S6841
Executive Communications:
  Pages S6841-42
Petitions and Memorials:
  Page S6842
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S6843
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S6846-49
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S6849-99
Additional Statements:
  Pages S6835-40
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S6899-S6920
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Page S6920
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S6921
Record Votes: Six record votes were taken today. (Total--181) 
                      Pages S6595, S6596, S6604, S6623, S6624-25, S6823
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 9:43 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6924.)