[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 5, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D765-D767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                              Tuesday, June 5, 2007

[[Page D765]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7017-S7096
Measures Introduced: Fourteen bills and one resolution were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1539-1552, and S. Res. 220.
  Page S7070
Measures Reported:
  S. 1547, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for 
military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year. (S. 
Rept. No. 110-77)
  S. 1142, to authorize the acquisition of interests in undeveloped 
coastal areas in order better to ensure their protection from 
development. (S. Rept. No. 110-78)
  S. 1548, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for 
military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year.
  S. 1549, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for 
military construction.
  S. 1550, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy.
Page S7070
Measures Passed:
  Honoring Senator Craig Thomas: Senate agreed to S. Res. 220, honoring 
the life of Senator Craig Thomas.
  Pages S7095-96
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 S7036-63
Adopted:
  By 71 yeas to 22 nays (Vote No. 183), Durbin/Grassley Amendment No. 
1231 (to Amendment No. 1150), to ensure that employers make efforts to 
recruit American workers.
Pages S7036, S7039-41, S7041-42
  By 67 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. 185), 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. (A 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the amendment, 
having achieved 60 affirmative votes, be agreed to). 
                                           Pages S7036, S7058-59, S7062
 Rejected:
  By 31 yeas to 62 nays (Vote No. 182), Cornyn (for Allard) Amendment 
No. 1189 (to Amendment No. 1150), to eliminate the preference given to 
people who entered the United States illegally over people seeking to 
enter the country legally in the merit-based evaluation system for 
visas.
Pages S7036-39, S7041
Withdrawn:
  By 41 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 184), 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. 
(A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the 
amendment, having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, be 
withdrawn).
Pages S7036, S7057-58, S7059-62
Pending:
  Reid (for Kennedy/Specter) Amendment No. 1150, in the nature of a 
substitute.
Page S7036
  Cornyn Modified Amendment No. 1184 (to Amendment No. 1150), to 
establish a permanent bar for gang members, terrorists, and other 
criminals.
Page S7036
  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.
Page S7036
  Menendez Amendment No. 1194 (to Amendment No. 1150), to modify the 
deadline for the family backlog reduction.
Page S7036
  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

[[Page D766]]

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 S7036
  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 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 S7036
  Lieberman Amendment No. 1191 (to Amendment No. 1150), to provide 
safeguards against faulty asylum procedures and to improve conditions 
of detention.
Page S7036
  Cornyn Amendment No. 1250 (to Amendment No. 1150), to address 
documentation of employment and to make an amendment with respect to 
mandatory disclosure of information.
Page S7036
  Salazar (for Clinton) Modified Amendment No. 1183 (to Amendment No. 
1150), to reclassify the spouses and minor children of lawful permanent 
residents as immediate relatives.
Page S7036
  Salazar (for Obama/Menendez) Amendment No. 1202 (to Amendment No. 
1150), to provide a date on which the authority of the section relating 
to the increasing of American competitiveness through a merit-based 
evaluation system for immigrants shall be terminated.
Page S7036
  DeMint Amendment No. 1197 (to Amendment No. 1150), to require health 
care coverage for holders of Z nonimmigrant visas.
Pages S7047-49
  Bingaman/Obama Modified Amendment No. 1267 (to Amendment No. 1150), 
to remove the requirement that Y-1 nonimmigrant visa holders leave the 
United States before they are able to renew their visa. 
                                                         Pages S7049-53
  A motion was entered to close further debate on Reid (for Kennedy/
Specter) Amendment No. 1150 (listed above), and, in accordance with the 
provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on 
cloture will occur on Thursday, June 7, 2007.
Page S7063
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the bill and, in 
accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Thursday, June 7, 2007. 
                                                             Page S7063
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at 9:30 a.m., on Wednesday, June 6, 2007, 
that there be 2 hours of debate equally divided and controlled between 
Senators Kennedy and Cornyn, or their designees; with the time to run 
concurrently on Cornyn Modified Amendment No. 1184 (to Amendment No. 
1150) (listed above), and a Kennedy amendment relating to the same 
subject; and that there be no amendments in order to either amendments 
prior to the vote, that upon the use or yielding back of time, Senate 
vote on or in relation to Kennedy amendment, to be followed by a vote 
on or in relation to Cornyn Amendment No. 1184 (to Amendment No. 1150), 
with 2 minutes of debate equally divided prior to the second vote. 
                                                             Page S7058
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Ron Silver, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of 
the United States Institute of Peace for a term expiring January 19, 
2009. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.)
  Judy Van Rest, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the United States Institute of Peace for a term expiring January 19, 
2009. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.)
  David George Nason, of Rhode Island, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank for a term of three 
years.
  David George Nason, of Rhode Island, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
the Treasury.
  Anne Cahn, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of 
the United States Institute of Peace for a term expiring January 19, 
2009. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.)
  Kathleen Martinez, of California, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the United States Institute of Peace for a term expiring 
January 19, 2011. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration.)
  George E. Moose, of Colorado, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the United States Institute of Peace for a term expiring 
January 19, 2009. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration.)
  Jeremy A. Rabkin, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the United States Institute of Peace for a term expiring 
January 19, 2009. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration.)

[[Page D767]]


  James K. Glassman, of Connecticut, to be Chairman of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors.
  James K. Glassman, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2007. 
                                                     Pages S7095, S7096
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Douglas A. Brook, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy.
  Mark Green, of Wisconsin, to be Ambassador to the United Republic of 
Tanzania.
  Wanda L. Nesbitt, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Cote D'Ivoire.
  David W. Hagy, of Texas, to be Director of the National Institute of 
Justice.
Page S7096
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  Henry Bonilla, of Texas, to be Permanent Representative of the United 
States of America to the Organization of American States, with the rank 
of Ambassador, which was sent to the Senate on March 15, 2007. 
                                                             Page S7096
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
Page S7068
Executive Communications:
Pages S7068-70
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S7070-73
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S7073-77
Additional Statements:
  Pages S7067-68
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S7077-95
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S7095
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--185) 
                                    Pages S7041, S7042, S7061-62, S7062
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned, as a further 
mark of respect to the memory of the late Craig Thomas, United States 
Senator, from the state of Wyoming, in accordance with S. Res. 220, at 
8:53 p.m., until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6, 2007. (For Senate's 
program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's 
Record on page S7096.)