[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 116 (Thursday, July 19, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1007-D1010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Thursday, July 19, 2007

[[Page D1007]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 2669, Higher Education Access Act.
      The House passed H.R. 3043, making appropriations for the 
      Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, 
      and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
      2008.
      House committees ordered reported 28 sundry measures.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S9533-S9643
Measures Introduced: Twenty four bills and one resolution were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1816-1839, and S. Res. 276.
  Pages S9612-13
Measures Passed:
  21st Century Competitiveness Act: Senate passed H.R. 2272, to invest 
in innovation through research and development, and to improve the 
competitiveness of the United States, after striking all after the 
enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof, the text of S. 761, 
Senate companion measure, and Senate insisted on its amendment, 
requested a conference with the House thereon, and the Chair was 
authorized to appoint the following conferees on the part of the 
Senate: Senators Bingaman, Inouye, Kennedy, Lieberman, Mikulski, Kerry, 
Nelson (FL), Domenici, Stevens, Enzi, Alexander, Ensign, and Coleman. 
                                                             Page S9574
  Higher Education Access Act: By 78 yeas to 18 nays (Vote No. 272), 
Senate passed H.R. 2669, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to 
section 601 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 
2008, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto:
                                                         Pages S9534-97
Adopted:
  By 73 yeas to 24 nays (Vote No. 254), Murkowski Amendment No. 2329 
(to Amendment No. 2327), to increase the amount appropriated for the 
college access partnership grant program.
Pages S9534, S9544-45
  By 52 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 255), Kennedy Amendment No. 2330 (to 
Amendment No. 2327), to amend the amounts appropriated for Promise 
Grants for fiscal year 2014 through 2017.
Pages S9534, S9595
  By 94 yeas to 3 nays (Vote No. 259), McConnell Amendment No. 2351 (to 
Amendment No. 2327), to express the sense of the Senate on the 
detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Pages S9577-79
  Graham Amendment No. 2360 (to Amendment No. 2327), to discourage drug 
use among college students.
Page S9585
  Coleman Amendment No. 2359 (to Amendment No. 2327), to protect 
innocent children.
Pages S9585-86
  Enzi (for Coleman/Landrieu) Amendment No. 2338 (to Amendment No. 
2327), to make a technical correction to the definition of independent 
student in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Page S9592
  Kennedy Amendment No. 2327, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S9534
Rejected:
  By 35 yeas to 62 nays (Vote No. 256), Nelson (NE)/Burr Amendment No. 
2337 (to Amendment No. 2327), to amend the special allowance payments. 
                                                         Pages S9541-46
  By 42 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No. 257), Sessions Amendment No. 2333 (to 
Amendment No. 2327), to strike the provisions relating to loan 
forgiveness for public service employees.
Pages S9556-76
Withdrawn:
  Sessions Amendment No. 2342 (to Amendment No. 2327), to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1896 to allow personal exemptions under the 
individual alternative minimum tax.
Page S9556
  McConnell Amendment No. 2357 (to Amendment No. 2327), relative to 
former President William Jefferson Clinton.
Pages S9582-83

[[Page D1008]]


  During consideration of this measure today, the Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 49 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 258), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Coleman Amendment No. 
2334 (to Amendment No. 2327), to prevent the Federal Communications 
Commission from repromulgating the Fairness Doctrine. Subsequently, the 
point of order that the amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and 
the amendment thus fell.
Page S9577
  By 42 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 260), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to DeMint Amendment No. 
2352 (to Amendment No. 2327), to amend the National Labor Relations Act 
to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot election conducted 
by the National Labor Relations Board. Subsequently, the point of order 
that the amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment 
thus fell.
Pages S9579-80
  By 57 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. 261), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Collins Amendment No. 
2340 (to Amendment No. 2327), to provide limited immunity for reports 
of suspicious behavior and response. Subsequently, the point of order 
that the amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment 
thus fell.
Pages S9580-81
  Salazar Amendment No. 2356 (to Amendment No. 2327), relative to I. 
Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby. The yeas-and-nays were requested and there was 
a sufficient second. (Subsequently, a unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that the action taken on Salazar Amendment No. 2356, 
including the vote, be vitiated).
Pages S9581-82
  By 53 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 262), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Stabenow Amendment 
No. 2358 (to Amendment No. 2355), relative to illegal aliens qualifying 
for Social Security benefits. Subsequently, the point of order that the 
amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
                                                         Pages S9584-85
  By 57 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. 263), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Ensign Amendment No. 
2355, to reduce document fraud, prevent identity theft, and preserve 
the integrity of the Social Security system, by ensuring that 
individuals are not able to receive Social Security benefits as a 
result of unlawful activity. Subsequently, the point of order that the 
amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
                                                         Pages S9583-85
  By 48 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 264), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Schumer Amendment No. 
2361 (to Amendment No. 2341), a sense of the Senate relative to tax 
policy. Subsequently, the point of order that the amendment, was not 
germane, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S9586-87
  By 47 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 265), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Sununu Amendment No. 
2341 (to Amendment No. 2327), to permanently extend certain education-
related tax incentives. Subsequently, the point of order that the 
amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
                                                         Pages S9586-87
  By 55 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. 266), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Cornyn Amendment No. 
2339 (to Amendment No. 2327), to provide interim relief for shortages 
in employment-based visas for aliens with extraordinary ability and 
advanced degrees and for nurses. Subsequently, the point of order that 
the amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment thus 
fell.
Page S9588
  By 48 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 267), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Landrieu Amendment 
No. 2363 (to Amendment No. 2362), a sense of the Senate relative to the 
adoption tax credit. Subsequently, the point of order that the 
amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
                                                             Page S9589
  By 48 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 268), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion

[[Page D1009]]

to waive pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, with respect to DeMint Amendment No. 2362 (to Amendment No. 
2327), to repeal the sunset of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief 
Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to the expansion of the 
adoption credit and adoption assistance programs. Subsequently, the 
point of order that the amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and 
the amendment thus fell.
Pages S9588-90
  By 42 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 269), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Dole/McConnell 
Amendment No. 2350 (to Amendment No. 2327), to amend the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 to require individuals voting in person to present 
photo identification. Subsequently, the point of order that the 
amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
                                                         Pages S9590-91
  By 48 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 270), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Kerry Amendment No. 
2364 (to Amendment No. 2353), a sense of the Senate relative to the 
Alternative Minimum Tax. Subsequently, the point of order that the 
amendment, was not germane, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
                                                         Pages S9591-92
  By 47 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 271), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Kyl Amendment No. 
2353 (to Amendment No. 2327), to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 to repeal the individual alternative minimum tax. Subsequently, 
the point of order that the amendment, was not germane, was sustained, 
and the amendment thus fell.
Page S9592
  Senate insisted on its amendment, requested a conference with the 
House thereon, and the Chair was authorized to appoint the following 
conferees on the part of the Senate:
Senators Kennedy, Dodd, Harkin, Mikulski, Bingaman, Murray, Reed, 
Clinton, Obama, Sanders, Brown, Enzi, Gregg, Alexander, Burr, Isakson, 
Murkowski, Hatch, Roberts, Allard, and Coburn.
  Page S9597
Appointments:
United States Holocaust Memorial Council: The Chair, on behalf of the 
President pro tempore, pursuant to Public Law 96-388, as amended by 
Public Law 97-84 and Public Law 106-292, appointed the following 
Senators to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council for the 110th 
Congress: Senators Feingold, Lautenberg, and Sanders.
  Page S9643
Higher Education Amendments Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time 
agreement was reached providing that at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 23, 
2007, Senate begin consideration of S. 1642, to extend the 
authorization of programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965; that 
there be 8 hours of debate on the bill and any amendments thereto with 
2 hours of time equally divided and controlled between the Chairman and 
Ranking Member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions, or their designees; provided further, that the only 
amendments in order other than the committee-reported amendment in the 
nature of a substitute, be a total of twelve relevant first-degree 
amendments--six for the Chairman and six for the Ranking Member, 
relevant to the matter of S. 1642 and the substitute, and an additional 
manager's amendment which has been cleared by the managers or the 
leaders, with no other amendments in order; that the time on the first-
degree amendments be limited to 30 minutes each, equally divided and 
controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Member; that relevant second-
degree amendments be in order and must be relevant to the amendment to 
which offered and that an additional time of 15 minutes be available 
for any second-degree amendments which may be offered, equally divided 
and controlled, and that upon the disposition of all amendments, the 
substitute, as amended, if amended, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, 
be read a third time, and Senate vote on passage of the bill. 
                                                         Pages S9573-74
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act--Agreement: A 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that on Tuesday, July 
24, 2007, upon disposition of S. 1642 (listed above), Senate begin 
consideration of H.R. 2638, making appropriations for the Department of 
Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and 
that the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed be 
withdrawn.
  Pages S9598, S9643
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the continuation of the 
national emergency and related measures dealing with the former 
Liberian regime of Charles Taylor; which was referred to the Committee 
on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-22)
Page S9610

[[Page D1010]]

Nomination Received: Senate received the following nomination:
  David T. Johnson, of Georgia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs).
Page S9643
Nominations Reported: The following nominations were reported and 
placed on the Executive Calendar:
  Bijan Rafiekian, of California, 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, which was sent to the Senate on February 16, 
2007, from the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  William Herbert Heyman, of New York, to be a Director of the 
Securities Investor Protection Corporation for a term expiring December 
31, 2007 vice Deborah Doyle McWhinney, term expired, which was sent to 
the Senate on March 12, 2007, from the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs.
  Mark S. Shelton, of Kansas, to be a Director of the Securities 
Investor Protection Corporation for a term expiring December 31, 2008, 
which was sent to the Senate on May 10, 2007, from the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  William S. Jasien, of Virginia, to be a Director of the Securities 
Investor Protection Corporation for a term expiring December 31, 2009, 
which was sent to the Senate on May 10, 2007, from the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  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, which was sent to the Senate on May 24, 
2007, from the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  William Herbert Heyman, of New York, to be a Director of the 
Securities Investor Protection Corporation for a term expiring December 
31, 2010, which was sent to the Senate on March 12, 2007, from the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  2 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration nominations in the 
rank of admiral.
Page S9612
Measures Read the First Time:
  Page S9610
Executive Communications:
  Pages S9610-12
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S9612
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S9613-15
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S9615-25
Additional Statements:
  Pages S9609-10
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S9625-41
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Page S9641
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S9642-43
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S9643
Record Votes: Nineteen record votes were taken today. (Total--272) 
                               Page S9545-46, S9576-81, S9585-92, S9597
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2007 
and adjourned at 12:52 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2007, until 10 a.m. on 
the same day. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting 
Majority Leader in today's Record on page S9643.)