[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 121 (Thursday, July 26, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1060-D1064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page D1060]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 2638, Department of Homeland Security 
      Appropriations Act.
      Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 1, 
      Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act.
      The House passed H.R. 3093, making appropriations for the 
      Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related 
      Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S10051-S10208
Measures Introduced: Sixteen bills and two resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1879-1894, and S. Res. 281-282.
  Pages S10148-49
Measures Reported:
  S. 1893, to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to reauthorize 
the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
Page S10148
Measures Passed:
  Department Of Homeland Security Appropriations Act: By 89 yeas to 4 
nays (Vote No. 282), Senate passed H.R. 2638, making appropriations for 
the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2008, after taking action on the following amendments 
proposed thereto:
  Pages S10058-S10115
Adopted:
  By 89 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 278), Graham Amendment No. 2480 (to 
Amendment No. 2383), to ensure control over the United States borders 
and strengthen enforcement of the immigration laws.
Pages S10058-67
  Grassley/Inhofe Modified Amendment No. 2444 (to Amendment No. 2383), 
to provide that none of the funds made available under this Act may be 
expended until the Secretary of Homeland Security certifies to Congress 
that all new hires by the Department of Homeland Security are verified 
through the basic pilot program authorized under section 401 of the 
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 or 
may be available to enter into a contract with a person, employer, or 
other entity that does not participate in the such basic pilot program.
                                                   Pages S10058, S10083
  Schumer Modified Amendment No. 2461 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
increase the amount provided for aviation security direction and 
enforcement.
Pages S10058, S10083
  Schumer Amendment No. 2447 (to Amendment No. 2383), to reserve 
$40,000,000 of the amounts appropriated for the Domestic Nuclear 
Detection Office to support the implementation of the Securing the 
Cities initiative at the level requested in the President's budget. 
                                                            Page S10083
  Vitter Modified Amendment No. 2488 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
prohibit U.S. Customs and Border Protection or any agency or office 
within the Department of Homeland Security from preventing an 
individual not in the business of importing a prescription drug from 
importing an FDA-approved prescription drug from Canada.
Page S10067
  Dole Amendment No. 2462 (to Amendment No. 2383), to require that not 
less than $5,400,000 of the amount appropriated to United States 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement be used to facilitate agreements 
described in section 287 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 
                                                   Pages S10083, S10091
  Lieberman Amendment No. 2407 (to Amendment No. 2383), to provide 
funds for the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program. 
                                             Pages S10093-95, S10096-98
  By 51 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 280), Sanders/Feingold Amendment No. 
2498 (to Amendment No. 2383), to prohibit funds made available in this

[[Page D1061]]

Act from being used to implement a rule or regulation related to 
certain petitions for aliens to perform temporary labor in the United 
States.
Pages S10092-93, S10098-99
  By 93 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 281), DeMint Amendment No. 2481 (to 
Amendment No. 2383), to prohibit the use of funds to remove offenses 
from the list of criminal offenses disqualifying individuals from 
receiving TWIC cards.
Pages S10091, S10099, S10113-15
  Coburn/DeMint Amendment No. 2442 (to Amendment No. 2383), to prohibit 
funding for no-bid earmarks.
Pages S10095-96, S10100
  Murray (for Kyl/Martinez) Modified Amendment No. 2518 (to Amendment 
No. 2383), to set aside $60,000,000 of the overall amount appropriated 
for border security, interior enforcement, and employment verification 
to be used for employment verification improvements. (Subsequently, a 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the amendment be 
further modified).
Pages S10100, S10105
  Salazar Modified Amendment No. 2516 (to Amendment No. 2383), relative 
to border security requirements for land and maritime borders of the 
United States. (Subsequently, a unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the amendment be further modified). 
                                                 Pages S1009192, S10100
  Murray (for Landrieu) Amendment No. 2527 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 
authorize an in-lieu contribution to the Peebles School.
Page S10101
  Murray (for Cochran/Lott) Amendment No. 2469 (to Amendment No. 2383), 
to provide that certain hazard mitigation projects shall not be subject 
to any precertification requirements.
Page S10101
  Murray Modified Amendment No. 2499 (to Amendment No. 2383), to make 
funds available to procure commercially available technology in order 
to expand and improve the risk-based approach of the Department of 
Homeland Security to target and inspect cargo containers under the 
Secure Freight Initiative and the Global Trade Exchange and to provide 
an offset.
Page S10101
  Murray (for Stevens) Modified Amendment No. 2475 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to develop and implement a Model Ports of Entry program. 
                                                            Page S10101
  Murray (for Lieberman) Amendment No. 2513 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
require a national strategy and report on closed circuit television 
systems.
Pages S10101-02
  Murray (for Pryor) Amendment No. 2502 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to regulate the sale of 
ammonium nitrate to prevent and deter the acquisition of ammonium 
nitrate by terrorists.
Page S10102
  Murray (for Cantwell/Snowe) Amendment No. 2514 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to prevent procurement of any additional major assets until 
completion of an Alternatives Analysis, and to prevent the use of funds 
contained in this act for procurement of a third National Security 
Cutter until completion of an Alternatives Analysis.
Page S10102
  Murray (for Cantwell) Amendment No. 2391 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a strategy and 
funding plan to implement the recommendations regarding the 2010 
Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Joint Explanatory 
Statement of the Committee of Conference on H.R. 5441 (109th Congress), 
the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007. 
                                                            Page S10102
  Murray (for Hutchison) Amendment No. 2466 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
provide local officials and the Secretary of Homeland Security greater 
involvement in decisions regarding the location of border fencing. 
                                                        Pages S10102-03
  Murray (for Gregg) Amendment No. 2484 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
provide for greater accountability in grant and contract 
administration.
Page S10103
  Murray (for Collins) Amendment No. 2486 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
require an appropriate amount of funding for the Office of Bombing 
Prevention.
Page S10103
  Murray (for Byrd) Amendment No. 2497 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
establish a wild horse and burro adoption program at the Department of 
Homeland Security.
Pages S10083-85, S10103
  Murray (for Martinez) Modified Amendment No. 2404 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to establish an international registered traveler program. 
                                             Pages S10086-91, S10103-04
  Murray (for Akaka) Amendment No. 2478 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
provide for a report on the Performance Accountability and Standards 
System of the Transportation Security Administration.
Page S10104
  Murray (for Clinton) Amendment No. 2438 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
require the Comptroller General to conduct a study on shared border 
management.
Page S10105
  Murray (for Cornyn) Amendment No. 2432 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
increase the authorized level for the border relief grant program for 
$50,000,000 to $100,000,000.
Page S10105
  Murray (for Sessions) Amendment No. 2451 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
conduct a study to determine whether fencing on the southern border can 
be

[[Page D1062]]

constructed for less than an average $3,200,000 per mile. 
                                                        Pages S10105-06
  Murray (for Isakson) Amendment No. 2495 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
restore the credibility of the Federal Government by taking action to 
enforce immigration laws, to request the President to submit a request 
to Congress for supplemental appropriations on immigration. 
                                                            Page S10106
  Murray (for Boxer) Modified Amendment No. 2500 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to require United States Customs and Border Protection to 
provide information to Congress about the training of its personnel to 
effectively assist the Food and Drug Administration in monitoring our 
Nation's food supply.
Page S10106
  Murray (for Feingold) Amendment No. 2507 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
require a study on the implementation of the voluntary provision of 
emergency services program.
Page S10106
  Murray (for Kerry/Kennedy) Amendment No. 2477 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to require the Government Accountability Office to report on the 
Department's risk-based grant programs.
Page S10106
  Murray (for Obama) Amendment No. 2519 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater 
than $5 million or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the 
prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency 
awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee owes no 
past due Federal tax liability.
Pages S10106-07
  Murray (for Nelson (FL)) Amendment No. 2439 (to Amendment No. 2383), 
to resolve the differences between the Transportation Worker 
Identification Credential program administered by the Transportation 
Security Administration and existing State transportation facility 
access control programs.
Page S10107
  Murray (for Baucus) Amendment No. 2406 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
prohibit the use of funds for planning, testing, piloting, or 
developing a national identification card.
Page S10107
  Murray (for Salazar/Allard) Modified Amendment No. 2417 (to Amendment 
No. 2383), to clarify that the preparation and implementation of 
community wildfire protection plans is a fire prevention program. 
                                                            Page S10107
  Murray (for Levin) Amendment No. 2504 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
express the sense of Congress regarding the need to appropriate 
sufficient funds to increase the number of border patrol officers and 
agents protecting the northern border pursuant to prior authorizations.
                                                            Page S10107
  Murray (for Domenici/Dorgan) Modified Amendment No. 2421 (to 
Amendment No. 2383), to authorize appropriations for border and 
transportation security personnel and technology.
Pages S10107-08
  Murray (for Domenici) Amendment No. 2422 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
conduct a study to improve radio communications for law enforcement 
officers operating along the international borders of the United 
States.
Page S10108
  Murray (for Collins/Grassley) Amendment No. 2526 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to provide that certain funds shall be made available to the 
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for the fraud risk 
assessment relating to the H-1B program is submitted to Congress. 
                                                            Page S10108
  Murray (for Graham) Modified Amendment No. 2445 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to require a report on interagency operational centers for port 
security.
Page S10108
  Murray (for Dodd) Modified Amendment No. 2465 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to increase the amount provided for firefighter assistance, and 
to provide offsets.
Page S10108
  Murray (for Lieberman) Amendment No. 2508 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
provide funds to modernize the National Fire Incident Reporting System 
and to encourage the presence of State and local fire department 
representatives at the National Operations Center.
Pages S10108-09
  Murray (for McCaskill) Amendment No. 2509 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
mitigate the health risks posed by hazardous chemicals in trailers 
provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Page S10109
  Murray (for Kerry/Snowe) Amendment No. 2463 (to Amendment No. 2383), 
to apply basic contracting laws to the Transportation Security 
Administration.
Page S10109
  Murray (for Menendez/Lautenberg) Amendment No. 2490 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to provide for a report on regional boundaries for Urban Area 
Security Initiative regions.
Page S10109
  Murray (for Roberts/Brownback) Amendment No. 2521 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to provide for special rules relating to assistance concerning 
the Greensburg, Kansas tornado.
Pages S10109-10
  Murray (for Coburn) Modified Amendment No. 2467 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to authorize the release of data used to determine eligibility 
for assistance under title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act.
Page S10110
  Murray (for Clinton) Modified Amendment No. 2474 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to ensure that the Federal Protective Service has adequate 
personnel.
Pages S10110-13

[[Page D1063]]

  Murray (for Feinstein) Modified Amendment No. 2522 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to include the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State 
University as a member institution if the Secretary of Homeland 
Security establishes a National Transportation Security Center of 
Excellence.
Page S10110
  Murray (for Coleman) Amendment No. 2524 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
provide funding for security associated with the national party 
conventions.
Page S10110
  Byrd/Cochran Amendment No. 2383, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                            Page S10058
Rejected:
  Cochran (for Alexander) Modified Amendment No. 2405 (to Amendment No. 
2383), to make $300,000,000 available for grants to States to carry out 
the REAL ID Act of 2005. (By 50 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 279), Senate 
tabled the amendment).
Pages S10078-83
Withdrawn:
  Schumer/Hutchison Amendment No. 2448 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
increase the domestic supply of nurses and physical therapists. 
                                                        Pages S10072-74
  Schumer Amendment No. 2416 (to Amendment No. 2383), to evaluate 
identification card technologies to determine the most appropriate 
technology for ensuring the optimal security, efficiency, privacy and 
cost of passport cards.
Page S10083
  Cochran (for Grassley) Amendment No. 2476 (to Amendment No. 2383), to 
require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish reasonable 
regulations relating to stored quantities of propane.
Page S10083
  Martinez Amendment No. 2503 (to Amendment No. 2383), to require the 
issuance and use of social security cards with biometric identifiers 
for the establishment of employment authorization and identity. 
                                                        Pages S10085-86
  Martinez Amendment No. 2413 (to Amendment No. 2383), to require that 
all funds for State and local programs be allocated based on risk. 
                                                            Page S10086
  Cochran/Byrd Amendment No. 2496 (to Amendment No. 2488), to prohibit 
the use of funds relative to United States Customs and Border 
Protection.
Pages S10067-68
  Dole Amendment No. 2449 (to Amendment No. 2383), to set aside 
$75,000,000 of the funds appropriated for training, exercise, technical 
assistance, and other programs under the heading State and local 
programs for training consistent with section 287 (g) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act.
Page S10091
  Landrieu Amendment No. 2525 (to Amendment No. 2383), to require 
regional evacuation and sheltering plans.
Pages S10096, S10101
During consideration of this measure today, the Senate also took the 
    following action:
  Chair sustained a point of order against Dorgan/Conrad Amendment No. 
2505 (to Amendment No. 2468), relating to bringing Osama bin Laden and 
other leaders of al Qaeda to justice, as being in violation of Rule XVI 
of the Standing Rules of the Senate, which prohibits legislation on an 
appropriation bill, and the amendment thus fell. 
                                             Pages S10068-72, S10074-77
  Chair sustained a point of order against Landrieu Amendment No. 2468 
(to Amendment No. 2383), to state the policy of the United States 
Government on the foremost objective of the United States in the Global 
War on Terror and in protecting the United States Homeland and to 
appropriate additional sums for that purpose, as being in violation of 
Rule XVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, which prohibits 
legislation on an appropriation bill, and the amendment thus fell. 
                                                        Pages S10077-78
  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 Byrd, Inouye, Leahy, 
Mikulski, Kohl, Murray, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Nelson (NE), Cochran, 
Gregg, Stevens, Specter, Domenici, Shelby, Craig, and Alexander. 
                                                            Page S10115
Conference Reports:
  Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act-Conference 
Report: By 85 yeas to 8 nays (Vote No. 284), Senate agreed to the 
conference report to accompany H.R. 1, to provide for the 
implementation of the recommendations of the National Commission on 
Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.
  Pages S10115-10130
During consideration of this conference report today, the Senate also 
    took the following action:
  By 26 yeas to 67 nays (Vote No. 283), rejected a motion to recommit 
to the conference, with instructions.
Pages S10116-17
MEASURES CONSIDERED:
  Small Business Tax Relief Act: Senate began consideration of the 
motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 976, to amend the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief for small businesses.
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed 
to consideration of the bill, and, in accordance with the provisions of 
Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and pursuant to the 
unanimous-consent agreement of July, 26, 2007,

[[Page D1064]]

a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, July 30, 2007.
  Subsequently, the motion to proceed was withdrawn.
Page S10117
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that Senate 
resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 
976, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief 
for small businesses, at 3:00 p.m., on Monday, July 30, 2007, and that 
the time until 5:30 p.m. be equally divided and controlled between the 
Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance, or their 
designees; provided further that at 5:30 p.m., Senate vote on the 
motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of 
the bill.
Page S10117
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Benjamin Eric Sasse, of Nebraska, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Health and Human Services.
  Barry Leon Wells, of Ohio, to be Ambassador to the Republic of The 
Gambia.
  Mark M. Boulware, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic 
of Mauritania.
Page S10208
Messages from the House:
  Page S10148
Measures Referred:
  Page S10148
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S10148
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S10149-51
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Page S10151-92
Additional Statements:
  Pages S10145-47
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S10192-S10207
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S10207-08
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S10208
Record Votes: Seven record votes were taken today. (Total--284) 
                           Pages S10064, S10082, S10099, S10115, S10117
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 26, 2007 
and adjourned at 12:29 a.m. on Friday, July 27, 2007, until 2:00 p.m. 
on Monday, July 30, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the 
Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S10208.)