[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 31, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1092-D1094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                             Tuesday, July 31, 2007

[[Page D1092]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S10339-S10529
Measures Introduced: Seven bills and three resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1903-1909, and S. Res. 285-287.
  Pages S10423-24
Measures Reported:
  S. 675, to provide competitive grants for training court reporters 
and closed captioners to meet requirements for realtime writers under 
the Telecommunications Act of 1996, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-
138)
  S. 1565, to provide for the transfer of naval vessels to certain 
foreign recipients. (S. Rept. No. 110-139)
  S. 1607, to provide for identification of misaligned currency, 
require action to correct the misalignment, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
Page S10422
Measures Passed:
Temporary Extension: Senate passed H.R. 3206, to provide for an 
additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act 
and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 through December 15, 
2007, clearing the measure for the President.
  Pages S10524-25
Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents: Committee on Rules and 
Administration was discharged from further consideration of S.J. Res. 
7, providing for the reappointment of Roger W. Sant as a citizen regent 
of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and the 
resolution was then passed.
  Page S10525
Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents: Committee on Rules and 
Administration was discharged from further consideration of S.J. Res. 
8, providing for the reappointment of Patricia Q. Stonesifer as a 
citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, 
and the resolution was then passed.
  Page S10525
Peacekeeping In Darfur: Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged 
from further consideration of S. Res. 276, calling for the urgent 
deployment of a robust and effective multinational peacekeeping mission 
with sufficient size, resources, leadership, and mandate to protect 
civilians in Darfur, Sudan, and for efforts to strengthen the renewal 
of a just and inclusive peace process, and the resolution was then 
agreed to after agreeing to the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                            Page S10525
  Tester (for Biden) Amendment No. 2591, of a perfecting nature. 
                                                            Page S10525
  Tester (for Biden) Amendment No. 2592 (to the preamble), to urge all 
participants in the conflict in Darfur to engage in a political process 
led by the United Nations and African Union, to express disapproval of 
failure to participate in such political process.
Page S10525
National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day: Senate agreed 
S. Res. 285, designating September 9, 2007, as ``National Fetal Alcohol 
Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day''.
  Pages S10525-26
Recognizing Heroic Firefighters: Senate agreed S. Res. 286, recognizing 
the heroic efforts of firefighters to contain numerous wildfires 
throughout the Western United States.
  Pages S10526-27
Honoring Iowa National Guard: Senate agreed S. Res. 287, honoring and 
expressing gratitude to the 1st Battalion of the 133rd Infantry 
(``Ironman Battalion'') of the Iowa National Guard.
  Page S10527
National Anthem Project: Senate agreed to S. Res. 236, supporting the 
goals and ideals of the National Anthem Project, which has worked to 
restore America's voice by re-teaching Americans to sing the national 
anthem.
  Page S10527
Recognizing Long Distance Runs: Committee on Foreign Relations was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 255, recognizing and 
supporting the long distance runs that will take place in the People's 
Republic of China in 2007 and the United States in 2008 to promote 
friendship between the peoples of China and the United States, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.
  Pages S10527-28
Commemorating Archdiocese of New York 200th Anniversary: Committee on 
the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 277, 
commemorating the 200th anniversary of the

[[Page D1093]]

Archdiocese of New York, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                            Page S10528
Regarding Announcement of the Russian Federation: Committee on Foreign 
Relations was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 278, 
expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the announcement of the 
Russian Federation of its suspension of implementation of the 
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, and the resolution was then 
agreed to.
  Pages S10528-29
  Recognizing 75th Anniversary of the Military Order of the Purple 
Heart: Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged from further 
consideration of S. Con. Res. 26, recognizing the 75th anniversary of 
the Military Order of the Purple Heart and commending recipients of the 
Purple Heart for their courageous demonstrations of gallantry and 
heroism on behalf of the United States, and the resolution was then 
agreed to.
Page S10529
Measures Considered:
Small Business Tax Relief Act: Senate began consideration of H.R. 976, 
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief for 
small businesses, after agreeing to the motion to proceed to its 
consideration, taking action on the following amendments proposed 
thereto:
  Pages S10346-89, S10401-08
Rejected:
  By 37 yeas to 59 nays (Vote No. 286), Allard Amendment No. 2536 (to 
Amendment No. 2530), to standardize the determination of income for 
purposes of eligibility for SCHIP.
Pages S10363-74
Pending:
  Baucus Amendment No. 2530, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                        Pages S10346-57
  Grassley (for Ensign) Amendment No. 2538 (to Amendment No. 2530), to 
amend the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986 to create a Disease 
Prevention and Treatment Research Trust Fund.
Pages S10357-58
  Bunning Amendment No. 2547 (to Amendment No. 2530), to eliminate the 
exception for certain States to cover children under SCHIP whose income 
exceeds 300 percent of the Federal poverty level.
Pages S10358-63
  Dorgan Amendment No. 2534 (to Amendment No. 2530), to revise and 
extend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
Pages S10374-82
  Gregg Amendment No. 2587 (to Amendment No. 2530), to limit the 
matching rate for coverage other than for low-income children or 
pregnant women covered through a waiver and to prohibit any new waivers 
for coverage of adults other than pregnant women.
Pages S10382-89
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, 
August 1, 2007, and Senate resume consideration of Grassley (for 
Ensign) Amendment No. 2538 (to Amendment No. 2530) (listed above), with 
30 minutes of debate prior to a vote on or in relation to the 
amendment, with the time equally divided and controlled between 
Senators Ensign and Baucus, or their designees, and that no second-
degree amendments be in order prior to the vote.
Page S10529
House Messages:
Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act: Senate began 
consideration of the amendment of the House to S. 1, to provide greater 
transparency in the legislative process, taking action on the following 
amendments proposed thereto:
  Pages S10389-S10401
Pending:
  Senator Reid entered a motion to concur in the amendment of the House 
to the bill.
Page S10400
  Senator Reid entered a motion to concur in the amendment of the House 
with Amendment No. 2589, to change the enactment date. 
                                                        Pages S10400-01
  Reid Amendment No. 2590 (to Amendment No. 2589), of a perfecting 
nature.
Page S10401
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to concur 
in the amendment of the House to 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, August 2, 2007.
Page S10400
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Robert L. Smolen, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy Administrator for 
Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration.
  Andrew R. Cochran, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, 
Environmental Protection Agency.
Page S10529
Messages from the House:
  Page S10414
Enrolled Bills Presented:
  Page S10414
Executive Communications:
  Pages S10415-16
Petitions and Memorials:
  Pages S10416-22
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Pages S10422-23
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S10424-25
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S10425-32
Additional Statements:
  Pages S10411-14
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S10432-S10523
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S10523-24

[[Page D1094]]

Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S10524
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--286) 
                                                        Pages S10373-74
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at 9:31 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 1, 2007. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S10529.)