[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 131 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1161-D1165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                        Thursday, September 6, 2007

[[Page D1161]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 2642, Military Construction and Veterans 
      Affairs Appropriations Act.
      Senate passed H.R. 2764, Department Of State and Foreign 
      Operations Appropriations Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S11129-S11239
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and one resolution were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2020-2030, and S. Res. 309.                  
  Page S11213
Measures Reported:
  S. Res. 134, designating September 2007 as ``Adopt a School Library 
Month''.
  S. Res. 282, supporting the goals and ideals of a National Polycystic 
Kidney Disease Awareness Week to raise public awareness and 
understanding of polycystic kidney disease and to foster understanding 
of the impact polycystic kidney disease has on patients and future 
generations of their families.
  S. Res. 288, designating September 2007 as ``National Prostate Cancer 
Awareness Month''.
  S. Res. 292, designating the week beginning September 9, 2007, as 
``National Assisted Living Week''.
  S. Res. 301, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of 
Little Rock Central High School, one of the most significant events in 
the American civil rights movement.                         
Page S11213
Measures Passed:
  Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2008: 
By 92 yeas and 1 nay (Vote No. 316), Senate passed H.R. 2642, making 
appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
2008, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto:
                                                        Pages S11137-44
Adopted:
  By 76 yeas and 15 nays (Vote No. 313), Coleman Amendment No. 2687, to 
provide funding for security associated with the national party 
conventions.                                            
Pages S11137-40
  Sanders Amendment No. 2664, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, with respect to increases in dollar amounts for the payment of 
disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation, from 
rounding down such dollar amounts to the next lower whole dollar. 
                                                        Pages S11140-41
  By 47 yeas and 45 nays (Vote No. 314), Salazar Amendment No. 2662, to 
prohibit the use of funds to expand the boundaries or size of the Pinon 
Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado.                             
Page S11141
  By 52 yeas and 39 nays (Vote No. 315), Brown/Webb Amendment No. 2673, 
to limit the cases in which funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act may be used to convert to contractor performance 
an activity or function of the Department of Veterans Affairs that is 
performed by more than 10 Federal employees.            
Pages S11141-42
  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 Johnson, Inouye, 
Landrieu, Byrd, Murray, Reed, Nelson (NE), Leahy, Hutchison, Craig, 
Brownback, Allard, McConnell, Bennett, and Cochran.         
Page S11144
  Department Of State And Foreign Operations Appropriations Act: By 81 
yeas and 12 nays (Vote No. 325), Senate passed H.R. 2764, making 
appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and 
related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, 
agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, 
which will

[[Page D1162]]

be considered as original text for the purpose of further amendment, 
after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                    Pages S11144-S11206
Adopted:
  Martinez Modified Amendment No. 2694, to promote democracy in Cuba. 
                                        Pages S11170, S11174-75, S11176
  Lieberman Amendment No. 2691, to provide that, of the amount 
appropriated or otherwise made available for the Economic Support Fund, 
$75,000,000 shall be made available for programs of the Bureau of Near 
Eastern Affairs of the Department of State to support democracy, the 
rule of law, and governance in Iran.            
Pages S11184-86, S11190
  By 48 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 318), Brownback Amendment No. 2707, 
to prohibit funding of organizations that support coercive abortion. 
                                             Pages S11180-81, S11190-91
  By 53 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. 319), Boxer Amendment No. 2719, to 
prohibit the application of certain restrictive eligibility 
requirements to foreign nongovernmental organizations with respect to 
the provision of assistance under part I of the Foreign Assistance Act 
of 1961.                                                 
Page S11181-92
  Dole Amendment No. 2772, to prohibit funds appropriated under this 
Act from being expended in violation of section 243(d) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act.                            
Page S11194
  Feinstein (for Dodd) Amendment No. 2721, to increase by $10,000,000 
the amount appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act for the 
Peace Corps, and to provide an offset.                  
Pages S11194-95
  By 81 yeas and 10 nays (Vote No. 321), Vitter Amendment No. 2774, to 
prohibit the use of funds by international organizations, agencies, and 
entities that require the registration of, or taxes guns owned by 
citizens of the United States.               
Pages S11193-94, S11195-96
  By 92 yeas and 1 nay (Vote No. 322), Coburn Amendment No. 2773, to 
ensure that the United States contribution to the United Nations is not 
being lost to waste, fraud, abuse or corruption by maximizing the 
public transparency of all United Nations spending. 
                                                   Pages S11189, S11196
  Coburn Amendment No. 2706, to ensure full public transparency and 
fiscal accountability at the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, 
Tuberculosis and Malaria.                          
Pages S11186, S11197
  Leahy (for Lugar) Amendment No. 2779, to modify the obligation of 
funds requirement related to Millennium Challenge Compacts. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Coleman) Modified Amendment No. 2712, to impose 
restrictions on the expenditure of funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available for contributions for international organizations in support 
of the United Nations Human Rights Council.         
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Brown) Modified Amendment No. 2701, to mobilize an urgent 
response to the growing crisis of drug resistant tuberculosis, 
including extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Bayh) Modified Amendment No. 2782, to require the 
Government Accountability Office to study the World Bank's efforts to 
measure the success of the projects it finances.    
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Cardin) Amendment No. 2689, to increase by $333,000 the 
amount appropriated or otherwise made available for the Commission on 
Security and Cooperation in Europe, and to provide an offset. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Bingaman/Domenici) Amendment No. 2718, to set aside funds 
to repair, relocate, or replace fencing along the international border 
between the United States and Mexico.               
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Domenici) Modified Amendment No. 2693, to improve 
coordination between the United States and Mexico regarding border 
security, criminal activity, and circular migration. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Levin) Modified Amendment No. 2781, to express the sense 
of the Senate regarding the need for the President to quickly respond 
the deepening humanitarian and refugee crisis in Iraq. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Coleman) Modified Amendment No. 2710, to ensure that the 
United Nations Development Program implements measures to increase 
transparency.                                       
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Cornyn) Modified Amendment No. 2713, to provide that funds 
available for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement shall 
be available for support of efforts of foreign law enforcement 
authorities to locate United States citizens who have been kidnapped in 
areas affected by violent drug trafficking.         
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Cornyn) Amendment No. 2771, to require a report regarding 
the use by U.S. Customs and Border Protection of flood control levees 
under the control of the International Boundary and Water Commission. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for McCaskill) Modified Amendment No. 2709, to require the 
Secretary of State to establish and maintain on the home page of the 
Web site of the Department of State a direct link to the Web site for 
the Office of Inspector General of the Department of State. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Alexander) Amendment No. 2703, to increase by $8,000,000 
the amount appropriated or

[[Page D1163]]

otherwise made available for the Overseas Private Investment 
Corporation under the heading ``Program Account'', and to provide an 
offset.                                             
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Kyl) Amendment No. 2723, to provide funds for the repair 
or replacement of the Nogales Wash Control Project and the 
International Outfall Interceptor.                  
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Gregg) Amendment No. 2727, to require increased 
transparency and accountability at the World Bank. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Gregg) Amendment No. 2726, relative to the establishment 
of a United States-Egypt Friendship Endowment.      
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Gregg) Amendment No. 2725, to require increased 
transparency and accountability regarding foreign assistance. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Gregg) Amendment No. 2728, to prohibit assistance for 
Iraq, and to require a report on the extent that the Government of Iraq 
is committed to combating corruption in Iraq.       
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2730, to require the Department of State to 
establish visa processing operations in Iraq.       
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Modified Amendment No. 2733, to providing funding for programs 
to locate persons missing as a result of armed conflict, violations of 
human rights, and natural disasters.                
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Modified Amendment No. 2734, to provide a United States 
contribution to the International Commission Against Impunity in 
Guatemala.                                          
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2735, to provide flexibility for the use of 
aircraft provided to Colombia.                      
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2736, to limit contamination of natural water 
sources and protect food security.                  
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2737, to expand the existing human rights 
certification to assistance for the Bolivian police. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2738, to condition assistance relating to the 
Western Sahara.                                     
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2740, relative to unobligated balances. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2741, to increase the limitation on 
representational expenses for the Inter-American Foundation. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2742, relative to Nepal.      
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2743, to provide a United States contribution for 
assistance for civilian victims in Afghanistan.     
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2744, to prohibit assistance for countries that 
the President determines grant sanctuary to any individual or group 
which has committed a gross violation of human rights. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2746, to provide authority for assistance to 
former combatants.                                  
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2747, to prohibit prior approval of foreign 
governments relating to assistance for democracy, human rights and 
governance activities.                              
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2748, relative to Presidential discretion. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2749, to provide clarification relating to 
assistance for Central and South America.           
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2750, relative to illegal armed groups. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2751, relative to illegal armed groups. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2752, relative to Sudan.      
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2753, relative to monitoring of assistance. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2754, to provide funding for wildlife 
conservation in Southern Sudan.                     
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2755, relative to Uzbekistan. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2756, relative to assistance for the countries of 
Central Asia.                                       
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2757, relative to a coordinator of activities 
relating to indigenous people internationally.      
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2758, relative to demobilization assistance for 
Colombia.                                           
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2759, to clarify conditions on assistance for 
Indonesia.                                          
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2760, to clarify conditions on military 
assistance for Guatemala.                           
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2761, to restrict assistance for countries that 
recruit child soldiers.                             
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2762, to clarify conditions on assistance for the 
Philippines.                                        
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2764, to add conditions relating to assistance 
for Sri Lanka.                                      
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2765, relative to the Millennium Challenge 
Corporation.                                        
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2766, to deny visas for officials of foreign 
governments and their families who have been involved in corruption 
relating to the extraction of natural resources.    
Pages S11198-S11202

[[Page D1164]]


  Leahy Modified Amendment No. 2767, to provide continued support for 
informal dialogue relating to North Korea.          
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Modified Amendment No. 2769, to provide funding to support the 
peace process in northern Uganda.                   
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Obama/Hagel) Amendment No. 2692, to require a 
comprehensive nuclear threat reduction and security plan. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Kyl/Coleman) Amendment No. 2784, to exclude aliens who 
have engaged in or advocated terrorist activity on behalf of or 
received military-type training from a Tier I or II terrorist 
organization from eligibility for relief from terrorism-related 
immigration bars.                                   
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2785, to provide funding for secondary wastewater 
treatment, consistent with the Committee report.    
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Kyl) Amendment No. 2786, to express the sense of the 
Senate regarding actions needed on the part of the Government of Egypt 
to promote the rule of law and reduce the smuggling of weapons into 
Gaza.                                               
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2787, relative to Office of Private and Voluntary 
Cooperation.                                        
Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy Amendment No. 2788, relative to the Democracy Fund. 
                                                    Pages S11198-S11202
  Leahy (for Biden/Lugar) Amendment No. 2789, to enable the Department 
of State to respond to a critical shortage of passport processing 
personnel.                                          
Pages S11198-S11202
Rejected:
  By 30 yeas to 63 nays (Vote No. 317), Ensign Amendment No. 2700, to 
strike the provisions in section 113 that increases the limit on the 
United States' share for United Nations peacekeeping operations during 
fiscal year 2008 from 25 percent to 27.1 percent so that the United 
States does not pay more than its fair share for United Nations 
peacekeeping.                                           
Pages S11184-90
  By 41 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 320), Brownback Amendment No. 2708, 
to prevent contributions to organizations that perform or promote 
abortion as a method of family planning.     
Pages S11177-80, S11192-93
  By 46 yeas and 47 nays (Vote No. 323), Coburn Amendment No. 2716, to 
provide for the spending of $106,763,000 on programs that save 
children's lives, such as the President's Malaria Initiative, rather 
than lower priority programs, such as the Global Environment Facility, 
which produce few results and are managed by the United Nations 
Development Program, which utilizes corrupt procurement practices, 
operates contrary to United Nations rules, and retaliates against 
whistleblowers.                                 
Pages S11186, S11196-97
  By 33 yeas and 60 nays (Vote No. 324), Coburn Amendment No. 2704, to 
provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
by this Act for ``Contribution to the International Development 
Association'' may be made available for the World Bank for malaria 
control or prevention programs.                    
Pages S11186, S11197
Withdrawn:
  Martinez Amendment No. 2695, to increase the funding for broadcasts 
to Cuba and to provide an offset.               
Pages S11170-71, S11176
  Martinez Amendment No. 2696, to modify the conditions on the 
availability of funds for the aerial eradication of coca in Colombia to 
address circumstances where manual eradication is too impractical or 
risky and to limit the requirement to implement programs to provide 
alternative sources of income to areas where conditions exist for 
successful alternative development.                
Pages S11171, S11176
  Martinez Amendment No. 2697, to increase by $30,000,000 the amount 
appropriated or otherwise made available for ``Andean Programs'' and 
available for aerial eradication of coca in Colombia, and to provide an 
offset.                                         
Pages S11171-72, S11176
  Coburn Amendment No. 2705, to provide for the spending of 
$106,763,000 on programs that save children's lives, such as the 
President's Malaria Initiative, rather than lower priority programs, 
such as the Global Environment Facility, which produce few results and 
are managed by the United Nations Development Program, which utilizes 
corrupt procurement practices, operates contrary to United Nations 
rules, and retaliates against whistleblowers.           
Pages S11186-89
  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 Leahy, Inouye, Harkin, 
Mikulski, Durbin, Johnson, Landrieu, Reed, Byrd, Gregg, McConnell, 
Specter, Bennett, Bond, Brownback, Alexander, and Cochran. 
                                                            Page S11206
Measures Considered:
Higher Education Access Act Conference Report--Agreement: Senate began 
consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2669, to 
provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 601 of the concurrent 
resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2008.   
  Page S11206, S11236-37
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 9 a.m. on 
Friday, September 7, 2007, Senate continue consideration of the 
conference report, that there be 75 minutes equally divided for

[[Page D1165]]

debate between the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and that Senate vote on adoption 
of the conference report at 10:15 a.m.                      
Page S11193
Migratory and Transboundary Fish Stocks--Referral Agreement: On 
Wednesday, September 5, 2007, a unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the Committee on Foreign Relations be discharged from 
further consideration of S.J. Res. 17, directing the United States to 
initiate international discussions and take necessary steps with other 
Nations to negotiate an agreement for managing migratory and 
transboundary fish stocks in the Arctic Ocean, and the bill then be 
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Stanley Thomas Anderson, of Tennessee, to be United States District 
Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.
  E. Duncan Getchell, Jr., of Virginia, to be United States Circuit 
Judge for the Fourth Circuit.
  Steve A. Matthews, of South Carolina, to be United States Circuit 
Judge for the Fourth Circuit.
  John A. Mendez, of California, to be United States District Judge for 
the Eastern District of California.
  1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Foreign Service, 
Marine Corps, Navy.                                     
Pages S11238-39
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  Mary O. Donohue, of New York, to be United States District Judge for 
the Northern District of New York, which was sent to the Senate on 
January 9, 2007.                                            
Page S11239
Messages from the House:                                
  Pages S11209-10
Measures Referred:                                          
  Page S11210
Executive Communications:                               
  Pages S11210-13
Executive Reports of Committees:                            
  Page S11213
Additional Cosponsors:                                  
  Pages S11213-15
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:             
  Pages S11215-19
Additional Statements:                                  
  Pages S11208-09
Amendments Submitted:                                   
  Pages S11219-36
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                               
  Page S11236
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                         
  Page S11236
Record Votes: Thirteen record votes were taken today. (Total--325) 
      Pages S11140, S11141, S11142, S11144, S11190, S11191, S11191-92, 
                                         S11193, S11196, S11197, S11205
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 10:17 p.m., 
until 8:55 a.m. on Friday, September 7, 2007. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S11206.)