[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 140 (Thursday, September 20, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1230-D1232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                       Thursday, September 20, 2007

[[Page D1230]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S11775-S11917
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and two resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2072-2082, and S. Res. 323-324.              
  Page S11853
Measures Reported:
  S. 1771, to increase the safety of swimming pools and spas by 
requiring the use of proper anti-entrapment drain covers and pool and 
spa drainage systems, to educate the public about pool and spa safety, 
with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-182)                     
Page S11853
Measures Passed:
  Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act: Senate passed H.R. 3580, 
to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise and extend 
the user-fee programs for prescription drugs and for medical devices, 
to enhance the postmarket authorities of the Food and Drug 
Administration with respect to the safety of drugs, clearing the 
measure for the President.                              
  Pages S11831-41
  National Life Insurance Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
324, supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Life Insurance 
Awareness Month''.                                 
  Pages S11862, S11914
Measures Considered:
National Defense Authorization Act: Senate continued consideration of 
H.R. 1585, 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, taking action on the following 
amendments proposed thereto:             
  Pages S11782-S11831, S11841-48
Adopted:
  By 72 yeas and 25 nays (Vote No. 344), Cornyn Amendment No. 2934 (to 
Amendment No. 2011), to express the sense of the Senate that General 
David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, 
deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal 
attacks on the honor and the integrity of General Petraeus and all the 
members of the United States Armed Forces. (A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that the amendment, having achieved 60 
affirmative votes, be agreed to).                       
Pages S11785-88
  Levin (for Bond) Amendment No. 2875 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
provide certain limitations to the issuance of security clearances. 
                                                            Page S11810
  Levin (for Nelson (NE)/Graham) Amendment No. 2865 (to Amendment No. 
2011), to authorize the Secretary of Defense to expand the persons 
eligible for continued health benefits coverage.            
Page S11810
  Levin (for Nelson (NE)/Graham) Amendment No. 2867 (to Amendment No. 
2011), to repeal the authority for payment of a uniform allowance to 
civilian employees of the Department of Defense.        
Pages S11810-11
  Levin (for Nelson (NE)/Graham) Amendment No. 2868 (to Amendment No. 
2011), to provide for a continuation of eligibility for TRICARE 
Standard coverage for certain members of the Selected Reserve. 
                                                            Page S11811
  Levin (for Akaka) Amendment No. 2871 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
provide flexibility in paying annuities to certain Federal retirees who 
return to work.                                             
Page S11811
  Levin (for Nelson (NE)) Amendment No. 2866 (to Amendment No. 2011), 
to authorize demonstration projects on the provision of services to 
military dependent children with autism.                
Pages S11811-12
  Levin (for Nelson (NE)) Amendment No. 2869 (to Amendment No. 2011), 
to authorize increases in compensation for the faculty and staff of the 
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.       
Page S11812
  Levin (for Inhofe) Amendment No. 2293 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
authorize the transfer to the Government of Iraq of three C-130 E 
tactical airlift aircraft.                                  
Page S11812
  Levin (for Boxer) Amendment No. 2285 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
require recurring reports on the readiness of the National Guard for 
domestic emergencies.                                       
Page S11812
  Levin (for Salazar) Amendment No. 2880, to require a report on the 
High-Altitude Aviation Training Site, Colorado.             
Page S11812

[[Page D1231]]


  Levin (for Kyl) Amendment No. 2892 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
require information regarding asymmetric capabilities in the annual 
report on the military power of the People's Republic of China. 
                                                            Page S11812
  Levin Amendment No. 2278 (to Amendment No. 2011), to authorize a land 
exchange in Detroit, Michigan.                          
Pages S11812-13
  Levin (for Bingaman) Amendment No. 2119 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
require a report from the Inspector General of the Department of 
Defense on a pilot program for the imposition of fines for 
noncompliance of contractor personnel with requirements for contractor 
personnel performing private security functions in areas of combat 
operations.                                                 
Page S11813
  Levin (for Carper/McCaskill) Amendment No. 2123 (to Amendment No. 
2011), to provide for training on contingency contracting for 
contractor personnel outside the defense acquisition workforce. 
                                                            Page S11813
  Levin (for Murray) Amendment No. 2921 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
require a plan for the participation of members of the National Guard 
and the Reserves in the benefits delivery at discharge program. 
                                                            Page S11813
  Levin (for Hutchinson) Modified Amendment No. 2233 (to Amendment No. 
2011), to require a report on the feasibility of housing a National 
Disaster Response Center at Kelly Air Field, San Antonio, Texas. 
                                                        Pages S11813-14
  Levin (for Snowe/Kerry) Amendment No. 2299 (to Amendment No. 2011), 
to require consideration of small business concerns in evaluating 
actions that should be taken to address any disadvantage in the 
performance of contracts to actual and potential contractors and 
subcontractors of the Department of Defense when employees of such 
contractors and subcontractors are mobilized as part of a United States 
military operation overseas.                                
Page S11814
  Levin (for Snowe) Amendment No. 2300 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
require relevant reports to be submitted to the Committee on Small 
Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate.                
Page S11814
  Levin (for Nelson (NE)/Graham) Amendment No. 2864 (to Amendment No. 
2011), to modify the provisions relating to mandatory separation for 
years of service of Reserve officers in the grade of lieutenant general 
or vice admiral.                                            
Page S11814
  Levin (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 2262 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
modify the sunset date for the Office of the Ombudsman of the Energy 
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.        
Page S11814
  Levin (for McCaskill) Amendment No. 2939 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
provide for independent management reviews of contracts for services. 
                                                            Page S11814
  Levin (for McCaskill) Amendment No. 2940 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
provide for the enforcement of requirements applicable to undefinitized 
contractual actions.                                        
Page S11814
  Levin (for Bond/Leahy) Amendment No. 2893 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
enhance the national defense through empowerment of the Chief of the 
National Guard Bureau and the enhancement of the functions of the 
National Guard Bureau.                                  
Pages S11814-16
  Levin (for Reed/Dole) Amendment No. 2941 (to Amendment No. 2011), to 
modify the termination of assistance to State and local governments 
after completion of the destruction of the United States chemical 
weapons stockpile.                                          
Page S11816
Withdrawn:
  By 51 yeas and 46 nays (Vote No. 343), Boxer Amendment No. 2947 (to 
Amendment No. 2011), to reaffirm strong support for all the men and 
women of the United States Armed Forces and to strongly condemn attacks 
on the honor, integrity, and patriotism of any individual who is 
serving or has served honorably in the United States Armed Forces, by 
any person or organization. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the amendment, having failed to achieve 60 affirmative 
votes, be withdrawn).                                   
Pages S11782-85
  By 28 yeas to 70 nays (Vote No. 345), Feingold Amendment No. 2924 (to 
Amendment No. 2011), to safely redeploy United States troops from Iraq. 
(A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the 
amendment, having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, be 
withdrawn).                                         
Pages S11788-S11802
Pending:
  Nelson (NE) (for Levin) Amendment No. 2011, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                 
Page S11782
  Warner (for Graham/Kyl) Amendment No. 2064 (to Amendment No. 2011), 
to strike section 1023, relating to the granting of civil rights to 
terror suspects.                                            
Page S11782
  Levin/Reed Amendment No. 2898 (to Amendment No. 2011), to provide for 
a reduction and transition of United States forces in Iraq. 
                                  Pages S11802-10, S11816-27, S11828-31
  Kyl/Lieberman Amendment No. 3017 (to Amendment No. 2011), to express 
the sense of the Senate regarding Iran.                 
Pages S11827-28
   A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at 9:15 a.m., on Friday, September 21, 2007; 
provided that the time until 9:50 a.m., be equally divided and 
controlled between Senators Levin and McCain, or

[[Page D1232]]

their designees; that the time from 9:50 a.m. to 10 a.m., be under the 
control of the two Leaders, or their designees, with the Majority 
Leader, or his designee, controlling the final 5 minutes; provided 
further, that at 10 a.m., Senate vote on or in relation to Levin/Reed 
Amendment No. 2898 (to Amendment No. 2011) (listed above), with no 
amendment in order to the amendment prior to the vote; that the 
amendment be subject to 60 affirmative votes and that if it does not 
achieve 60 affirmative votes, the amendment be withdrawn; provided 
further, that upon disposition of Levin/Reed Amendment No. 2898 (to 
Amendment No. 2011), Senator Biden be recognized to offer an amendment 
and that whenever the Senate resumes consideration of the Biden 
Amendment, that there be 30 minutes of debate prior to a vote on or in 
relation to the amendment, with the time equally divided and controlled 
between Senators Biden and McCain, or their designees, with no 
amendment be in order to the amendment prior to the vote; provided 
further, that the Biden amendment be subject to a threshold of 60 
affirmative votes and that if it does not achieve 60 affirmative votes, 
the amendment be withdrawn.                                 
Page S11801
Water Resources Development Act--Conference Report: A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that at 3 p.m., on Monday, September 
24, 2007, Senate begin consideration of the conference report to 
accompany H.R. 1495, to provide for the conservation and development of 
water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to 
construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of 
the United States; provided further, that the time until 5:45 p.m. be 
divided for debate as follows: 30 minutes under Senator Feingold's 
control with the remainder of the time under the control of the two 
Leaders, or their designees; provided further, that at 5:45 p.m., 
Senate vote on adoption of the conference report.           
  Page S11818
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 that was originally declared on September 23, 2001, 
with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support 
terrorism; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs. (PM-26)                                  
Pages S11851-52
Removal of Injunction of Secrecy: The injunction of secrecy was removed 
from the following treaty:
  Treaty with United Kingdom Concerning Defense Trade Cooperation 
(Treaty Doc. No. 110-7).
  The treaty was transmitted to the Senate today, considered as having 
been read for the first time, and referred, with accompanying papers, 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed. 
                                                            Page S11914
Padilla Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that the nomination of Christopher A. Padilla, of the 
District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for 
International Trade, be referred jointly to the Committee on Finance 
and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.   
  Page S11914
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Foreign Service, Marine Corps.       
Page S11917
Messages from the House:                                    
  Page S11852
Measures Referred:                                          
  Page S11852
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                   
  Pages S11775, S11852
Executive Communications:                               
  Pages S11852-53
Executive Reports of Committees:                            
  Page S11853
Additional Cosponsors:                                  
  Pages S11853-56
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:             
  Pages S11856-62
Additional Statements:                                  
  Pages S11850-51
Amendments Submitted:                               
  Pages S11862-S11913
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                               
  Page S11913
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                         
  Page S11913
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--345) 
                                           Pages S11785, S11787, S11801
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:37 p.m., 
until 9:15 a.m. on Friday, September 21, 2007. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S11914.)