[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 164 (Friday, October 26, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1428-D1430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Friday, October 26, 2007

[[Page D1428]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S13465-S13495
Measures Introduced: Six bills and one resolution were introduced, as 
follows: S. 2246-2251, and S. Res. 357.
  Pages S13489-90
Measures Reported:
  S. 635, to provide for a research program for remediation of closed 
methamphetamine production laboratories. (S. Rept. No. 110-207)
  S. 1347, to amend the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act to modify the 
date as of which certain tribal land of the Lytton Rancheria of 
California is deemed to be held in trust and to provide for the conduct 
of certain activities on the land. (S. Rept. No. 110-208)
  S. 2248, to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, 
to modernize and streamline the provisions of that Act. (S. Rept. No. 
110-209)
Page S13489
Measures Passed:
  National Veterans Awareness Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 357, 
designating the week of November 11 through November 17, 2007, as 
``National Veterans Awareness Week'' to emphasize the need to develop 
educational programs regarding the contributions of veterans to the 
country.
  Pages S13493-94
  National Be Bear Aware and Wildlife Stewardship Month: Senate agreed 
to S. Res. 347, designating May 2008 as ``National Be Bear Aware and 
Wildlife Stewardship Month''.
  Pages S13494-95
  Victims of August 2007 Flooding: Senate agreed to S. Res. 346, 
expressing heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the devastating 
thunderstorms that caused severe flooding during August 2007 in the 
States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, after 
agreeing to the committee amendment, and the following amendment 
proposed thereto:
  Pages S13494-95
  Reid (for Coleman) Amendment No. 3471, to amend the title of the 
resolution.
Page S13495
Measures Indefinitely Postponed:
  Charleston Fallen Firefighters: Senate indefinitely postponed H. Con. 
Res. 172, honoring the life of each of the 9 fallen City of Charleston 
firefighters who lost their lives in Charleston, South Carolina, on 
June 18, 2007.
  Page S13493
  Congressional Gold Medal: Senate indefinitely postponed H.R. 1154, to 
award a congressional gold medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D. 
                                                            Page S13493
Measures Considered:
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act: Senate continued 
consideration of S. 294, to reauthorize Amtrak, agreeing to the 
committee amendments, which will be considered as original text for 
purpose of further amendment, and taking action on the following 
amendments proposed thereto:
  Pages S13466-69
Pending:
  Lautenberg (for Carper) Amendment No. 3454 (to Amendment No. 3452), 
of a perfecting nature.
Page S13466
  Allard Amendment No. 3455, to strike the provisions repealing 
Amtrak's self-sufficiency requirements.
Page S13466
  Bond (for DeMint) Amendment No. 3467, to require Amtrak to disclose 
the Federal subsidy of every ticket sold for transportation on Amtrak. 
                                                        Pages S13466-67
  Bond (for DeMint) Amendment No. 3468, to increase competition in the 
American rail system by allowing any qualified rail operator or 
transportation company to compete for passenger rail service. 
                                                        Pages S13466-67
  Bond (for DeMint) Amendment No. 3469, to clarify the level of detail 
to be included in the modern financial accounting and reporting system 
required under section 203.
Pages S13466-67
  Bond (for DeMint) Amendment No. 3470, to require the Performance 
Improvement Plan to address reaching financial solvency by eliminating 
routes and services that do not make a profit.
Pages S13466-67
  Bond Amendment No. 3464, to amend section 24101 of title 49, United 
States Code, to clarify Amtrak's mission.
Pages S13467-69

[[Page D1429]]


  A motion was entered to close further debate on 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 Friday, 
October 26, 2007, a vote on cloture will occur at to be determined by 
the Majority Leader on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.
Page S13466
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that all first-
degree germane amendments be filed at the desk by 3:30 p.m., on Monday, 
October 29, 2007.
Page S13466
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 4:30 p.m., on Monday, 
October 29, 2007.
Page S13495
State Children's Health Insurance Program: Senate began consideration 
of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 3963, to amend title 
XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's 
Health Insurance Program.
  Page S13492
  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, a vote on cloture will 
occur on Tuesday, October 29, 2007.
Page S13492
  Subsequently, the motion to proceed was withdrawn.
Page S13492
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  P. Robert Fannin, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the Dominican 
Republic.
  Gail Dennise Mathieu, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Namibia.
  Eunice S. Reddick, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Gabonese 
Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation 
as Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe.
  Ronald K. McMullen, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to the State of 
Eritrea.
  Christopher Egan, of Massachusetts, to be Representative of the 
United States of America to the Organization for Economic Cooperation 
and Development, with the rank of Ambassador.
  Robin Renee Sanders, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Federal 
Republic of Nigeria.
  David T. Johnson, of Georgia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs).
  James D. McGee, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Zimbabwe.
  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.
  Paul E. Simons, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Chile.
  Dan Mozena, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Angola.
  Louis John Nigro, Jr., of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Chad.
  Vincent Obsitnik, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Slovak 
Republic.
  Thomas F. Stephenson, of California, to be Ambassador to the 
Portuguese Republic.
  Daniel V. Speckhard, of Wisconsin, to be Ambassador to Greece.
  George E. Pataki, of New York, to be a Representative of the United 
States of America to the Sixty-second Session of the General Assembly 
of the United Nations.
  Kelly G. Knight, of Kentucky, to be an Alternate Representative of 
the United States of America to the Sixty-second Session of the General 
Assembly of the United Nations.
  Rodger D. Young, of Michigan, to be an Alternate Representative of 
the United States of America to the Sixty-second Session of the General 
Assembly of the United Nations.
  William H. Frist, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation for a term of three 
years.
  Kenneth Francis Hackett, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation for a term of two 
years.
Pages S13492-93, S13495
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  John H. Gibson, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air 
Force.
  Steven R. Chealander, of Texas, to be a Member of the National 
Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2012.
  Mark V. Rosenker, of Maryland, to be Chairman of the National 
Transportation Safety Board for a term of two years.
Page S13495
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
  Page S13489
Measures Read the First Time:
  Page S13489
Additional Cosponsors:
  Page S13490
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S13490-91
Additional Statements:
  Page S13489
Amendments Submitted:
  Page S13492

[[Page D1430]]

Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 1:47 p.m., 
until 3 p.m. on Monday, October 29, 2007. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S13495.)