[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 178 (Friday, November 16, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1544-D1547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                          Friday, November 16, 2007

[[Page D1544]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S14577-S14661
Measures Introduced: Twenty-four bills and eight resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2376-2399, S.J. Res. 25, S. Res. 385-387, 
and S. Con. Res. 53-56.                                 
  Pages S14618-19
Measures Reported:
  S. 274, to amend chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, to 
clarify the disclosures of information protected from prohibited 
personnel practices, require a statement in nondisclosure policies, 
forms, and agreements that such policies, forms, and agreements conform 
with certain disclosure protections, provide certain authority for the 
Special Counsel, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. 
Rept. No. 110-232)
  S. 2248, to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, 
to modernize and streamline the provisions of that Act, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.                    
Page S14618
Measures Passed:
  Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision and Extension Act: Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs was discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 2761, to extend the Terrorism Insurance Program 
of the Department of the Treasury, and the bill was then passed, after 
agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:   
  Pages S14592-96
  Reid (for Dodd/Shelby) Amendment No. 3800, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                 
Page S14592
  Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act: Senate 
passed H.R. 50, to reauthorize the African Elephant Conservation Act 
and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, clearing the 
measure for the President.                              
  Pages S14655-56
  Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act: Senate passed H.R. 
465, to reauthorize the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, 
clearing the measure for the President.                     
  Page S14656
  Larry S. Pierce Post Office: Senate passed S. 2110, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 427 North 
Street in Taft, California, as the ``Larry S. Pierce Post Office''. 
                                                            Page S14656
  Paul E. Gillmor Post Office Building: Senate passed S. 2174, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
175 South Monroe Street in Tiffin, Ohio, as the ``Paul E. Gillmor Post 
Office Building''.                                         
  Pages S14656
  Beatrice E. Watson Post Office Building: Senate passed S. 2290, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
16731 Santa Ana Avenue in Fontana, California, as the ``Beatrice E. 
Watson Post Office Building''.                              
  Page S14656
  Louisiana Armed Services Veterans Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 
2089, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 701 Loyola Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the 
``Louisiana Armed Services Veterans Post Office'', clearing the measure 
for the President.                                          
  Page S14656
  Corporal Christopher E. Esckelson Post Office Building: Senate passed 
H.R. 2276, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 203 North Main Street in Vassar, Michigan, as the 
``Corporal Christopher E. Esckelson Post Office Building'', clearing 
the measure for the President.                              
  Page S14656
  Nate DeTample Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3297, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
950 West Trenton Avenue in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, as the ``Nate 
DeTample Post Office Building'', clearing the measure for the 
President.                                                  
  Page S14656
  Dennis P. Collins Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3307, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
570 Broadway in Bayonne, New Jersey, as the ``Dennis P. Collins Post 
Office Building'', clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                            Page S14656
  Charles H. Hendrix Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3518, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
1430 South

[[Page D1545]]

Highway 29 in Cantonment, Florida, as the ``Charles H. Hendrix Post 
Office Building'', clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                            Page S14656
  Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Weaver Post Office Building: Senate 
passed H.R. 3530, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1400 Highway 41 North in Inverness, Florida, as the 
``Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Weaver Post Office Building'', clearing 
the measure for the President.                              
  Page S14656
  Lance Corporal David K. Fribley Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 3308, 
to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located 
at 216 East Main Street in Atwood, Indiana, as the ``Lance Corporal 
David K. Fribley Post Office'', clearing the measure for the President.
                                                            Page S14656
  Corporal Stephen R. Bixler Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 3325, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
235 Mountain Road in Suffield, Connecticut, as the ``Corporal Stephen 
R. Bixler Post Office'', clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                        Pages S14656-57
  Philip A. Baddour, Sr. Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 3382, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
200 North William Street in Goldsboro, North Carolina, as the ``Philip 
A. Baddour, Sr. Post Office'', clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                        Pages S14656-57
  Michael W. Schragg Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3446, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
202 East Michigan Avenue in Marshall, Michigan, as the ``Michael W. 
Schragg Post Office Building'', clearing the measure for the President.
                                                        Pages S14656-57
  Wallace S. Hartsfield Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3572, 
to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located 
at 4320 Blue Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri, as the ``Wallace S. 
Hartsfield Post Office Building'', clearing the measure for the 
President.                                              
  Pages S14656-57
  John ``Marty'' Thiels Southpark Station: Senate passed S. 2272, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service known as the 
Southpark Station in Alexandria, Louisiana, as the John ``Marty'' 
Thiels Southpark Station, in honor and memory of Thiels, a Louisiana 
postal worker who was killed in the line of duty on October 4, 2007. 
                                                        Pages S14656-57
  National Methamphetamine Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
366, designating November 2007 as ``National Methamphetamine Awareness 
Month'', to increase awareness of methamphetamine abuse.    
  Page S14657
  Soviet Jewish Freedom and Freedom Sunday Rally for Soviet Jewry: 
Senate agreed to S. Res. 367, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 
mass movement for Soviet Jewish freedom and the 20th anniversary of the 
Freedom Sunday rally for Soviet Jewry on the National Mall. 
                                                        Pages S14657-58
  San Francisco Bay Oil Spill Volunteers: Senate agreed to S. Res. 385, 
honoring those who have volunteered to assist in the cleanup of the 
November 7, 2007, oil spill in San Francisco Bay.           
  Page S14658
  Senate Legal Counsel: Senate agreed to S. Res. 386, to authorize 
testimony and legal representation in State of Nebraska v. Pamir J. 
Safi.                                                       
  Page S14658
  Jordan River and the Dead Sea: Senate agreed to S. Res. 387, 
expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the degradation of the 
Jordan River and the Dead Sea and welcoming cooperation between the 
peoples of Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority. 
                                                        Pages S14658-59
  Great White Fleet Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 55, 
commemorating the centennial anniversary of the sailing of the Navy's 
``Great White Fleet'', launched by President Theodore Roosevelt on 
December 16, 1907, from Hampton Roads, Virginia, and returning there on 
February 22, 1909.                                      
  Pages S14659-60
  Burma and Democracy: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 56, encouraging 
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to take action to ensure a 
peaceful transition to democracy in Burma.                  
  Page S14660
Measures Considered:
Farm Bill Extension Act: Senate continued consideration of H.R. 2419, 
to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal 
year 2012, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                            Page S14592
Pending:
  Harkin Amendment No. 3500, in the nature of a substitute.
  Reid (for Dorgan/Grassley) Amendment No. 3508 (to Amendment No. 
3500), to strengthen payment limitations and direct the savings to 
increased funding for certain programs.
  Reid Amendment No. 3509 (to Amendment No. 3508), to change the 
enactment date.
  Reid Amendment No. 3510 (to the language proposed to be stricken by 
Amendment No. 3500), to change the enactment date.
  Reid Amendment No. 3511 (to Amendment No. 3510), to change the 
enactment date.
  Motion to commit the bill to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry, with instructions to report back forthwith, with Reid 
Amendment No. 3512.

[[Page D1546]]


  Reid Amendment No. 3512 (to the instructions of the motion to commit 
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, with 
instructions), to change the enactment date.
  Reid Amendment No. 3513 (to the instructions of the motion to 
recommit), to change the enactment date.
  Reid Amendment No. 3514 (to Amendment No. 3513), to change the 
enactment date.
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 55 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 412), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on Harkin Amendment No. 
3500 (listed above).                                        
Page S14592
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations--Cloture: Senate continued 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2340, 
making emergency supplemental appropriations for the Department of 
Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. 
                                                        Pages S14578-91
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 45 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 410), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to 
consideration of the bill.                              
Pages S14590-91
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations--Cloture:
  Senate continued consideration of the motion to proceed to 
consideration of H.R. 4156, making emergency supplemental 
appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2008.                                     
Pages S14591-92
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 53 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 411), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to 
consideration of the bill.                              
Pages S14591-92
Authority for Committees--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that, notwithstanding the adjournment of the Senate, 
all committees be authorized to file legislative and executive reports 
on Tuesday, November 27, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.          
  Page S14655
Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the 
adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President 
Pro Tempore, and the Majority and Minority Leader be authorized to make 
appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or 
interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action 
of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.               
  Page S14655
Treaties Approved: The following treaties having passed through their 
various parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of 
the resolution of ratification, upon division, two-thirds of the 
Senators present having voted in the affirmative, the resolutions of 
ratification were agreed to:
  Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Denmark (Treaty Doc. 109-19); 
and
  Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Finland (Treaty Doc. 109-18). 
                                                            Page S14654
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Douglas A. Brook, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy.
  John J. Young, Jr., of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.
  Reed Charles O'Connor, of Texas, to be United States District Judge 
for the Northern District of Texas.
  Robert L. Smolen, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy Administrator for 
Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration.
  Mark D. Gearan, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term 
expiring December 1, 2010.
  Julie Fisher Cummings, of Michigan, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a 
term expiring September 14, 2011.
  Donna N. Williams, of Texas, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term 
expiring October 6, 2009.
  Tom Osborne, of Nebraska, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of 
the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring 
October 6, 2012.
  Alan D. Solomont, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a 
term expiring October 6, 2009.
  Michael W. Hager, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs (Human Resources and Management).
  1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.
  6 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Public 
Health Service.                                 
Pages S14654-55, S14661

[[Page D1547]]

Nomination Received: Senate received the following nomination:
  Larry Woodrow Walther, of Arkansas, to be Director of the Trade and 
Development Agency.                                         
Page S14661
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                            
  Page S14616
Measures Read the First Time:                               
  Page S14616
Executive Communications:                               
  Pages S14616-18
Petitions and Memorials:                                    
  Page S14618
Executive Reports of Committees:                            
  Page S14618
Additional Cosponsors:                                  
  Pages S14619-21
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:             
  Pages S14621-46
Additional Statements:                                  
  Pages S14614-18
Amendments Submitted:                                   
  Pages S14646-54
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                         
  Page S14654
Privileges of the Floor:                                    
  Page S14654
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--412) 
                                                   Pages S14591, S14592
Recess: Senate convened at 8:30 a.m. and recessed at 1:54 p.m., until 9 
a.m. on Tuesday, November 20, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S14661.)