[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 186 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1581-D1582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                         Thursday, December 6, 2007

[[Page D1581]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S14807-S15001
Measures Introduced: Fourteen bills and five resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2419-2432, and S. Res. 390-394. 
                                                        Pages S14847-48
Measures Reported:
  S. 1245, to reform mutual aid agreements for the National Capitol 
Region. (S. Rept. No. 110-237)
Page S14847
Measures Passed:
  Temporary Tax Relief Act: By 88 yeas to 5 nays (Vote No. 415), Senate 
passed H.R. 3996, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend 
alternative minimum tax relief, after striking all after the enacting 
clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following amendment proposed 
thereto:
  Pages S14835-38
Adopted:
  Baucus Amendment No. 3804, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                        Pages S14835-38
   During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 46 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 414), 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 S14809-14
  Senator Reid entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which the 
motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of 
the bill (listed above) failed.
Page S14814
  Everglades National Park 60th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
392, recognizing the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park. 
                                                        Pages S14998-99
  Omaha, Nebraska Westroads Mall Tragedy: Senate agreed to S. Res. 393, 
expressing the condolences of the Senate to those affected by the 
tragic events of December 5, 2007, at Westroads Mall in Omaha, 
Nebraska.
  Page S14999
  National Cancer Research Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 394, 
recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the American 
Association for Cancer Research and declaring the month of May 2007 as 
National Cancer Research Month.
  Pages S14999-S15000
  National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External 
Defibrillator Awareness Week: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions was discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 
54, supporting the designation of a week as ``National Cardiopulmonary 
Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week'', 
and the resolution was then agreed to.
  Page S15000
  Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund: Senate passed H.R. 4118, to exclude from 
gross income payments from the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to the 
victims of the tragic event at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State 
University, clearing the measure for the President.
  Page S15000
  Emancipation Hall: Senate passed H.R. 3315, to provide that the great 
hall of the Capitol Visitor Center shall be known as Emancipation Hall, 
clearing the measure for the President.
  Page S15000
House Messages:
Higher Education Act: Senate concurred in the amendment of the House of 
Representatives to S. 2371, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 
to make technical corrections, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                            Page S14827
Charlie W. Norwood Living Organ Donation Act: Senate concurred in the 
amendments of the House of Representatives to the Senate amendment to 
H.R. 710, to amend the National Organ Transplant Act to provide that 
criminal penalties do not apply to paired donations of human kidneys, 
clearing the measure for the President.
  Pages S14827-29
Farm Bill Extension Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that there be a limitation of 20 first-degree 
amendments per side to H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of 
agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012; that the amendments be 
from the original list of amendments already agreed to on Wednesday, 
November 14, 2007; that all other provisions of the

[[Page D1582]]

previous agreement continue in effect, and that managers amendments 
cleared by both managers not be counted toward the 20 first-degree 
amendments; provided further, that the vote on the motion to invoke 
cloture on Harkin Amendment No. 3500 to H.R. 2419, be delayed to occur 
at a later time to be determined by the Majority Leader after 
consultation with the Republican Leader.
  Page S14838
Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act House 
Message--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing 
that at approximately 9 a.m., on Friday, December 7, 2007, Senate begin 
consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 6, to move the 
United States toward greater energy independence and security, to 
increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers 
from price gouging, to increase the energy efficiency of products, 
buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse 
gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance 
of the Federal Government, notwithstanding the receipt of the papers 
from the House of Representatives; that the Majority Leader be 
immediately recognized to move to concur in the House amendment and to 
file cloture on that motion; that there be 20 minutes of debate equally 
divided on the Majority Leader's motion to be followed by a cloture 
vote on that motion; provided further, that no other motions or 
amendments be in order prior to that vote.
  Pages S14838, S14839
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Ed Schafer, of North Dakota, to be Secretary of Agriculture.
  Ricardo H. Hinojosa, of Texas, to be a Member of the United States 
Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2013.
  Ricardo H. Hinojosa, of Texas, to be Chair of the United States 
Sentencing Commission.
  Michael E. Horowitz, of Maryland, to be a Member of the United States 
Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2013.
  Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., of Missouri, to be United States District 
Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.
  William E. Smith, of Rhode Island, to be United States Circuit Judge 
for the First Circuit.
  George W. Venables, of California, to be United States Marshal for 
the Southern District of California for the term of four years.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard.
Page S15001
Messages from the House:
  Page S14843
Measures Referred:
  Page S14843
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
  Page S14843
Executive Communications:
  Pages S14843-45
Petitions and Memorials:
  Pages S14845-47
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S14847
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S14848-49
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S14849-58
Additional Statements:
  Pages S14841-43
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S14858-S14998
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Page S14998
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S14998
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--415) 
                                                   Pages S14814, S14838
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:17 p.m., 
until 9 a.m. on Friday, December 7, 2007. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S15000.)