[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 190 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1610-D1613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                       Wednesday, December 12, 2007

[[Page D1610]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S15157-S15378
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and two resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2452-2462, and S. Res. 402-403.
  Pages S15233-34
Measures Reported:
  S. 506, to improve efficiency in the Federal Government through the 
use of high-performance green buildings, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-241)
  S. 1429, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize the 
provision of technical assistance to small public water systems, with 
an amendment. (S. Rept. No. 110-242)
  Report to accompany S. 1785, to amend the Clean Air Act to establish 
deadlines by which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency shall issue a decision on whether to grant certain waivers of 
preemption under that Act. (S. Rept. No. 110-243)
  S. 781, to extend the authority of the Federal Trade Commission to 
collect Do-Not-Call Registry fees to fiscal years after fiscal year 
2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 
110-244)
  S. 1965, to protect children from cybercrimes, including crimes by 
online predators, to enhance efforts to identify and eliminate child 
pornography, and to help parents shield their children from material 
that is inappropriate for minors, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-
245)
  S. 2096, to amend the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act to eliminate the 
automatic removal of telephone numbers registered on the Federal ``do-
not-call'' registry, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
(S. Rept. No. 110-246)
  S. 2004, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish epilepsy 
centers of excellence in the Veterans Health Administration of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. (S. Rept. No. 110-247)
  S. 911, to amend the Public Health Service Act to advance medical 
research and treatments into pediatric cancers, ensure patients and 
families have access to the current treatments and information 
regarding pediatric cancers, establish a population-based national 
childhood cancer database, and promote public awareness of pediatric 
cancers, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1916, to amend the Public Health Service Act to modify the program 
for the sanctuary system for surplus chimpanzees by terminating the 
authority for the removal of chimpanzees from the system for research 
purposes, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                            Page S15233
Measures Passed:
  Boys Town 90th Anniversary Celebration: Senate agreed to S. Res. 403, 
congratulating Boys Town on its 90th anniversary celebration. 
                                                        Pages S15372-73
  National Capital Region Mutual Aid Agreements: Senate passed S. 1245, 
to reform mutual aid agreements for the National Capital Region. 
                                                            Page S15373
  Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act: Senate passed H.R. 4343, 
to amend title 49, United States Code, to modify age standards for 
pilots engaged in commercial aviation operations, clearing the measure 
for the President.
  Page S15373
  Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act: Senate passed S. 2271, to 
authorize State and local governments to divest assets in companies 
that conduct business operations in Sudan, to prohibit United States 
Government contracts with such companies, after agreeing to the 
following amendment proposed thereto:
  Pages S15373-77
  Harkin (for Dodd/Shelby) Amendment No. 3846, of a perfecting nature. 
                                                            Page S15375
  Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act: Senate passed H.R. 
3997, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief 
and protections for military personnel, after agreeing to the following 
amendments proposed thereto:
  Pages S15377-78
  Harkin (for Baucus/Grassley) Amendment No. 3847, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief and protections to 
military personnel.
Page S15378
  Harkin (for Baucus) Amendment No. 3848, to amend the title. 
                                                            Page S15378

[[Page D1611]]


  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that if Senate 
receives from the House of Representatives a message on H.R. 3997 with 
an amendment that is not germane to the Senate amendment, or the 
underlying bill, that the bill and its amendments be referred to the 
Committee on Finance.
                                                            Page S15378
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 S15179-S15224
                                                               Adopted:
  Reid (for McConnell) Amendment No. 3803 (to Amendment No. 3500), to 
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the tax 
treatment of horses.
                                                            Page S15218
  Harkin (for Kennedy/Durbin) Amendment No. 3845 (to Amendment No. 
3539), of a perfecting nature.
                                                            Page S15223
  Salazar (for Durbin) Amendment No. 3539 (to Amendment No. 3500), to 
provide a termination date for the conduct of certain inspections and 
the issuance of certain regulations.
                                                        Pages S15223-24
                                                              Rejected:
  By 37 yeas to 58 nays (Vote No. 418), Thune (for Gregg) Amendment No. 
3671 (to Amendment No. 3500), to strike the section requiring the 
establishment of a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. 
                                                        Pages S15179-82
  By 39 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 419), Thune (for Gregg) Amendment No. 
3672 (to Amendment No. 3500), to strike a provision relating to market 
loss assistance for asparagus producers.
                                                            Page S15182
  By 19 yeas to 75 nays (Vote No. 420), Thune (for Alexander) Amendment 
No. 3551 (to Amendment No. 3500), to increase funding for the 
Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, with an offset. 
                                                Pages S15183-89, S15216
  By 14 yeas to 79 nays (Vote No. 421), Thune (for Alexander) Amendment 
No. 3553 (to Amendment No. 3500), to limit the tax credit for small 
wind energy property expenditures to property placed in service in 
connection with a farm or rural small business. 
                                             Pages S15183-89, S15216-17
  By 35 yeas to 58 nays (Vote No. 423), Thune (for Sessions) Modified 
Amendment No. 3596 (to Amendment No. 3500), to amend the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a pilot program under which 
agricultural producers may establish and contribute to tax-exempt farm 
savings accounts in lieu of obtaining federally subsidized crop 
insurance or noninsured crop assistance, to provide for contributions 
to such accounts by the Secretary of Agriculture, to specify the 
situations in which amounts may be paid to producers from such 
accounts, and to limit the total amount of such distributions to a 
producer during a taxable year.
Pages S15218-20, S15222
Withdrawn:
  Gregg Amendment No. 3825 (to Amendment No. 3673), to change the 
enactment date.
Pages S15211-16
  By 41 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 422), Thune (for Gregg) Amendment No. 
3673 (to Amendment No. 3500), to improve women's access to health care 
services in rural areas and provide improved medical care by reducing 
the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of 
obstetrical and gynecological services. (A unanimous-consent agreement 
was reached providing that the amendment, having failed to achieve 60 
affirmative votes, be withdrawn).
Pages S15189-95, S15217-18
  Chambliss (for Coburn) Amendment No. 3632 (to Amendment No. 3500), to 
modify a provision relating to the Environmental Quality Incentive 
Program.
Pages S15179, S15220-22
Pending:
  Harkin Amendment No. 3500, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                            Page S15179
  Harkin (for Dorgan/Grassley) Modified Amendment No. 3695 (to 
Amendment No. 3500), to strengthen payment limitations and direct the 
savings to increase funding for certain programs. 
                                                Pages S15179, S15203-11
  Brown Amendment No. 3819 (to Amendment No. 3500), to increase funding 
for critical Farm Bill programs and improve crop insurance. 
                                                            Page S15179
  Klobuchar Amendment No. 3810 (to Amendment No. 3500), to improve the 
adjusted gross income limitation and use the savings to provide 
additional funding for certain programs and reduce the Federal deficit.
                                                            Page S15179
  Chambliss (for Cornyn) Amendment No. 3687 (to Amendment No. 3500), to 
prevent duplicative payments for agricultural disaster assistance 
already covered by the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund. 
                                                            Page S15179
  Chambliss (for Coburn) Modified Amendment No. 3807 (to Amendment No. 
3500), to ensure the priority of the farm bill remains farmers by 
eliminating wasteful Department of Agriculture spending on golf 
courses, junkets, cheese centers, and aging barns. 
                                                   Pages S15179, S15222
  Chambliss (for Coburn) Amendment No. 3530 (to Amendment No. 3500), to 
limit the distribution to deceased individuals, and estates of those 
individuals, of certain agricultural payments.
Page S15179
  Salazar Amendment No. 3616 (to Amendment No. 3500), to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of

[[Page D1612]]

1986 to provide incentives for the production of all cellulosic 
biofuels.
Page S15179
  Thune (for McConnell) Amendment No. 3821 (to Amendment No. 3500), to 
promote the nutritional health of school children, with an offset. 
                                                            Page S15179
  Craig Amendment No. 3640 (to Amendment No. 3500), to prohibit the 
involuntary acquisition of farmland and grazing land by Federal, State, 
and local governments for parks, open space, or similar purposes. 
                                                            Page S15179
  Thune (for Roberts/Brownback) Amendment No. 3549 (to Amendment No. 
3500), to modify a provision relating to regulations.
Page S15179
  Domenici Amendment No. 3614 (to Amendment No. 3500), to reduce our 
Nation's dependency foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and 
alternative energy resources.
Page S15179
  Thune (for Gregg) Amendment No. 3674 (to Amendment No. 3500), to 
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude charges of 
indebtedness on principal residences from gross income.
Page S15179
  Thune (for Gregg) Amendment No. 3822 (to Amendment No. 3500), to 
provide nearly $1,000,000,000 in critical home heating assistance to 
low-income families and senior citizens for the 2007-2008 winter 
season, and reduce the Federal deficit by eliminating wasteful farm 
subsidies.
Pages S15179, S15195-S15203
  Thune (for Grassley/Kohl) Amendment No. 3823 (to Amendment No. 3500), 
to provide for the review of agricultural mergers and acquisitions by 
the Department of Justice.
Page S15179
  Thune (for Stevens) Amendment No. 3569 (to Amendment No. 3500), to 
make commercial fishermen eligible for certain operating loans. 
                                                            Page S15179
  Thune (for Bond) Amendment No. 3771 (to Amendment No. 3500), to amend 
title 7, United States Code, to include provisions relating to 
rulemaking.
Page S15179
  Tester Amendment No. 3666 (to Amendment No. 3500), to modify the 
provision relating to unlawful practices under the Packers and 
Stockyards Act.
Page S15179
  Schumer Amendment No. 3720 (to Amendment No. 3500), to improve crop 
insurance and use resulting savings to increase funding for certain 
conservation programs.
Page S15179
  Sanders Amendment No. 3826 (to Amendment No. 3822), to provide for 
payments under subsections (a) through (e) of section 2604 of the Low-
Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, and restore supplemental 
agricultural disaster assistance from the Agricultural Disaster Relief 
Trust Fund.
Page S15179
  Wyden Amendment No. 3736 (to Amendment No. 3500), to modify a 
provision relating to bioenergy crop transition assistance. 
                                                            Page S15179
  Harkin/Kennedy Amendment 3830 (to Amendment No. 3500), relative to 
public safety officers.
Pages S15179, S15222
  Harkin/Murkowski Amendment No. 3639 (to Amendment No. 3500), to 
improve nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold in schools. 
                                                            Page S15183
  Harkin Amendment No. 3844 (to Amendment No. 3830), relative to public 
safety officers.
Page S15223
   A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at 8:30 a.m., on Thursday, December 13, 2007, 
with the time until 9:15 a.m., be equally divided and controlled for 
debate only between the two Leaders, or their designees, and that 
Senate vote on Harkin (for Dorgan/Grassley) Modified Amendment No. 3695 
(to Amendment No. 3500).
Page S15378
Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act--House 
Message: Senate resumed consideration of the House amendments to the 
Senate amendments 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, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto:
                                                            Page S15218
  Pending:
  Senator Reid motion to concur in the amendments of the House to the 
Senate amendments to the bill.
Page S15218
  Senator Reid entered a motion to concur in the amendment of the House 
to the Senate amendment to the text.
Page S15218
  Reid Amendment No. 3841 (to the House amendment to the Senate 
amendment to the text), in the nature of a substitute.
Page S15218
  Reid Amendment No. 3842 (to Amendment No. 3841), to change the 
enactment date.
Page S15218
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to concur 
in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the text with an 
amendment with reference to 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 Tuesday, December 11, 
2007, a vote on cloture will occur on Thursday, December 13, 2007, upon 
disposition of Harkin (for Dorgan/

[[Page D1613]]

Grassley) Modified Amendment No. 3695 (to Amendment No. 3500), 
following 2 minutes of debate.
Page S15218
Appointments:
  Congressional Award Board: The Chair, on behalf of the Majority 
Leader, pursuant to Public Law 96-114, as amended, appointed the 
following individual to the Congressional Award Board: Patrick Murphy 
of Washington, D.C.
  And reappointed the following individual to the Congressional Award 
Board: Andrew Ortiz of Arizona.
Page S15372
  China Economic Security Review Commission: The Chair, on behalf of 
the Majority Leader, and after consultation with the ranking members of 
the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on 
Finance, pursuant to Public Law 106-398, appointed the following 
individual as a member of the United States-China Economic Security 
Review Commission: Patrick A. Mulloy of Virginia for a term beginning 
January 1, 2008 and expiring December 31, 2009, vice C. Richard D'Amato 
of Maryland,
  And reappointed the following individual to the United States-China 
Economic Security Review Commission: William A. Reinsch of Maryland for 
a term beginning January 1, 2008 and expiring December 31, 2009. 
                                                            Page S15372
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to 
the Republic of Senegal, and to serve concurrently and without 
additional compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
  Robert F. Cohen, Jr., of West Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal 
Mine Safety and Health Review Commission for a term of six years 
expiring August 30, 2012.
  Harvey E. Johnson, Jr., of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security. 
                                                            Page S15378
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  Harvey E. Johnson, Jr., of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator and 
Chief Operating Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
Department of Homeland Security, which was sent to the Senate on 
September 7, 2007.
Page S15378
Messages from the House:
  Pages S15231-32
Measures Referred:
  Page S15232
Measures Read the First Time:
  Pages S15232, S15378
Executive Communications:
  Pages S15232-33
Petitions and Memorials:
  Page S15233
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S15234-35
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S15235-52
Additional Statements:
  Pages S15228-31
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S15252-S15372
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Page S15372
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S15372
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S15372
Record Votes: Six record votes were taken today. (Total--423) 
                                         Page S15182, S15216-17, S15222
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 9:39 p.m., 
until 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 13, 2007. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S15378.)