[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D289-D298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, March 13, 2008

[[Page D289]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 70, Budget Resolution.
      Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 316, Adjournment Resolution.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2033-S2197
Measures Introduced: Thirty-three bills and eleven resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2754-2786, S.J. Res. 30, S. Res. 481-489, 
and S. Con. Res. 71.
  Pages S2132-34
Measures Reported:
  S. 694, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue 
regulations to reduce the incidence of child injury and death occurring 
inside or outside of light motor vehicles, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-275)
  S. 1580, to reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, with 
amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-276)
  S. 352, to provide for media coverage of Federal court proceedings, 
with amendments.
Page S2130
Measures Passed:
  Budget Resolution: By 51 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 85), Senate agreed 
to S. Con. Res. 70, setting forth the congressional budget for the 
United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and including the 
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 2010 through 
2013, after taking action on the following amendments proposed there 
to:
  Pages S2036-67, S2069-S2119
Adopted:
  By 99 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 42), Baucus Amendment No. 4160, to 
provide tax relief to middle-class families and small businesses, 
property tax relief to homeowners, relief to those whose homes were 
damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and tax relief to 
America's troops and veterans.
Pages S2036, S2040-41
  Bingaman Amendment No. 4173, to provide additional funding resources 
in fiscal year 2009 for investments in innovation and education in 
order to improve the competitiveness of the United States. 
                                                      Pages S2037 S2042
  By 53 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 44), Conrad Amendment No. 4190, to 
add a deficit-neutral reserve fund for repealing the 1993 rate increase 
for the alternative minimum tax for individuals.
Pages S2037, S2042
  By 51 yeas to 50 nays, Vice President voting yea (Vote No. 47), 
Senate agreed to the motion to reconsider Gregg (for Specter/Craig) 
Amendment No. 4189 (listed above).
Pages S2037, S2043
  By 53 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 51), Conrad Amendment No. 4204, to 
add a deficit-neutral reserve fund for repealing the 1993 increase in 
the income tax on Social Security benefits.
Pages S2037, S2045-46
  By 95 yeas to 4 nays (Vote No. 53), Gregg (for Specter) Amendment No. 
4203, to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health and the 
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Pages S2037, S2046-47
  By 69 yeas to 30 nays (Vote No. 54), Dorgan Amendment No. 4198, to 
increase the Indian Health Service by $1,000,000,000 in fiscal year 
2009.
Pages S2037, S2047
   By 56 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 55), Nelson (FL) Amendment No. 4329, 
to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to improve energy 
efficiency and production.
Pages S2047-48
  Kennedy Amendment No. 4151, to add a deficit-neutral reserve fund for 
increasing federal student loan limits to protect students against 
disruptions in the private credit markets.
Pages S2037, S2049
  Murray (for Lincoln) Amendment No. 4194, to provide the Veterans 
Benefits Administration with additional resources to more effectively 
meet their increasing workload and to better address the unacceptably 
large claims backlog.
Pages S2037, S2049-50

[[Page D290]]


  Sununu Amendment No. 4221, to save lives, promote overall health care 
efficiency, and lower the cost for the delivery of health care services 
by facilitating the deployment and use of electronic prescribing 
technologies by physicians.
Pages S2037, S2050
  Kerry Amendment No. 4332, to promote the modernization of the health 
care system through the adoption of electronic prescribing technology. 
                                                             Page S2050
  By 95 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. 57), Kennedy Amendment No. 4350, to 
increase funding for the Department of Education's English Literacy-
Civics Education State Grant program, with an offset.
Pages S2050-51
  By 54 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 58), Alexander Amendment No. 4222, to 
take $670,000 used by the EEOC in bringing actions against employers 
that require their employees to speak English, and instead use the 
money to teach English to adults through the Department of Education's 
English Literacy/Civics Education State Grant program. 
                                                     Pages S2037, S2051
  By 53 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 59), Menendez Amendment No. 4259, to 
establish a reserve fund for immigration reform and enforcement. 
                                                     Pages S2037, S2052
  By 61 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. 60), Sessions Amendment No. 4231, to 
establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund for border security, 
immigration enforcement, and criminal alien removal programs. 
                                                  Pages S2037, S2052-53
  Conrad (for Pryor) Amendment No. 4181, to add a deficit-neutral 
reserve fund for Science Parks.
Pages S2037, S2054
  Nelson Modified Amendment No. 4212, to create additional jobs and 
make a lasting investment in our national infrastructure by increasing 
fiscal year 2008 infrastructure stimulus funding by designating $3.5 
billion in existing stimulus funding in the resolution as discretionary 
funding.
Pages S2054-55
  Reed Modified Amendment No. 4154, to reduce the energy burden of low-
income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities by 
increasing funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program 
(LIHEAP) by $1.6 billion in fiscal year 2009
Page S2057
  Biden Modified Amendment No. 4164, to increase 2009 funding for the 
COPS program to $1.15 billion, with an offset.
Pages S2058
  Dole Amendment No. 4208, to increase amounts budgeted for States and 
local governments for expenses related to immigration enforcement 
training and support under section 287 (g) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act, with an offset.
Pages S2058-59
  Dodd Amendment No. 4254, to increase funding for the National 
Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
and the Health Resources and Services Administration for autism 
research, education, and early detection with an offset.
Page S2059
  Brown/Stabenow Amendment No. 4155, to improve the training of 
manufacturing workers.
Page S2060
   By 49 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 67), Brownback Amendment No. 4284, 
to provide funds for a Commission on Budgetary Accountability and 
Review of Federal Agencies.
Pages S2060-61
  By 89 yeas to 7 nays (Vote No. 68), Kohl Amendment No. 4197, to 
establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund for a 3-year extension of the 
pilot program for national and State background checks on direct 
patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers. 
                                                         Pages S2061-62
  Reid Amendment No. 4373, to establish a reserve fund for studying the 
effect of cooperation with local law enforcement.
Page S2063
  Conrad (for Enzi) Amendment No. 4214, to establish a deficit-neutral 
reserve fund to terminate certain deductions from mineral revenue 
payments made to States.
Page S2064
  Conrad (for Roberts) Amendment No. 4244, to ensure the viability of 
small businesses by helping them provide to their employees access to 
quality child care.
Page S2064
  Conrad (for Martinez) Amendment No. 4229, to provide a deficit-
neutral reserve fund to provide for State disclosure, through a 
publicly accessible Internet site, of information relating to payments 
made under the State Medicaid program to hospitals, nursing facilities, 
outpatient surgery centers, intermediate care facilities for the 
mentally retarded, institutions for mental disease, or other 
institutional providers and the number of patients treated by such 
providers.
Pages S2064, S2064-65
  Conrad (for Thune) Amendment No. 4269, to provide for a total of 
$99,000,000 in COPS Hot Spots funding, as authorized in the Combat Meth 
Act.
Pages S2064, S2065
  Conrad (for Hatch) Amendment No. 4297, to provide for a reserve fund 
for legislation that funds the traumatic brain injury program. 
                                                     Pages S2064, S2065
  Conrad (for Coleman) Amendment No. 4264, to deny funding for the 
United Nations Durban II Anti-Racism Conference, which has been used as 
a platform to advance anti-Semitism and for this reason opposed by the 
United States and 45 other members of the United Nations General 
Assembly during a vote on December 22, 2007 and direct the savings to 
veterans.
Pages S2064, S2065

[[Page D291]]


  Conrad (for Dole) Amendment No. 4349, to provide the Secretary of 
Agricultural with the necessary funding to effectively address the 
critical community facility infrastructure needs of our rural areas 
across the United States.
Pages S2064, S2065
  Conrad (for Barrasso) Amendment No. 4248, to provide for a deficit-
neutral reserve fund that preserves and promotes Medicare payment 
polices that support rural health care providers.
Pages S2064, S2065
  Conrad (for Grassley/McCaskill) Amendment No. 4261, to reduce waste 
in Department of Defense contracting.
Pages S2064, S2065
  Conrad (for Vitter) Amendment No. 4243, to fully fund authorized 
amounts to implement the Adam Walsh Act that will increase enforcement 
to catch and detain child predators, combat child pornography, and make 
the Internet safer for our children.
Pages S2064, S2065
  Conrad (for Burr) Amendment No. 4153, to develop biodefense medical 
countermeasures by fully funding the Biomedical Advanced Research and 
Development Authority (BARDA) in a fiscally responsible manner. 
                                                     Pages S2064, S2065
  Conrad (for Enzi/Barrasso) Amendment No. 4215, to establish a 
deficit-neutral reserve fund to improve the animal health and disease 
program.
Pages S2064, S2065
  Conrad (for Klobuchar) Amendment No. 4287, to establish a deficit-
neutral reserve fund for implementation of the Yellow Ribbon 
Reintegration Program for members of the National Guard and Reserve. 
                                                     Pages S2064, S2066
  Conrad (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 4148, to increase by $71 million 
the resources available to the Food and Drug Administration in fiscal 
year 2009 for food and drug safety.
Pages S2064, S2066
  Conrad (for Biden) Amendment No. 4166, to increase fiscal year 2009 
funding for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by $100 million, with an 
offset.
Pages S2064, S2066
  Conrad (for Feinstein) Amendment No. 4225, to provide for a total of 
$950,000,000 in outlays for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program 
in fiscal year 2009.
Pages S2064, S2066
  Conrad (for Dodd) Amendment No. 4253, to increase spending for the 
Maternal and Child Health Block Grant by $184,000,000 in fiscal year 
2009, with offset.
Pages S2064, S2066


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page D291, March 13, 2008, the following language appears: 
Conrad (for Klobuchar) Amendment No. 4287, to establish a deficit-
neutral reserve fund for implementation of the Yellow Ribbon 
Reintegration Program for members of the National Guard and 
Reserve. Page S2066 Conrad (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 4148, to 
increase by $71 million the resources available to the Food and 
Drug Administration in fiscal year 2009 for food and drug safety. 
Page S2084 Conrad (for Biden) Amendment No. 4166, to increase 
fiscal year 2009 funding for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by 
$100 million, with an offset. Page S2064 Conrad (for Feinstein) 
Amendment No. 4225, to provide for a total of $950,000,000 in 
outlays for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program in fiscal 
year 2009 Page S2064 Conrad (for Dodd) Amendment No. 4253, to 
increase spending for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant by 
$184,000,000 in fiscal year 2009, with an offset. Page S2064
  
  The online Record was corrected by deleting these items.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

  Conrad (for Klobuchar) Amendment No. 4286, to provide in the deficit-
neutral reserve fund for America's veterans and wounded servicemembers 
and for a post 9/11 GI bill for access of rural veterans to health care 
and other services.
Pages S2064, S2066
  Conrad (for Pryor/Kennedy) Amendment No. 4183, to add a deficit-
neutral reserve fund to improve student achievement during secondary 
education, including middle school completion, high school graduation 
and preparing students for higher education and the workforce. 
                                                     Pages S2064, S2066
  Conrad (for Lautenberg/Kerry) Amendment No. 4210, to include rail 
(including high-speed passenger rail), airport, and seaport projects in 
the eligibility requirements of the Deficit Neutral Reserve Fund for 
Investments in America's Infrastructure.
Pages S2064, S2066
  Conrad (for Dorgan) Amendment No. 4199, to provide for the use of the 
deficit-neutral reserve fund for tax relief to reinstate and expand the 
charitable IRA rollover.
Pages S2064, S2066
  Conrad (for Dorgan) Amendment No. 4249, to increase the number of 
organ donations by funding the programs authorized by the Organ 
Donation and Recovery Improvement Act of 2004.
Pages S2064, S2066
  Conrad (for Nelson (FL)) Amendment No. 4285, to make funds available 
to ensure that Survivor Benefit Plan annuities are not reduced by the 
amount of veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation received by 
military families.
Pages S2064, S2066
  Conrad (for Reid) Amendment No. 4162, to establish a deficit-neutral 
reserve fund to provide for the acceleration of the phased-in 
eligibility of members of the Armed Forces for concurrent receipt of 
retired pay and veterans' disability compensation.
Pages S2064, S2067
  Conrad (for Lieberman/Collins) Amendment No. 4211, to increase 
funding for operations and management of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, with an offset.
Pages S2064, S2066-67

[[Page D292]]


  Conrad (for Carper/Coburn) Amendment No. 4176, to provide for a 
deficit-neutral reserve fund for the increased use of recovery audits. 
                                                     Pages S2064, S2067
  Conrad (for Casey) Amendment No. 4172, to include in the deficit-
neutral reserve funds for America's veterans and wounded servicemembers 
and for a post 9/11 GI bill provision for the continuing payment to 
members of the Armed Forces who are retired or separated from the Armed 
Forces due to a combat-related injury after September 11, 2001, of 
bonuses that such members were entitled to before the retirement or 
separation and would continue to be entitled to were such members not 
retired or separated.
Pages S2064, S2067
  Conrad (for Stabenow/Voinovich) Amendment No. 4219, to provide for 
the use of the deficit-neutral reserve fund for tax relief to encourage 
struggling companies to invest in new equipment and stimulate the 
United States economy by allowing the use of accumulated alternative 
minimum tax and research and development credits in lieu of bonus 
depreciation.
Pages S2064, S2067
  Conrad (for Clinton/Warner) Amendment No. 4227, to increase funding 
for the Administration on Aging by the authorized level of $53,000,000 
in fiscal year 2009 for the Lifespan Respite Care Act, which provides 
much-needed respite care to our Nation's dedicated family caregivers 
for the elderly and disabled.
Pages S2064, S2067
  Conrad (for Casey) Amendment No. 4352, to add a deficit-neutral 
reserve fund for the protection and safety of the Nation's food supply.
                                                     Pages S2064, S2067
  Conrad (for Smith/Clinton) Amendment No. 4364, to provide a deficit-
neutral reserve fund to provide for a demonstration project regarding 
Medicaid coverage of low-income HIV-infected individuals. 
                                                     Pages S2064, S2069
  Conrad (for Lincoln/Snowe) Amendment No. 4195, to provide for a 
deficit-neutral reserve fund for reducing the income threshold for the 
refundable child tax credit to $10,000 for taxable years 2009 and 2010 
with no inflation adjustment to ensure that low-income working families 
receive the benefit of such credit.
Pages S2064, S2069
   By 90 yeas to 5 nays (Vote No. 70), Boxer Modified Amendment No. 
4368, to increase funding for the Department of Justice for the 
vigorous enforcement of laws protecting children.
Pages S2069-70
   Conrad (for Brown) Amendment No. 4252, to increase Federal 
assistance to food banks.
Page S2078
  Conrad (for Chambliss) Amendment No. 4230, to increase fiscal year 
2009 funding for the Byrne/Justice Assistance Grant program to 
$906,000,000, with an offset.
Page S2078
  Conrad (for Obama) Amendment No. 4330, to provide an additional $5 
million to the military department's respective Boards for Correction 
of Military Records to expedite review of cases in which servicemembers 
with combat-related psychological injuries (such as PTSD) or closed 
head injuries (such as TBIs) were administered discharges for 
personality disorders or other discharges resulting in a loss of 
benefits or care and seek a correction of records or upgraded 
discharge.
Page S2078
  Conrad (for Thune) Modified Amendment No. 4268, to provide 
$20,000,000 in fiscal year 2009 to improve safety by increasing funds 
for tribal justice and law enforcement, with an offset.
Page S2078
  Conrad (for Bunning/Enzi) Amendment No. 4186, to provide a point of 
order against any budget resolution that fails to achieve an on-budget 
balance within 5 years.
Pages S2078, S2078-79
  Conrad (for Alexander) Amendment No. 4311, to improve education in 
the United States by providing $300,000,000 for the Teacher Incentive 
Fund to support State and local school district efforts to reward 
outstanding teaching and school leadership by improving compensation 
programs for teachers who have a demonstrated record of improving 
student academic achievement, teachers who teach in high need subjects 
such as mathematics and science, and teachers who teach in high need, 
low income schools.
Pages S2078, S2079
  Conrad (for Gregg) Amendment No. 4357, to create a point of order 
against using reconciliation to create new mandatory programs and to 
place a 20% limit on new direct spending in reconciliation legislation.
                                                     Pages S2078, S2079
  Conrad (for Clinton) Amendment No. 4361, to increase funding for the 
Department of Agriculture by $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2009 to provide 
public access to information about the sources of foods distributed 
through the school lunch program and other nutrition programs under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture.
Pages S2078, S2079
  Conrad (for Bingaman) Amendment No. 4370, to provide for a deficit-
neutral reserve fund to make improvements to ensure access to the 
Medicare program for low-income senior citizens and other low-income 
Medicare beneficiaries.
Pages S2078, S2079
  Conrad (for Dorgan) Amendment No. 4200, to provide for the use of the 
deficit-neutral reserve fund to invest in clean energy and preserve the 
environment for the 5-year extension of energy tax incentives. 
                                                     Pages S2078, S2079
  Conrad (for Smith/Lincoln) Amendment No. 4334, to increase the 
funding levels for programs carried out under the Older Americans Act 
of 1965

[[Page D293]]

by $184,000,000 to keep pace with inflation and increasing numbers of 
older Americans, and comply with minimum wage requirements for the 
programs.
Pages S2078, S2079
  Conrad (for Snowe) Modified Amendment No. 4376, to provide the use of 
the deficit-neutral reserve fund for tax relief for cafeteria plans. 
                                                     Pages S2078, S2079
  Conrad (for Allard) Amendment No. 4159, to ensure that the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services has continued authority to prevent fraud 
and protect the integrity of the Medicaid program and SCHIP and to 
reduce inappropriate spending under those programs. 
                                                     Pages S2078, S2079
  Conrad (for Baucus) Amendment No. 4333, to express the sense of the 
Senate that Medicaid administrative regulations should not undermine 
Medicaid's role in our Nation's health care system, cap Federal 
Medicaid spending, or otherwise shift Medicaid cost burdens to State or 
local governments and their taxpayers and health providers, or 
undermine the Federal guarantee of health insurance coverage Medicaid 
provides.
Pages S2078, S2079-80
  Conrad (for Kohl) Amendment No. 4255, to increase fiscal year 2009 
funding for Juvenile Justice Programs to $560 million, with an offset. 
                                                     Pages S2078, S2080
  Conrad (for Hatch) Amendment No. 4283, to express the sense of the 
Senate that none of the funds recommended by this resolution, or 
appropriated or otherwise made available under any other Act, to the 
USPTO shall be diverted, redirected, transferred, or used for any other 
purpose than for which such funds were intended.
Pages S2078, S2080
  Conrad (for DeMint) Amendment No. 4345, to provide for a deficit-
neutral reserve fund for education reform.
Pages S2079, S2080
  Conrad (for Cardin) Amendment No. 4220, to increase funding for water 
quality research programs at the United States Geological Survey, with 
an offset.
Pages S2078, S2080
   By 70 yeas to 27 nays (Vote No. 80), Boxer Amendment No. 4379, to 
facilitate coverage of pregnant women in SCHIP.
Pages S2082-83
  Conrad (for Leahy) Modified Amendment No. 4270, to add a deficit-
neutral reserve fund for legislation that improves the participation of 
naturalized citizens in the United States political process, 
strengthens national security by improving and expediting FBI security 
name checks, and reduces the backlog of naturalization applications for 
individuals seeking to become naturalized citizens.
Page S2083
  Conrad (for Gregg) Amendment No. 4302, to provide for a reserve fund 
for legislation to provide access, coverage, and choice for every 
American to quality and affordable care.
Page S2083
  Conrad (for Clinton) Amendment No. 4300, to provide for a reserve 
fund for legislation to establish a program, including medical 
monitoring and treatment, addressing the adverse health impacts linked 
to the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Page S2083
  Conrad (for Baucus) Amendment No. 4331, to add a deficit-neutral 
reserve fund to ban abusive and inappropriate sales and marketing 
tactics used by private insurers offering Medicare Advantage and 
prescription drug plans.
Pages S2083, S2083-84
  Conrad (for Collins) Modified Amendment No. 4209, to provide for 
renewable energy and energy efficiency tax credits with offsets. 
                                                     Pages S2083, S2084
  Conrad (for Specter/Casey) Amendment No. 4375, to express the sense 
of the Senate regarding Philadelphia Housing Authority's ``Moving to 
Work Agreement'' with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development.
Pages S2083, S2084
  Conrad (for Bunning) Amendment No. 4307, to permanently extend the 
adoption tax credit and the exclusion for adoption assistance programs 
included in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 
2001.
Pages S2083, S2084
  Conrad (for Graham/DeMint) Amendment No. 4371, to express the sense 
of the Senate regarding a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution 
of the United States.
Pages S2083, S2084
   By 73 yeas to 23 nays (Vote No. 83), Biden Amendment No. 4245, to 
restore full funding for the international affairs budget, in support 
of the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, nuclear proliferation, 
foreign assistance, fighting global AIDS, promoting sustainable 
development, and other efforts, with an offset.
Page S2086
   By 73 yeas to 23 nays (Vote No. 84), Vitter Amendment No. 4299, 
expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need for comprehensive 
legislation to legalize the importation of prescription drugs from 
highly industrialized countries with safe pharmaceutical 
infrastructures.
Pages S2086-87
  Conrad (for Barrasso) Amendment No. 4206, to provide funding to 
enable certain individuals and entities to comply with the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973.
Page S2087
Rejected:
  By 47 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 43), Graham Modified Amendment No. 
4170, to protect families, family farms and small businesses by 
extending the income tax rate structure, raising the death tax 
exemption to $5,000,000 and reducing the maximum death tax rate to no 
more than 35 percent; to keep education affordable by extending the 
college tuition deduction; and to protect senior citizens from higher

[[Page D294]]

taxes on their retirement income, maintain U.S. financial market 
competitiveness, and promote economic growth by extending the lower tax 
rates on dividends and capital gains.
Pages S2036-37, S2041-42
   By 49 yeas to 50 nays (Vote No. 45), Gregg (for Specter/Craig) 
Amendment No. 4189, to repeal section 13203 of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1993 by restoring the Alternative Minimum Tax 
rates that had been in effect prior thereto.
Pages S2037, S2042-43
   By 49 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 46), Senate failed to table the 
motion to reconsider the vote by which Gregg (for Specter/Craig) 
Amendment No. 4189 (listed above) was rejected by 49 yeas to 50 nays. 
                                                             Page S2043
   By 49 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 48), Gregg (for Specter/Craig) 
Amendment No. 4189, to repeal section 13203 of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1993 by restoring the Alternative Minimum Tax 
rates that had been in effect prior thereto, upon reconsideration. 
                                                     Pages S2037, S2043
   By 38 yeas to 62 nays (Vote No. 49), Conrad (for Salazar) Modified 
Amendment No. 4196, to reform the estate tax to avoid subjecting 
thousands of families, family businesses, and family farms and ranches 
to the estate tax.
Pages S2037, S2044
  By 50 yeas to 50 nays (Vote No. 50), Kyl Amendment No. 4191, to 
protect small businesses, family ranches and farms from the Death Tax 
by providing a $5 million exemption, a low rate for smaller estates and 
a maximum rate no higher than 35 percent.
Pages S2037, S2044
  By 47 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 52), Bunning Modified Amendment No. 
4192, to repeal the tax increase on Social Security benefits imposed by 
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
Pages S2037, S2046
  By 47 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 56), Alexander Modified Amendment No. 
4207, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to improve energy 
efficiency and production.
Pages S2037, S2048-49
  By a unanimous vote of 97 nays (Vote No. 62), Allard Amendment No. 
4246, to raise taxes by an unprecedented $1.4 trillion for the purpose 
of fully funding 111 new or expanded federal spending programs. 
                                                     Pages S2037, S2054
  By 42 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 63), Ensign Amendment No. 4240, to 
require wealthy Medicare beneficiaries to pay a greater share of their 
Medicare Part D premiums.
Page S2055
  By 43 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No 64), Sanders Amendment No. 4218, to 
put children ahead of millionaires and billionaires by restoring the 
pre-2001 top income tax rate for people earning over $1 million, and 
use this revenue to invest in LIHEAP, IDEA, Head Start, Child Care, 
nutrition, school construction, and deficit reduction.
Pages S2055-56
  By 40 yeas to 58 nays (Vote No. 65), DeMint Amendment No. 4328, to 
provide for a deficit-neutral reserve fund for Social Security reform. 
                                                         Pages S2057-58
  By 29 yeas to 68 nays (Vote No. 66), DeMint (for Allard) Amendment 
No. 4232, to pay down the Federal debt and eliminate government waste 
by reducing spending 5 percent on programs rated (as mandated under the 
Government Performance and Results Act (Public Law 103-62)) ineffective 
by the Office of Management and Budget Program Assessment Rating Tool. 
                                                         Pages S2059-60
   Vitter/Inhofe Amendment No. 4309, to create a reserve fund to ensure 
that Federal assistance does not go to sanctuary cities that ignore the 
immigration laws of the United States and create safe havens for 
illegal aliens and potential terrorists. (By 58 yeas to 40 nays (Vote 
No. 69), Senate tabled the amendment.)
Pages S2063-64
  By 49 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 71), Ensign Amendment No. 4335, to 
increase funding for the Department of Justice for the vigorous 
enforcement of a prohibition against taking minors across State lines 
in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in 
abortion decisions consistent with the Child Custody Protection Act, 
which passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 65-34, with an offset. 
                                                         Pages S2070-71
  By 49 yeas to 50 nays (Vote No. 74), Kyl Amendment No. 4348, to 
provide certainty to taxpayers by extending expiring tax provisions 
such as the R&D Tax Credit that helps U.S. companies innovate, the 
combat pay exclusion for our soldiers in the field, the education 
deduction to make colleges more affordable and the alternative energy 
incentives to make the environment cleaner through the end of 2009. 
                                                         Pages S2072-73
  By 23 yeas to 77 nays (Vote No. 76), Landrieu Amendment No. 4378, to 
protect family businesses and farmers without increasing our nation's 
debt by providing for an estate tax that sets the exemption at $5 
million and the rate at 35 percent, with the benefits of the exemption 
recaptured for estates over $100 million, paid for by closing tax 
loopholes that allow offshore deferral of compensation and transactions 
entered into solely for the purpose of avoiding taxation. 
                                                         Pages S2075-76
  By 48 yeas to 50 nays (Vote No. 77), Kyl Amendment No. 4372, to 
protect small businesses, family ranches and farms from the Death Tax 
by providing a $5 million exemption, a low rate for smaller estates and 
a maximum rate no higher than 35%.
Pages S2076-77

[[Page D295]]


  By 47 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 78), Grassley Modified Amendment No. 
4276, to exempt from pay-as-you-go enforcement modifications to the 
individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) that prevent millions of 
additional taxpayers from having to pay the AMT.
Pages S2077-78
  By 41 yeas to 57 nays (Vote No. 79), DeMint Amendment No. 4380, to 
provide for a deficit-neutral reserve fund for transferring funding for 
Berkeley, CA earmarks to the Marine Corps.
Pages S2081-82
  By 46 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 81), Allard Amendment No. 4233, to 
require that legislation to reauthorize SCHIP include provisions 
codifying the unborn child regulation.
Pages S2083, S2084-85
  By 45 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 82), DeMint Amendment No. 4339, to 
provide for a deficit-neutral reserve fund for providing an above the 
line Federal income tax deduction for individuals purchasing health 
insurance outside the workplace.
Pages S2080-81, S2085
Withdrawn:
  Inhofe Amendment No. 4239, to express the sense of the Senate on 
funding for national defense in future fiscal years.
Page S2062
  During consideration of this measure today, the Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 58 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. 61), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904(c) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Cornyn Amendment No. 
4242, to protect the family budget by providing for a budget point of 
order against legislation that increases income taxes on taxpayers, 
including hard-working middle-income families, entrepreneurs, and 
college students. Subsequently, the point of order that the amendment 
was in violation of section 305 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S2037, S2053
  By 39 yeas to 59 nays (Vote No. 72), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 305(b)(2) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to DeMint Amendment No. 
4340, to create a point of order against bills that would raise 
gasoline prices. Subsequently, the Chair sustained the point of order 
that DeMint Amendment No. 4340 was not germane, and the amendment thus 
fell.
Page S2071
  By 27 yeas to 71 nays (Vote No. 73), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904(c) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Cornyn Amendment No. 
4313, to protect the family budget from runaway Government spending by 
increasing the number of Senators necessary to waive the PAYGO Point of 
Order from 60 to 100. Subsequently, the point of order that the 
amendment was in violation of section 305(b)(2) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell. 
                                                         Pages S2071-72
  By 29 yeas to 71 nays (Vote No. 75), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 305(b)(2) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to DeMint Amendment No. 
4347, to establish an earmark moratorium for fiscal year 2009. 
Subsequently, the Chair sustained the point of order that DeMint 
Amendment No. 4347 was not germane, and the amendment thus fell. 
                                                         Pages S2074-75
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the 
enrolling clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes 
to the levels in Title 1 of S. Con. Res. 70 at the direction of the 
Committee on Budget majority staff, to reflect the effects of 
amendments agreed to by the Senate.
Page S2118
  Adjournment Resolution: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 316, providing 
for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a 
conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate.
  Page S2187
  Authorizing Use of the Rotunda: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 71, 
authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the presentation 
of the Congressional Gold Medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D. 
                                                         Pages S2187-88
  Congratulating X PRIZE Foundation: Senate agreed to S. Res. 486, to 
congratulate the X PRIZE Foundation for their efforts to inspire a new 
generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that could help break 
the addiction of the United States to oil and stem the effects of 
climate change through the Automotive X PRIZE competition.
  Page S2188
  National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day: Senate agreed to 
S. Res. 487, designating March 22, 2008, as National Rehabilitation 
Counselors Appreciation Day.
  Page S2188
  National Safe Place Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 488, designating 
the week beginning March 16, 2008, as ``National Safe Place Week''. 
                                                         Pages S2188-89
  Public Radio Recognition Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 489, 
designating April 2008 as Public Radio Recognition Month.
  Page S2189

[[Page D296]]

  Death of former Senator Howard Metzenbaum: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
485, relative to the death of Howard Metzenbaum, former United States 
Senator for the State of Ohio.
  Pages S2189-90
Measures Considered:
New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer 
Protection Act and the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax 
Act: Senate resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to 
consideration of H.R. 3221, moving the United States toward greater 
energy independence and security, developing innovative new 
technologies, reducing carbon emissions, creating green jobs, 
protecting consumers, increasing clean renewable energy production, and 
modernizing our energy infrastructure, and to amend the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of 
renewable energy and energy conservation.
  Page S2119
Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the 
upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the 
Senate, the President Pro Tempore, and the Majority and Minority 
Leaders 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 S2190
Authority for Committees-Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that, notwithstanding the recess of the Senate, 
committees be authorized to file legislative and executive matters on 
Thursday, March 27, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. 
                                                             Page S2194
Removal of Injunction of Secrecy: The injunction of secrecy was removed 
from the following treaty:
  Protocol Amending 1980 Tax Convention with Canada (Treaty Doc. No. 
110-15).
  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 S2187
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Michael F. Duffy, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the 
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission for a term of six 
years expiring August 30, 2012.
  Kristine L. Svinicki, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring June 30, 
2012.
  John E. Osborn, of Delaware, to be a Member of the United States 
Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy for a term expiring July 1, 
2009.
  Ondray T. Harris, of Virginia, to be Director, Community Relations 
Service, for a term of four years.
  David W. Hagy, of Texas, to be Director of the National Institute of 
Justice.
  John S. Bresland, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Chemical 
Safety and Hazard Investigation Board for a term of five years.
  John S. Bresland, of New Jersey, to be Chairperson of the Chemical 
Safety and Hazard Investigation Board for a term of five years.
  Thomas C. Gilliland, of Georgia, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for the remainder of the 
term expiring May 18, 2011.
  James Francis Moriarty, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the 
People's Republic of Bangladesh.
  Javaid Anwar, of Nevada, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of 
the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation for a term expiring December 
10, 2007.
  Javaid Anwar, of Nevada, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of 
the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation for a term expiring December 
10, 2013.
  William J. Hybl, of Colorado, to be a Member of the United States 
Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy for a term expiring July 1, 
2009.
  Elizabeth F. Bagley, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of 
the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy for a term 
expiring July 1, 2008.
  Thomas C. Carper, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Reform Board 
(Amtrak) for a term of five years.
  Nancy A. Naples, of New York, to be a Member of the Reform Board 
(Amtrak) for a term of five years.
  Ana M. Guevara, of Florida, to be United States Alternate Executive 
Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 
for a term of two years.
  Goli Ameri, of Oregon, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(Educational and Cultural Affairs).
  William Joseph Hawe, of Washington, to be United States Marshal for 
the Western District of Washington for the term of four years.
  Larry Woodrow Walther, of Arkansas, to be Director of the Trade and 
Development Agency.
  Neil Romano, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor.
  Gregory B. Jaczko, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring June 
30, 2013.

[[Page D297]]


  John J. Sullivan, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce.
  Douglas H. Shulman, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner 
of Internal Revenue for the term prescribed by law.
  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.
  David J. Kramer, of Massachusetts, to be Assistant Secretary of State 
for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
  Jamsheed K. Choksy, of Indiana, to be a Member of the National 
Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2014.
  Dawn Ho Delbanco, of New York, to be a Member of the National Council 
on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2014.
  Gary D. Glenn, of Illinois, to be a Member of the National Council on 
the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2014.
  David Hertz, of Indiana, to be a Member of the National Council on 
the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2014.
  Marvin Bailey Scott, of Indiana, to be a Member of the National 
Council on the Humanities for the remainder of the term expiring 
January 26, 2010.
  Carol M. Swain, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the National Council 
on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2014.
  Jeffrey J. Grieco, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator of 
the United States Agency for International Development.
  Joxel Garcia, of Connecticut, to be Medical Director in the Regular 
Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to the qualifications 
therefor as provided by law and regulations, and to be an Assistant 
Secretary of Health and Human Services.
  Jan Cellucci, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the National Museum 
and Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2012.
  William J. Hagenah, of Illinois, to be a Member of the National 
Museum and Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2012.
  Mark Y. Herring, of South Carolina, to be a Member of the National 
Museum and Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2012.
  Julia W. Bland, of Louisiana, to be a Member of the National Museum 
and Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2012.
  Sally Epstein Shaywitz, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the Board 
of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences for a term 
expiring November 28, 2011.
  Frank Philip Handy, of Florida, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences for a term 
expiring November 28, 2011.
  Jonathan Baron, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the National Board for Education Sciences for a term expiring 
November 28, 2011.
  Margaret Scobey, of Tennessee, to be Ambassador to the Arab Republic 
of Egypt.
  4 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  2 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  4 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral.
  1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general.
  19 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Foreign Service, 
Marine Corps, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Navy. 
                                                         Pages S2195-97
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  David R. Hill, of Missouri, to be an Assistant Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency.
  Barbara McConnell Barrett, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the 
Republic of Finland.
  T. Vance McMahan, of Texas, to be Representative of the United States 
of America on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, 
with the rank of Ambassador.
  G. Steven Agee, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for 
the Fourth Circuit.
  24 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  4 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general.
Pages S2194-97
Nominations Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of 
the following nominations:
  Charles A. Gargano, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Austria, which was sent to the Senate on November 7, 2007.
  David R. Hill, of Missouri, to be an Assistant Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, which was sent to the Senate on 
December 3, 2007.
Page S2197
Messages from the House:
  Page S2128
Enrolled Bills Presented:
  Page S2128
Executive Communications:
  Pages S2128-29
Petitions and Memorials:
  Pages S2129-30
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Pages S2130-32
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S2134-38
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S2138-67
Additional Statements:
  Pages S2126-28
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S2167-86

[[Page D298]]

Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Page S2186
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S2186
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10:15 a.m. and recessed, as a further 
mark of respect to the memory of the late former Senator Howard 
Metzenbum, in accordance with S. Res. 485, at 2:36 a.m., until 12:00 
noon on Tuesday, March 18, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the remarks 
of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S2194.)