[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D398-D400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Wednesday, April 9, 2008

[[Page D398]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2767-S2828
Measures Introduced: Seven bills and four resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2832-2838, S.J. Res. 31, and S. Res. 507-509. 
                                                             Page S2817
Measures Reported:
  S. 1418, to provide assistance to improve the health of newborns, 
children, and mothers in developing countries, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-282)
Page S2817
Measures Passed:
  National 9-1-1 Education Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 468, 
designating April 2008 as ``National 9-1-1 Education Month''. 
                                                         Pages S2825-26
  Violence in Tibet and the Government of the People's Republic of 
China: Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged from further 
consideration of S. Res. 504, condemning the violence in Tibet and 
calling for restraint by the Government of the People's Republic of 
China and the people of Tibet, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                         Pages S2826-27
  Congratulating the University of Tennessee Women's Basketball Team: 
Senate agreed to S. Res. 508, congratulating the University of 
Tennessee women's basketball team for winning the 2008 National 
Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women's Basketball 
Championship.
  Pages S2827-28
Measures Considered:
New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer 
Protection Act and the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax 
Act: Senate continued 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, and taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                      Pages S2780-S2811
Adopted:
  Dodd (for Salazar) Modified Amendment No. 4398 (to Amendment No. 
4387), to address the availability of foreclosure prevention hotlines. 
                                                             Page S2806
  Dodd (for Boxer) Amendment No. 4444 (to Amendment No. 4387), to 
provide the sense of the Senate regarding non-interference with local 
government requirements that the holder of a foreclosed property 
maintain that property.
Page S2806
  Dodd (for Leahy/Sanders) Modified Amendment No. 4446 (to Amendment 
No. 4387), to assure national distribution of certain redevelopment and 
housing counseling resources.
Page S2806
  Dodd (for Ensign) Modified Amendment No. 4449 (to Amendment No. 
4387), to sunset the ability of States to reinvest profits generated 
under title III.
Pages S2806-07
  Dodd (for Brownback) Amendment No. 4454 (to Amendment No. 4387), to 
require enhanced reporting regarding certain loans guaranteed by the 
Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund.
Page S2807
  Dodd (for Gregg) Modified Amendment No. 4458 (to Amendment No. 4387), 
to ensure that no funds appropriated under title III may be used to 
fund any project that involves, includes, or is associated with the use 
of eminent domain.
Page S2807
  Dodd (for Crapo/Johnson) Modified Amendment No. 4464 (to Amendment 
No. 4387), to restore investment authority of certain banks and savings 
associations to the types of public welfare activities previously 
permitted by law and regulation.
Page S2807
  Dodd (for DeMint) Modified Amendment No. 4473 (to Amendment No. 
4387), to provide a limitation on the distribution of funds made 
available under titles II and III to organizations which have been 
indicted, or the employees of which have been indicted, for election 
fraud.
Page S2807
  Dodd (for Carper) Amendment No. 4480 (to Amendment No. 4387), to 
require the Federal Housing Finance Board to permit the Federal home 
loan banks to use affordable housing program funds to refinance certain 
single-family first mortgages.
Page S2807

[[Page D399]]


  Dodd (for McCaskill) Modified Amendment No. 4489 (to Amendment No. 
4387), to prohibit authorized lenders of home equity conversion 
mortgages from requiring seniors to purchase an annuity with the 
proceeds of a reverse mortgage, and to provide other consumer 
protections to reverse mortgage borrowers.
Pages S2807-08
  Mikulski Modified Amendment No. 4494 (to Amendment No. 4478), to make 
additional funds available to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation 
to increase legal assistance available to homeowners at risk of 
foreclosure and assistance to community organizations working to 
preserve homeownership and prevent foreclosure, with an offset. 
                                                      Page S2780, S2811


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

  
  On page D399, April 9, 2008, the following lanuage appears: 
Mikulski Modified Amendment No. 4494 (to Amendment No. 4478), to 
make additional funds available to the Neighborhood Reinvestment 
Corporation to increase legal assistance available to homeowners 
at risk of foreclosure and assistance to community organizations 
working to preserve homeownership and prevent foreclosure, with an 
offset. Page S2780
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Mikulski Modified 
Amendment No. 4494 (to Amendment No. 4478), to make additional 
funds available to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation to 
increase legal assistance available to homeowners at risk of 
foreclosure and assistance to community organizations working to 
preserve homeownership and prevent foreclosure, with an offset. 
Pages S2780, S2811


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

  Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4518 (to Amendment No. 4387), to improve 
housing benefits for veterans.
Page S2808
  Dodd (for Hatch) Modified Amendment No. 4390 (to Amendment No. 4387), 
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to simplify certain 
provisions applicable to real estate investments trusts.
Page S2808
  Lincoln (for Snowe) Amendment No. 4433 (to Amendment No. 4387), to 
modify the increase in volume cap for housing bonds in 2008. 
                                                  Pages S2780, S2808-09
  Murray Amendment No. 4478 (to Amendment No. 4387), to increase 
funding for housing counseling with an offset.
Pages S2780, S2811
Withdrawn:
  Sanders Modified Amendment No. 4401 (to Amendment No. 4387), to 
establish a maximum rate of interest for loans insured under title II 
of the National Housing Act.
Pages S2780, S2806
  Cardin/Ensign Amendment No. 4421 (to Amendment No. 4387), to amend 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against income tax 
for the purchase of a principal residence by a first-time homebuyer. 
                                                     Pages S2780, S2806
  Nelson (FL)/Coleman Amendment No. 4423 (to Amendment No. 4387), to 
provide for the penalty-free use of retirement funds to provide 
foreclosure recovery relief for individuals with mortgages on their 
principal residences.
Pages S2780, S2806
  Lincoln Amendment No. 4382 (to Amendment No. 4387), to provide an 
incentive to employers to offer group legal plans that provide a 
benefit for real estate and foreclosure review.
Pages S2780, S2806
  Landrieu Amendment No. 4404 (to Amendment No. 4387), to amend the 
provisions relating to qualified mortgage bonds to include relief for 
persons in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. 
                                                     Pages S2780, S2806
  Sanders Amendment No. 4384 (to Amendment No. 4387), to provide an 
increase in specially adapted housing benefits for disabled veterans. 
                                                     Pages S2780, S2806


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

  
  On page D399, April 9, 2008, under the heading of Withdrawn: 
Withdrawn: Sanders Modified Amendment No. 4401 (to Amendment No. 
4387), to establish a maximum rate of interest for loans insured 
under title II of the National Housing Act. Page S2780 Cardin/
Ensign Amendment No. 4421 (to Amendment No. 4387), to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against income tax 
for the purchase of a principal residence by a first-time 
homebuyer. Page S2780 Nelson (FL)/Coleman Amendment No. 4423 (to 
Amendment No. 4387), to provide for the penalty-free use of 
retirement funds to provide foreclosure recovery relief for 
individuals with mortgages on their principal residences. Page 
S2780 Lincoln Amendment No. 4382 (to Amendment No. 4387), to 
provide an incentive to employers to offer group legal plans that 
provide a benefit for real estate and foreclosure review. Page 
S2780 Landrieu Amendment No. 4404 (to Amendment No. 4387), to 
amend the provisions relating to qualified mortgage bonds to 
include relief for persons in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, 
Rita, and Wilma. Page S2780 Sanders Amendment No. 4384 (to 
Amendment No. 4387), to provide an increase in specially adapted 
housing benefits for disabled veterans. Page S2780
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Withdrawn: Sanders 
Modified Amendment No. 4401 (to Amendment No. 4387), to establish 
a maximum rate of interest for loans insured under title II of the 
National Housing Act. Pages S2780, S2806 Cardin/Ensign Amendment 
No. 4421 (to Amendment No. 4387), to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to allow a credit against income tax for the purchase 
of a principal residence by a first-time homebuyer. Pages S2780, 
S2806 Nelson (FL)/Coleman Amendment No. 4423 (to Amendment No. 
4387), to provide for the penalty-free use of retirement funds to 
provide foreclosure recovery relief for individuals with mortgages 
on their principal residences. Pages S2780, S2806 Lincoln 
Amendment No. 4382 (to Amendment No. 4387), to provide an 
incentive to employers to offer group legal plans that provide a 
benefit for real estate and foreclosure review. Pages S2780, S2806 
Landrieu Amendment No. 4404 (to Amendment No. 4387), to amend the 
provisions relating to qualified mortgage bonds to include relief 
for persons in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, Rita, and 
Wilma. Pages S2780, S2806 Sanders Amendment No. 4384 (to Amendment 
No. 4387), to provide an increase in specially adapted housing 
benefits for disabled veterans. Pages S2780, S2806


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

Pending:
  Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4387, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S2780
  Ensign Amendment No. 4419 (to Amendment No. 4387), to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the limited continuation 
of clean energy production incentives and incentives to improve energy 
efficiency in order to prevent a downturn in these sectors that would 
result from a lapse in the tax law.
Pages S2780, S2800
  Alexander Amendment No. 4429 (to Amendment No. 4419), to provide a 
longer extension of the renewable energy production tax credit and to 
encourage all emerging renewable sources of electricity. 
                                               Pages S2780, S2797-S2800
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that 
notwithstanding its adoption on April 4, 2008, Landrieu Modified 
Amendment No. 4389, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow 
use of amended income tax returns to take into account receipt of 
certain hurricane-related casualty loss grants by disallowing 
previously taken casualty loss deductions, and to waive the deadline on 
the construction of GO Zone property which is eligible for bonus 
depreciation, be further modified.
Pages S2810-11
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, 
April 10, 2008, and vote on or in relation to the following amendments, 
in the order listed, and that if a point of order is raised against an 
amendment, then there be 2 minutes of debate prior to a vote on the 
motion to waive the point of order, equally divided and controlled in 
the usual form: Alexander Amendment No. 4429 (to Amendment No. 4419) 
(listed above), Ensign Amendment No. 4419 (to Amendment No. 4387), as 
amended, if amended (listed above), and that Senators Alexander and 
Ensign be recognized for 5 minutes each for consideration of the 
amendments; provided further, that upon disposition of listed 
amendments, Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4387 (listed above), as amended, 
be agreed to, and that upon disposition of this amendment, Senate vote 
on passage of the bill, and that upon passage the title amendment, 
which is at the desk be agreed to; provided further, the cloture motion 
on the bill be withdrawn.
Page S2806
CONSOLIDATED NATURAL RESOURCES ACT--Agreement: A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that on Thursday, April 10, 2008, 
following disposition of H.R. 3221, New

[[Page D400]]

Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer 
Protection Act, Senate begin consideration of S. 2739, Consolidated 
Natural Resources Act, and that when the bill is considered the only 
first-degree amendments in order be the 4 amendments at the desk by 
Senator Coburn, with no other amendments in order; that there be a 
total of 2 hours for debate with respect to the amendments, equally 
divided and controlled in the usual form; that upon disposition of the 
amendments, the bill be read a third time, and without further 
intervening action or debate, Senate vote on passage of S. 2739, as 
amended, if amended; provided further, that the amendments be printed 
in the Record once this agreement is entered; and that the cloture 
motion on the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2739 be 
withdrawn; and that the order with respect to S. 2483, National 
Forests, Parks, Public Land, and Reclamation Projects Authorization 
Act, be vitiated.
  Page S2809
Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that on Thursday, April 10, 2008, upon disposition of S. 
2739, Consolidated Natural Resources Act, following consultation by the 
Majority Leader with the Republican Leader, Senate begin Executive 
Session to consider the following nominations: Brian Stacy Miller, to 
be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas, 
James Randal Hall, to be United States District Judge for the Southern 
District of Georgia, John A. Mendez, to be United States District Judge 
for the Eastern District of California, Stanley Thomas Anderson, to be 
United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee, and 
Catharina Haynes, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 
Fifth Circuit; that there be a total of 4 hours of debate on the 
nominations, with two hours each under the control of the Chairman and 
Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary; that upon the use or 
yielding back of time, Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations 
in the order listed above; provided further, that after the first vote 
in the sequence the vote time be limited to 10 minutes.
  Page S2810
Messages from the House:
  Pages S2815-16
Measures Referred:
  Page S2816
Executive Communications:
  Pages S2816-17
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S2817-19
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S2819-21
Additional Statements:
  Pages S2814-15
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S2821-25
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S2825
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S2825
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:40 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2008. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S2828.)