[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 57 (Thursday, April 10, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D412-D413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, April 10, 2008

[[Page D412]]

                              Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
      Senate passed H.R. 3221, New Direction for Energy Independence, 
      National Security, and Consumer Protection act and the Renewable 
      Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act
      Senate passed H.R. 2739, Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 
      2008


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2829-S2954
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and four resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2839-2849, S. Res. 510-512, and S. Con. Res. 75. 
                                                         Pages S2944-45
Measures Passed:
  New Direction For Energy Independence, National Security, And 
Consumer Protection Act And The Renewable Energy And Energy 
Conservation Tax Act: By 84 yeas to 12 nays (Vote No. 96), Senate 
passed H.R. 3221, to provide needed housing reform, after taking action 
on the following amendments proposed thereto:
  Pages S2836-61
Adopted:
  By 88 yeas to 8 nays (Vote No. 95), 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 S2836-37, S2839
  Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4387, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                     Pages S2836, S2844
  Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4523, to amend the title.
Pages S2859-61
Rejected:
  By 15 yeas to 79 nays (Vote No. 94), 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 S2837-39
  Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008: By 91 yeas to 4 nays 
(Vote No. 101), Senate passed S. 2739, to authorize certain programs 
and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, 
and the Department of Energy, to implement further the Act approving 
the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, to amend 
the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, after taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                      Pages S2861-S2919
Rejected:
  By 30 yeas to 63 nays (Vote No. 97), Coburn/McCain Amendment No. 
4522, to require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to 
determine on an annual basis the quantity of land that is owned by the 
Federal Government and the cost to taxpayers of the ownership of the 
land.
Pages S2868-70, S2877
  By 19 yeas to 76 nays (Vote No. 98), Coburn/McCain Amendment No. 
4521, to require approval prior to the assumption of control by the 
Federal Government of State property.
Pages S2870-72, S2877-78
  By 27 yeas to 67 nays (Vote No. 99), Coburn/McCain Amendment No. 
4520, to ensure that all individuals who reside, or own property that 
is located, in a proposed National Heritage Area are informed of the 
designation of the National Heritage Area.
Pages S2872-74, S2878
  By 22 yeas to 73 nays (Vote No. 100), Coburn/McCain Amendment No. 
4519, to require the transfer of certain finds to be used by the 
Director of the National Park Service to dispose of assets described in 
the candidate asset disposition list of the National Park Service. 
                                                     Pages S2874, S2878
Measures Considered:
Highway Technical Corrections--Cloture Motion: Senate began 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 1195, 
to amend the

[[Page D413]]

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users to make technical corrections.
  Pages S2933-34
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed 
to consideration of 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 Thursday, April 10, 2008, a vote on 
cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 14, 2008.
Page S2933
   A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senate 
resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the 
bill at approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, April 14, 2008.
Page S2954
House Messages:
Reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act: Senate concurred in 
the amendment of the House of Representatives to S. 793, to provide for 
the expansion and improvement of traumatic brain injury programs. 
                                                         Pages S2952-54
San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund Referral--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works be discharged from further consideration 
of H.R. 123, to authorize appropriations for the San Gabriel Basin 
Restoration Fund, and the bill then be referred to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Page S2954
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By unanimous vote of 88 yeas (Vote No. EX. 102), Brian Stacy Miller, 
of Arkansas, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern 
District of Arkansas.
  James Randal Hall, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for 
the Southern District of Georgia.
  Catharina Haynes, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 
Fifth Circuit.
  Stanley Thomas Anderson, of Tennessee, to be United States District 
Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.
  John A. Mendez, of California, to be United States District Judge for 
the Eastern District of California.
Pages S2919-33, S2954
Messages from the House:
  Pages S2941-42
Measures Referred:
  Page S2942
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
  Page S2942
Enrolled Bills Presented:
  Page S2942
Executive Communications:
  Pages S2942-43
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Pages S2943-44
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S2945-47
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S2947-51
Additional Statements:
  Pages S2940-41
Amendments Submitted:
  Page S2951
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Pages S2951-52
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S2952
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S2952
Record Votes: Nine record votes were taken today. (Total--102) 
                             Pages S2839, S2844, S2877-78, S2883, S2933
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:55 p.m., 
until 2 p.m. on Monday, April 14, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S2954.)