[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 61 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D453-D454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, April 17, 2008

[[Page D453]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 1195, Highway Technical Corrections.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3105-S3170
Measures Introduced: Sixteen bills and four resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2876-2891, and S. Res. 519-522. 
                                                         Pages S3144-45
Measures Passed:
  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act Extension: Senate passed H.R. 
5813, to amend Public Law 110-196 to provide for a temporary extension 
of programs authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 beyond April 18, 2008, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                             Page S3105
  Welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the United States: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 519, welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the United States and 
recognizing the unique insights his moral and spiritual reflections 
bring to the world stage.
  Pages S3105-06
  Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy For Users: By 88 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. 108), Senate passed 
H.R. 1195, to amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to make technical 
corrections, after taking action on the following amendments proposed 
thereto:
  Pages S3106-36
Adopted:
  By 64 yeas to 28 nays (Vote No. 105), Boxer Modified Amendment No. 
4539 (to Amendment No. 4146), to call for a review by the Department of 
Justice of allegations of violations of Federal criminal law. 
                                                  Pages S3106, S3118-19
  Boxer Amendment No. 4146, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                     Pages S3106, S3121


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

  
  On page D453, April 17, 2008, under the heading Adopted, the 
following language appears: Boxer Amendment No. 4146, in the 
nature of a substitute. Page S3106
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Boxer Amendment 
No. 4146, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S3106, S3121


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

Withdrawn:
  Coburn Amendment No. 4540 (to Amendment No. 4539), relative to the 
Coconut Road Investigation.
Pages S3106, S3110-11
   By 49 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 106), Coburn Amendment No. 4538 (to 
Amendment No. 4146), to create a bipartisan, bicameral special 
committee to investigate the improper insertion of an earmark for 
Coconut Road into the conference report of the 2005 highway bill after 
both chambers of Congress had approved identical versions of the 
conference report. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing 
that the amendment, having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, be 
withdrawn).
Pages S3106, S3411-18, S3119
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 90 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. 107), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion to close further debate on Boxer Amendment No. 4146 
(listed above).
Pages S3119-20
  Authorizing Photograph in Senate Chamber: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
521, authorizing the taking of a photograph in the Chamber of the 
United States Senate.
  Page S3170
Measures Considered:
Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act--Agreement: Senate began 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 1315, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance life insurance benefits 
for disabled veterans.
  Page S3169
  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 17, 2008, a vote on 
cloture will occur at 12 noon on Tuesday, April 22, 2008.
Page S3169
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that on Tuesday, 
April 22, 2008, following a period of morning business, Senate resume 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of

[[Page D454]]

the bill, and the time until 12 noon be equally divided and controlled 
between the two Leaders, or their designees.
Page S3169
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the 
Administration's intent to add the Solomon Islands to the list of 
least-developed beneficiary developing countries under the Generalized 
System of Preferences program; which was referred to the Committee on 
Finance. (PM-44)
Page S3143
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Kelly Harrison Rankin, of Wyoming, to be United States Attorney for 
the District of Wyoming for the term of four years.
  1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
Page S3170
Messages from the House:
  Page S3143
Measures Referred:
  Page S3144
Enrolled Bills Presented:
  Page S3144
Executive Communications:
  Page S3144
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S3145-46
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S3146-64
Additional Statements:
  Page S3143
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S3164-69
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S3169
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--108) 
                                    Pages S3118, S3119, S3119-20, S3122
Recess: Senate convened at 12:45 p.m. and recessed at 6:40 p.m., until 
9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 18, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3170.)