[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 66 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D491-D492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, April 24, 2008

[[Page D491]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed S. 1315, Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3337-S3413
Measures Introduced: Eighteen bills and four resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2903-2920, and S. Res. 530-533. 
                                                         Pages S3401-02
Measures Reported:
  S. 2433, to require the President to develop and implement a 
comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy 
objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination 
of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium 
Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people 
worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day, 
with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-331)
  H. Con. Res. 292, honoring Margaret Truman Daniel and her lifetime of 
accomplishments.
  S. Res. 511, recognizing that John Sidney McCain, III, is a natural 
born citizen.
  S. Res. 515, commemorating the life and work of Dith Pran. 
                                                             Page S3400
Measures Passed:
  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act Extension: Senate passed S. 
2903, 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 25, 2008.
  Pages S3340-42


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

  
  On page D491, April 24, 2008, the following appears: Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act Extension Senate passed S. 2903, 
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 25, 2008. Pages S3440-42
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act Extension Senate passed S. 2903, 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 25, 2008. Pages S3340-42


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

  Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act: By 96 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 
112), Senate passed S. 1315, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
enhance life insurance benefits for disabled veterans, after agreeing 
to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute and taking 
action on the following amendment proposed thereto:
  Pages S3347-63
  Adopted:
  Akaka Amendment No. 4576, of a perfecting nature.
Page S3353
  Rejected:
  By 41 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 111), Burr Amendment No. 4572, to 
increase benefits for disabled United States veterans and provide a 
fair benefit to World War II Filipino veterans for their service to the 
United States.
Pages S3347-53, S3354
  Genetic Information Nondiscrimination: By a unanimous vote of 95 yeas 
(Vote No. 113), Senate passed H.R. 493, to prohibit discrimination on 
the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and 
employment, after taking action on the following amendment proposed 
thereto:
  Pages S3363-75
  Adopted:
  Kennedy (for Snowe) Amendment No. 4573, in the nature of a 
substitute.
Page S3374
  Congressional Gold Medal: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4286, to 
award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition 
of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, 
human rights, and democracy in Burma, and the bill was then passed, 
clearing the measure for the President.
  Pages S3411-12
  National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month: Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration of S. Res. 510, supporting the goals and ideals of 
National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, and the resolution was then 
agreed to.
  Page S3412
  Recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the Modern State 
of Israel: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 322, recognizing the 60th 
anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel and 
reaffirming the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between the 
United States and Israel.
  Page S3412

[[Page D492]]

Measures Considered:
FAA Reauthorization Act--Agreement: Senate began consideration of the 
motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 2881, to amend title 49, 
United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal 
Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, to improve 
aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for the 
national aviation system.
  Pages S3411, S3412-13
   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 24, 
2008, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 28, 
2008.
Page S3411
   A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senate 
resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the 
bill at approximately 4:30 p.m., on Monday, April 28, 2008, with the 
time until 5:30 p.m., equally divided and controlled between the 
Majority and Republican Leaders, or their designees; provided further, 
that at 5:30 p.m., Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the 
motion to proceed to consideration of the bill.
Page S3411
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the Majority Leader be authorized to sign bills and 
joint resolutions through the recess or adjournment of the Senate 
through Monday, April 28, 2008.
  Page S3411
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Lyndon L. Olson, Jr., of Texas, to be a Member of the United States 
Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy for a term expiring July 1, 
2008.
  Kristen Silverberg, of Texas, to be Representative of the United 
States of America to the European Union, with the rank and status of 
Ambassador.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
  A routine list in the Navy.
Page S3413
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  C. Boyden Gray, of the District of Columbia, to be Representative of 
the United States of America to the European Union, with the rank and 
status of Ambassador, which was sent to the Senate on January 9, 2007. 
                                                             Page S3413
Messages from the House:
  Page S3397
Measures Referred:
  Page S3397
Measures Read the First Time:
  Pages S3397, S3412, S3413
Enrolled Bills Presented:
  Pages S3397-98
Executive Communications:
  Pages S3398-S3400
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Pages S3400-01
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S3402-03
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S3403-09
Additional Statements:
  Pages S3396-97
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S3409-10
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S3410-11
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S3411
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--113) 
                                           Pages S3354, S3354-55, S3374
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:28 p.m., 
until 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 28, 2008. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3412.)