[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 7, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D559-D561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                             Wednesday, May 7, 2008

[[Page D559]]

                              Daily Digest

Highlights

      House Committees ordered reported eight sundry measures.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3839-S3933
Measures Introduced: Eight bills and three resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2985-2992, S. Res. 554, and S. Con. Res. 80-81. 
                                                             Page S3891
Measures Passed:
  Use of the Capitol Grounds: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 308, 
authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace 
Officers' Memorial Service.
  Page S3930
  Assistance to Burma: Senate agreed to S. Res. 554, expressing the 
Sense of the Senate on humanitarian assistance to Burma after Cyclone 
Nargis.
  Page S3930
  National Women's Health Week: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 81, 
supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week. 
                                                         Pages S3930-31
  International Year of Sanitation: Committee on Foreign Relations was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 72, supporting 
the goals and ideals of the International Year of Sanitation, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.
  Page S3931
Measures Considered:
Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act: Senate began 
consideration of S. 2284, to amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 
1968, to restore the financial solvency of the flood insurance fund, 
after agreeing to the motion to proceed to its consideration, and 
taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S3844-84
Rejected:
  By 19 yeas to 74 nays (Vote No. 117), Wicker Amendment No. 4719, to 
provide for the optional purchase of insurance against loss resulting 
from physical damage to or loss of real property of personal property 
related thereto located in the United States arising from any flood or 
windstorm.
Pages S3850-51, S3856-61, S3877-78
  By 27 yeas to 66 nays (Vote No. 118), Vitter Amendment No. 4722 (to 
Amendment No. 4707), to increase maximum coverage limits. 
                                               Pages S3854-55, S3878-79
  By 23 yeas to 69 nays (Vote No. 119), Vitter Amendment No. 4723 (to 
Amendment No. 4707), to allow for a reasonable 5-year phase-in period 
for adjusted premiums.
Pages S3855-56, S3879
  By 30 yeas to 62 nays (Vote No. 120), Landrieu Further Modified 
Amendment No. 4705 (to Amendment No. 4707), to require the Comptroller 
General to conduct a study regarding mandatory purchasing requirements.
                                               Pages S3866-72, S3879-80
Pending:
  Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4707, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                         Pages S3845-47
  McConnell Amendment No. 4720 (to the text of the bill proposed to be 
stricken by Amendment No. 4707), of a perfecting nature.
Page S3851
  Allard Amendment No. 4721 (to Amendment No. 4720), of a perfecting 
nature.
Pages S3851-54
  Landrieu/Nelson (FL) Modified Amendment No. 4706 (to Amendment No. 
4707), to improve the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate. 
                                                  Pages S3862-66, S3872
  Nelson (FL) Amendment No. 4709 (to Amendment No. 4707), to establish 
a National Catastrophe Risks Consortium and a National Homeowners' 
Insurance Stabilization Program.
Pages S3880-82
  DeMint Amendment No. 4711 (to Amendment No. 4707), to require the 
Director to conduct a study on the impact, effectiveness, and 
feasibility of amending section 1361 of the National Flood Insurance 
Act of 1968 to include widely used and nationally recognized building 
codes as part of the floodplain management criteria developed under 
such section.
Page S3882

[[Page D560]]


  DeMint Modified Amendment No. 4710 (to Amendment No. 4707), to end 
the premium subsidy for any property purchased after the date of 
enactment of this Act.
Pages S3882-83
  A motion was entered to close further debate on McConnell Amendment 
No. 4720 (to the text of the bill proposed to be stricken by Amendment 
No. 4707) (listed above), and, in accordance with the provisions of 
rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will 
occur on Friday, May 9, 2008.
Pages S3851, S3884
   A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, May 
8, 2008, and that all amendments to the bill must be offered during 
Thursday's session, May 8; that the only amendments in order on Monday, 
May 12, 2008, be the following: Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4707 (listed 
above); a managers' amendment if cleared by the managers and Leaders, 
McConnell Amendment No. 4720 (listed above), with Allard Amendment No. 
4721 (listed above) to be withdrawn prior to a vote on or in relation 
to McConnell Amendment No. 4720, an amendment offered by Senator Reid 
and others relating to the subject of energy; provided further, that 
the McConnell and Reid amendments be subject to a 60 affirmative vote 
threshold, that if either amendment achieves that threshold, the 
amendment be agreed to, and that if neither achieves the 60 affirmative 
vote threshold, it be withdrawn; provided further, that the vote with 
respect to McConnell Amendment No. 4720 occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, 
May 12, 2008, to be followed by a vote on or in relation to the Reid 
amendment; and that upon disposition of all amendments, the substitute 
amendment, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; provided further, that 
Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended.
Page S3884
   Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act--Agreement: Senate 
began consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 
980, to provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers 
employed by States or their political subdivisions.
Page S3883
   A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to 
proceed to consideration of H.R. 980, and, in accordance with the 
provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and 
pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 
a vote on cloture will occur on Monday, May 12, 2008 upon disposition 
of S. 2284 or H.R. 3121, Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act; 
and that on Monday, May 12, 2008, all time after the Senate convenes 
until 5:30 p.m., be equally divided and controlled between the two 
Leaders, or their designees.
Page S3883
  Subsequently, the motion to proceed was withdrawn.
Page S3833
House Messages:
Higher Education Act Programs Extension: Senate concurred in the 
amendment of the House of Representatives to S. 2929, to temporarily 
extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965. 
                                                         Pages S3929-30
Appointments:
  Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction 
Proliferation and Terrorism: The Chair, on behalf of the Vice 
President, pursuant to Public Law 110-53, appointed the following 
individuals to serve as members of the Commission on the Prevention of 
Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: Robin 
Cleveland of Virginia, and James Talent of Missouri.
  Page S3931
  Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction 
Proliferation and Terrorism: The Chair, on behalf of the Vice 
President, pursuant to Public Law 110-53, appointed the following 
individuals to serve as members of the Commission on the Prevention of 
Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: Graham Allison 
of Massachusetts, and Richard Verma of Maryland.
  Page S3931
  Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction 
Proliferation and Terrorism: The Chair, on behalf of the Vice 
President, pursuant to Public Law 110-53, appointed the following 
individual to serve as a member and Chairman of the Commission on the 
Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: 
The Honorable Bob Graham of Florida.
  Page S3931
Messages from the President: Senate received the following messages 
from the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the continuation of the 
national emergency that was originally declared in Executive Order 
13338 of May 11, 2004, with respect to the blocking of property of 
certain persons and prohibition of exportation and re-exportation of 
certain goods to Syria; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-46)
Page S3889
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the principal agreement 
and administrative arrangement that has been established between the 
U.S. and Czech Republic relative to social security; which was referred 
to the Committee on Finance. (PM-47)
Page S3889
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:

[[Page D561]]


  William Walter Wilkins, III, of South Carolina, to be United States 
Attorney for the District of South Carolina for the term of four years.
  3 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
Page S3933
Messages from the House:
  Page S3889


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

  
  On Page D561, May 7, 2008, the following language appears: 
Messages from the House: Page S3899
  
  The online Record was corrected to read: Messages from the 
House: Page S3889


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

Measures Referred:
  Page S3889
Measures Read the First Time:
  Pages S3890, S3931
Executive Communications:
  Pages S3890-91
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S3891
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S3892-93
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S3893-S3908
Additional Statements:
  Pages S3886-89
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S3908-29
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S3929
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S3929
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--120) 
                                                         Pages S3878-80
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 9:01 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2008. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S3932.)