[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 14, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D597-D598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Wednesday, May 14, 2008

[[Page D597]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      The House agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 
      2419--Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
      House Committees ordered reported 13 measures, including the 
      National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4123-S4210
Measures Introduced: Five bills and three resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 3015-3019, and S. Res. 564-566.
  Pages S4181-82
Measures Passed:
  Temporary Extension of Programs: Senate passed H.R. 6051, 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 
May 16, 2008, clearing the measure for the President.
  Page S4202
  Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Senate passed H.R. 6022, to suspend the 
acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, clearing 
the measure for the President.
  Page S4202
  Military Kids Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 565, designating May 15, 
2008 as Military Kids Day.
  Page S4202
  National Aphasia Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 566, 
designating June 2008 as ``National Aphasia Awareness Month'' and 
supporting efforts to increase awareness of aphasia.
  Page S4202
Measures Considered:
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act: Senate continued 
consideration of H.R. 980, to provide collective bargaining rights for 
public safety officers employed by States or their political 
subdivisions, and taking action on the following amendments proposed 
thereto:
  Pages S4130-50
Rejected:
  Graham Amendment No. 4763 (to the text of the bill proposed to be 
stricken by Amendment No. 4751), to improve educational assistance for 
members of the Armed Forces and veterans in order to enhance 
recruitment and retention for the Armed Forces. (By 55 yeas to 42 nays 
(Vote No. 127), Senate tabled the amendment).
Pages S4135-38


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

  
  On Page D597, May 14, 2008, under Measures Considered: the 
following language appears: Rejected: Graham Amendment No. 4763 
(to the text of the bill proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 
4751), to improve educational assistance for members of the Armed 
Forces and veterans in order to enhance recruitment and retention 
for the Armed Forces. (By 55 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 127), 
Senate tabled the amendment). Page S4135
  
  The online Record was corrected to read: Rejected: Graham 
Amendment No. 4763 (to the text of the bill proposed to be 
stricken by Amendment No. 4751), to improve educational assistance 
for members of the Armed Forces and veterans in order to enhance 
recruitment and retention for the Armed Forces. (By 55 yeas to 42 
nays (Vote No. 127), Senate tabled the amendment). Pages S4135-38


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

Pending:
  Reid (for Gregg/Kennedy) Amendment No. 4751, in the nature of a 
substitute.
Page S4130
  Hatch Amendment No. 4755 (to Amendment No. 4751), to provide for a 
public safety officer bill of rights.
Page S4130
  Alexander Amendment No. 4760 (Amendment No. 4751), to guarantee 
public safety and local control of taxes and spending.
Page S4130
  Leahy Amendment No. 4759 (to Amendment No. 4751), to reauthorize the 
bulletproof vest partnership grant and provide a waiver for hardship 
for the matching grant program for law enforcement armor vests. 
                                                             Page S4130
  Corker Amendment No. 4761 (to Amendment No. 4751), to permit States 
to pass laws to exempt such States from the provisions of this Act. 
                                                             Page S4130
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the Graham Amendment 
No. 4763 (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 16, 2008.
Page S4135
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the Reid (for Gregg/
Kennedy) Amendment No. 4751 (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 16, 2008.
Page S4150
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the bill 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 16, 2008. 
                                                             Page S4150

[[Page D598]]


  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  Subsequently, McConnell Amendment No. 4764 (to Amendment No. 4763), 
to improve educational assistance for members of the Armed Forces and 
veterans in order to enhance recruitment and retention for the Armed 
Forces, fell when Graham Amendment No. 4763 (to the text of the bill 
proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 4751) (listed above) was 
tabled.
                                                             Page S4135
  The motion to invoke cloture on Graham Amendment No. 4763 (to 
Amendment No. 4751) (listed above), was rendered moot when the 
amendment was tabled (listed above).
                                                             Page S4135
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Members have 
until 1:00 on Thursday, May 15, 2008, to file first-degree amendments. 
                                                             Page S4210
Conference Reports:
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act--Conference Report: Senate began 
consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2419, to 
provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal 
year 2012.
  Pages S4150-72, S4202-10
  Senator Gregg raised a point of order under Section 203 of S. Con. 
Res. 21, FY08 Congressional Budget Resolution that the conference 
report would cause an increase in the deficit in excess of levels 
permitted by S. Con. Res. 21.
                                                             Page S4160
  Senator Conrad made a motion to waive Section 203 of S. Con. Res. 21, 
FY08 Congressional Budget Resolution for the conference report. 
                                                             Page S4160
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the conference report at approximately 9:30 a.m., on 
Thursday, May 15, 2008, and that there be 90 minutes of debate, with 
the time equally divided and controlled between the Majority Leader and 
Republican Leader, or their designees; provided further, that if any 
motions to waive are made in response to points of order, that those 
votes occur in the order in which made prior to the vote on adoption of 
the conference report on Thursday, May 15, 2008, and that Senate vote 
on adoption of the conference report.
                                                             Page S4150
Messages from the House
  Page S4178
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
  Pages S4123, S4179
Executive Communications:
  Pages S4179-81
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S4182-83
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S4183-86
Additional Statements:
  Pages S4177-78
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S4186-S4201
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S4201
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S4202
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--127) 
                                                         Pages S4137-38
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 10:45 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2008. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S4210.)