[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 85 (Thursday, May 22, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D651-D653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                             Thursday, May 22, 2008

[[Page D651]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      H.R. 2642, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 
      Appropriations Act (Supplemental Appropriations).
      Senate upon reconsideration passed H.R. 2419, Food Conservation 
      and Energy Act, the objections of the President to the contrary 
      notwithstanding.
      H. Con. Res. 355, Adjournment Resolution.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4709-S4850
Measures Introduced: Twenty-five bills and eleven resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 3048-3073, S.J. Res. 34-36, S. Res. 574-579, 
and S. Con. Res. 84-85.
  Pages S4792-93
Measures Reported:
  S. 2420, to encourage the donation of excess food to nonprofit 
organizations that provide assistance to food-insecure people in the 
United States in contracts entered into by executive agencies for the 
provision, service, or sale of food, with an amendment in the nature of 
a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-338)
  S. 1581, to establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean 
acidification research and monitoring plan and to establish an ocean 
acidification program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-339)
  S. 2482, to repeal the provision of title 46, United States Code, 
requiring a license for employment in the business of salvaging on the 
coast of Florida. (S. Rept. No. 110-340)
  S. 2307, to amend the Global Change Research Act of 1990, with 
amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-341)
  S. Res. 563, designating September 13, 2008, as ``National Childhood 
Cancer Awareness Day''.
  S. Res. 567, designating June 2008 as ``National Internet Safety 
Month''.
  S. 1210, to extend the grant program for drug-endangered children.
  S. 2982, to amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize 
appropriations, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S4791
Measures Passed:
  Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act: Senate passed H.R. 
6081, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide benefits 
for military personnel, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                         Pages S4772-74
  Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act: Senate passed S. 1965, 
to protect children from cybercrimes, including crimes by online 
predators, to enhance efforts to identify and eliminate child 
pornography, and to help parents shield their children from material 
that is inappropriate for minors, after agreeing to the committee 
amendments, and the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S4837-39
  Reid (for Stevens) Amendment No. 4819, to strike the authorization of 
appropriations and the additional child pornography amendments. 
                                                         Pages S4838-39
  Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination 
Reauthorization Act: Senate passed S. 2062, to amend the Native 
American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 to 
reauthorize that Act, after agreeing to the committee amendments, and 
the following amendment proposed thereto:
  Pages S4839-44
  Reid (for Dodd/Shelby) Amendment No. 4820, to modify provisions 
relating to use of treatment of funds, amounts, an allocation formula, 
and a demonstration program.
Page S4844
  Federal Food Donation Act: Senate passed S. 2420, to encourage the 
donation of excess food to

[[Page D652]]

nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to food-insecure people 
in the United States in contracts entered into by executive agencies 
for the provision, service, or sale of food, after agreeing to the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  Pages S4844-45
  National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
563, designating September 13, 2008, as ``National Childhood Cancer 
Awareness Day''.
  Page S4845
  National Internet Safety Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 567, 
designating June 2008 as ``National Internet Safety Month''. 
                                                         Pages S4845-46
  Gasoline Usage: Senate agreed to S. Res. 577, to express the sense of 
the Senate regarding the use of gasoline and other fuels by Federal 
departments and agencies.
  Page S4846
  Congressional Club 100th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 578, 
recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Congressional 
Club.
  Page S4847
  National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 579, 
designating the week beginning May 26, 2008, as ``National Hurricane 
Preparedness Week''.
  Pages S4847-48
  Use of Capitol Rotunda: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 85, authorizing 
the use of the rotunda of the Capitol to honor Frank W. Buckles, the 
last surviving United States veteran of the First World War. 
                                                             Page S4848
  Adjournment Resolution: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 355, providing 
for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a 
conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate.
  Page S4848
Measures Considered:
Climate Security Act--Agreement: Senate began consideration of the 
motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3036, to direct the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a 
program to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases.
  Page S4837
   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, May 22, 2008, 
a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, June 2, 2008. 
                                                             Page S4837
   Subsequently, the motion to proceed was withdrawn.
Page S4837
   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, June 2, 2008, and that the 
time from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., be equally divided and controlled 
between the two Leaders, or their designees.
Page S4849
Veto Messages:
Food Conservation and Energy Act--Veto Message: By 82 yeas to 13 nays, 
1 responding present (Vote No. 140), two-thirds of the Senators voting, 
a quorum being present, having voted in the affirmative, H.R. 2419, to 
provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal 
year 2012, upon reconsideration was passed, the objections of the 
President of the United States to the contrary notwithstanding. 
                                        Pages S4713-14, S4743, S4743-55
House Messages:
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act: Senate 
resumed consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 2642, 
making appropriations for military construction, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2008, and taking action on the following amendments 
proposed thereto:
  Pages S4709-13, S4714-42
Adopted:
  By 75 yeas to 22 nays (Vote No. 137), Reid Motion to Concur in the 
House Amendment No. 2 to the Senate amendment to the bill with 
Amendment No. 4803, in the nature of a substitute. (A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that the motion, having achieved 60 
affirmatives votes, be agreed to).
Pages S4710-13, S4714-41
  By 70 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. 139), Reid Motion to Concur in the 
amendment of the House No. 1 to the amendment of the Senate to the bill 
with Reid Amendment No. 4818, in the nature of a substitute. (A 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the motion, 
having achieved 60 affirmatives votes, be agreed to).
Page S4742
Withdrawn:
  The motion to invoke cloture on in the House Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 
2642, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 
with an amendment, Reid Amendment No. 4803.
Page S4741
  Reid Amendment No. 4804 (to Amendment No. 4803), in the nature of a 
substitute.
Pages S4710, S4741
  By 34 yeas to 63 nays (Vote No. 138), Reid Motion to Concur in the 
amendment of the House No. 1 to the amendment of the Senate to the bill 
with Reid Amendment No. 4817, in the nature of a substitute. (A 
unanimous-consent agreement was

[[Page D653]]

reached providing that the motion, having failed to achieve 60 
affirmative votes, be withdrawn.)
Page S4742
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  Chair sustained a point of order against Reid Motion to Concur in the 
amendment of the House No. 1 to the amendment of the Senate to the bill 
with Reid Amendment No. 4816, as being in violation of rule XVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate which prohibits legislation on an 
appropriation bill, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S4741-42
Budget Resolution Conference Report--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-
time agreement was reached providing that when the Senate considers the 
conference report to accompany S. Con. Res. 70, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2009 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2008 and 2010 through 2013, all statutory time be yielded back except 
for 15 minutes to be equally divided and controlled between the 
Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on the Budget; that upon 
the use of that time the vote on adoption of the conference report 
occur at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader following 
consultation with the Republican Leader.
  Page S4743
Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the 
recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the 
President Pro Tempore, and the Majority and Minority Leaders be 
authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, 
conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by 
concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate. 
                                                             Page S4848
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Michael B. Bemis, of Mississippi, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 
2013.
  Patrick J. Durkin, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation for a term 
expiring December 17, 2009.
  David F. Girard-diCarlo, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the 
Republic of Austria.
  John J. Faso, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of 
the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation for a term expiring 
May 29, 2013.
  Joe Manchin III, of West Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of 
Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation for a term 
expiring November 5, 2012.
  Harvey M. Tettlebaum, of Missouri, to be a Member of the Board of 
Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation for a term 
expiring October 3, 2012.
  1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Foreign Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.
Pages S4849-50
Messages from the House:
  Pages S4790-91
Measures Referred:
  Page S4791
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
  Page S4791
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Pages S4791-92
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S4793-95
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S4795-S4810
Additional Statements:
  Pages S4789-90
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S4810-36
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S4836-37
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S4837
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--140) 
                                              Pages S4741, S4742, S4749
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:46 p.m., 
until 10 a.m. on Friday, May 23, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S4849.)