[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 4, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D681-D684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Wednesday, June 4, 2008

[[Page D681]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany S. Con. Res. 
      70, Budget Resolution.

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4993-S5126
Measures Introduced: Five bills and two resolutions were introduced, as 
follows: S. 3079-3083, and S. Res. 582-583.
  Pages S5039-40
Measures Reported:
  H.R. 781, to redesignate Lock and Dam No. 5 of the McClellan-Kerr 
Arkansas River Navigation System near Redfield, Arkansas, authorized by 
the Rivers and Harbors Act approved July 24, 1946, as the ``Colonel 
Charles D. Maynard Lock and Dam''.
  H.R. 1019, to designate the United States customhouse building 
located at 31 Gonzalez Clemente Avenue in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, as the 
``Rafael Martinez Nadal United States Customhouse Building''.
  H.R. 3986, to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize 
appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  H.R. 4140, to designate the Port Angeles Federal Building in Port 
Angeles, Washington, as the ``Richard B. Anderson Federal Building''.
  S. 2403, to designate the new Federal Courthouse, located in the 700 
block of East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, as the ``Spottswood W. 
Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr. Federal Courthouse''.
  S. 2837, to designate the United States courthouse located at 225 
Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York, as the ``Theodore Roosevelt 
United States Courthouse''.
  S. 2942, to authorize funding for the National Advocacy Center.
  S. 3009, to designate the Federal Bureau of Investigation building 
under construction in Omaha, Nebraska, as the ``J. James Exon Federal 
Bureau of Investigation Building''.
Page S5039
Measures Passed:
  American Eagle Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 583, designating June 
20, 2008, as ``American Eagle Day'', and celebrating the recovery and 
restoration of the bald eagle, the national symbol of the United 
States.
  Pages S5119-20
Measures Considered:
Climate Security Act: Senate began consideration of S. 3036, to direct 
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a 
program to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, after agreeing to 
the motion to proceed to it consideration, and taking action on the 
following amendment proposed thereto:
  Pages S5014-20
Pending:
  Reid (for Boxer) Amendment No. 4825, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                         Pages S5014-15
  Reid Amendment No. 4826 (to Amendment No. 4825), to express the sense 
of the Senate that the United States should address global climate 
change through the negotiation of fair and effective international 
commitments.
Page S5017
  Reid Amendment No. 4827 (to Amendment No. 4826), to express the sense 
of the Senate that the United States should address global climate 
change through the negotiation of fair and effective international 
commitments.
Pages S5017-18
  Reid Amendment No. 4828 (to the language proposed to be stricken by 
Reid (for Boxer Amendment No. 4825), to provide for the enactment date.
                                                             Page S5018
  Reid Amendment No. 4829 (to Amendment No. 4828), to change the 
enactment date.
Page S5018
  Reid Motion to Commit the bill to the Committee on the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works with instructions to report back 
forthwith, with Reid Amendment No. 4830, to provide for the enactment 
date.
Page S5019

[[Page D682]]


  Reid Amendment No. 4831 (the instructions of the Reid motion to 
commit), to change the enactment date.
Page S5019
  Reid Amendment No. 4832 (to Amendment No. 4831), to change the 
enactment date.
Page S5019
  A motion was entered to close further debate on Reid (for Boxer) 
Amendment No. 4825, and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII 
of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on 
Friday, June 6, 2008.
Page S5019
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 27 yeas to 28 nays (Vote No. 143), Senate rejected the motion to 
instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request the attendance of absent 
Senators.
Page S5015
Consumer-First Energy Act: Senate began consideration of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of S. 3044, to provide energy price relief and 
hold oil companies and other entities accountable for their actions 
with regard to high energy prices.
  Page S5020
  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, a vote on cloture will 
occur on Friday, June 6, 2008.
Page S5020
  Subsequently, the motion to close further debate was withdrawn. 
                                                             Page S5020
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senate 
continue consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the 
bill at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2008. 
                                                             Page S5120
Conference Reports:
Budget Resolution Conference Report: By 48 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 
142), Senate agreed to 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.
  Pages S5005-08
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time 
agreement was reached providing that at 4:00 p.m., on Thursday, June 5, 
2008, Senate begin consideration of H.R. 6124, to provide for the 
continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of 
Agriculture through fiscal year 2012; that there be 60 minutes of 
debate divided in the following manner: Senator DeMint, 30 minutes, 
Senator Coburn, 20 minutes, and 10 minutes to be controlled by the 
Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry; provided further, that upon the use or yielding back of 
time, Senate vote on passage of the bill; and that no amendments be in 
order to the bill.
  Pages S5020-21
Signing Authority-Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the Majority Leader, be authorized to sign duly enrolled 
bills and joint resolutions through Monday, June 9, 2008.
  Page S5120
Removal of Injunction of Secrecy: The injunction of secrecy was removed 
from the following treaty:
  Tax Convention with Bulgaria with Proposed Protocol of Amendment 
(Treaty Doc. No. 110-18).
  The treaty was transmitted to the Senate today, considered as having 
been read for the first time, and referred, with accompanying papers, 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed. 
                                                             Page S5120
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Ellen C. Williams, of Kentucky, to be a Governor of the United States 
Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2014.
  William H. Graves, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 
2012.
  Eric J. Tanenblatt, of Georgia, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a 
term expiring October 6, 2012. (Prior to this action, Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration.)
  James K. Glassman, of Connecticut, to be Under Secretary of State for 
Public Diplomacy with the rank of Ambassador.
  Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to 
the Republic of Senegal, and to serve concurrently and without 
additional compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
  Richard A. Boucher, of Maryland, a Career Member of the Senior 
Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, for the personal rank of 
Career Ambassador in recognition of especially distinguished service 
over a sustained period.
  William J. Burns, of the District of Columbia, a Career Member of the 
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, for the personal rank 
of Career Ambassador in recognition of especially distinguished service 
over a sustained period.
  Anne Woods Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior 
Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, for the personal rank of 
Career Ambassador in recognition of especially distinguished service 
over a sustained period.
  C. David Welch, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign 
Service, Class of Career Minister,

[[Page D683]]

for the personal rank of Career Ambassador in recognition of especially 
distinguished service over a sustained period.
  William J. Brennan, of Maine, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce 
for Oceans and Atmosphere.
  Elisebeth C. Cook, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney General.
  Marianne Matuzic Myles, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Cape Verde.
  Linda Thomas-Greenfield, of Louisiana, to be Ambassador to the 
Republic of Liberia.
  Hyepin Christine Im, of California, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a 
term expiring October 6, 2013. (Prior to this action, Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration.)
  Layshae Ward, of Minnesota, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term 
expiring December 27, 2012. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration.)
  Joseph Evan LeBaron, of Oregon, to be Ambassador to the State of 
Qatar.
  Stephen James Nolan, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Botswana.


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

  
  On page D683, June 4, 2008, the following language appears: 
Joseph Evan LeBaron, of Oregon, to be Ambassador to the State of 
Qatar. Stephen James Nolan, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the 
Republic of Botswana.
  
  The online Record was corrected to read: Joseph Evan LeBaron, of 
Oregon, to be Ambassador to the State of Qatar.
  
   
  
  Stephen James Nolan, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the 
Republic of Botswana.


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

  Donald E. Booth, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Zambia.
  Gillian Arlette Milovanovic, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the 
Republic of Mali.
  Paul A. Schneider, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland 
Security.
  Nanci E. Langley, of Virginia, to be a Commissioner of the Postal 
Regulatory Commission for a term expiring November 22, 2012.
  Donald Gene Teitelbaum, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Ghana.
  Nancy M. Zirkin, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the United States Institute of Peace for a term expiring 
January 19, 2011. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration.)
  J. Robinson West, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the 
Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace for a term 
expiring January 19, 2011. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration.)
  Kerry Kennedy, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the United States Institute of Peace for a term expiring January 19, 
2011. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.)
  Ikram U. Khan, of Nevada, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of 
the United States Institute of Peace for a term expiring January 19, 
2009. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.)
  Stephen D. Krasner, of California, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the United States Institute of Peace for a term expiring 
January 19, 2011. (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration.)
  Lily Fu Claffee, of Illinois, to be General Counsel of the Department 
of Commerce.
  Robert Stephen Beecroft, of California, to be Ambassador to the 
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
  Richard E. Hoagland, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to 
the Republic of Kazakhstan.
  Janice L. Jacobs, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(Bureau of Consular Affairs).
  Peter William Bodde, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Malawi.
  Patricia McMahon Hawkins, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the 
Togolese Republic.
  Steven C. Preston, of Illinois, to be Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development. (Prior to this action, Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs was discharged from further consideration.)
  William Walter Wilkins III, of South Carolina, to be United States 
Attorney for the District of South Carolina for the term of four years.
  4 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  27 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  24 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Foreign Service, Navy. 
                                               Pages S5024-26, S5124-26
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  William B. Carr, Jr., of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the United 
States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2011.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Navy.
Pages S5120-24
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  John R. Steer, of Virginia, to be a Member of the United States 
Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2011 (Recess 
Appointment), which was sent to the Senate on January 9, 2007. 
                                                             Page S5126
Messages from the House:
  Page S5037
Measures Referred:
  Page S5037
Measures Read the First Time:
  Page S5120
Executive Communications:
  Pages S5037-39

[[Page D684]]

Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S5040-41
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S5041-48
Additional Statements:
  Pages S5034-37
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S5048-S5118
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Pages S5118-19
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S5119
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S5119
Quorum Calls: One quorum call was taken today. (Total--2)
  Page S5015
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--143) 
                                                  Pages S5007-08, S5015
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 
and adjourned at 12:18 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2008, until 9:30 a.m. 
on the same day. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting 
Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S5120.)