[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 107 (Thursday, June 26, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D822-D824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Thursday, June 26, 2008

[[Page D822]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate concurred in the amendments of the House of 
      Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to the amendment 
      of the House to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 2642, 
      Supplemental Appropriations Act.
      Senate agreed to H. Con. Res 379, Adjournment Resolution.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6173-S6307
Measures Introduced: Nineteen bills and four resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 3200-3218, S. Res. 603-605, and S. Con. Res. 
92.
  Pages S6285-86
Measures Reported:
  H.R. 5690, To remove the African National Congress from treatment as 
a terrorist organization for certain acts or events, provide relief for 
certain members of the African National Congress regarding 
admissibility, with an amendment.
  S. Res. 594, designating September 2008 as ``Tay-Sachs Awareness 
Month''.
  S. 2979, to exempt the African National Congress from treatment as a 
terrorist organization.
Page S6283
Measures Passed:
  Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act: Senate passed H.R. 
6327, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding 
and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, 
clearing the measure for the President.
  Page S6176
  African National Congress: Senate passed H.R. 5690, to remove the 
African National Congress from treatment as a terrorist organization 
for certain acts or events, provide relief for certain members of the 
African National Congress regarding admissibility, after agreeing to 
the committee amendment.
  Pages S6231-32
  Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act: Senate 
passed S. 2565, to establish an awards mechanism to honor exceptional 
acts of bravery in the line of duty by Federal, State, and Local law 
enforcement officers, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
  Pages S6300-02
  John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act: Senate passed H.R. 3986, 
to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize appropriations for 
the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, after agreeing to 
the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  Pages S6302-03
  Maritime Pollution Prevention Act: Senate passed H.R. 802, to Prevent 
Pollution from Ships to implement MARPOL Annex VI, after agreeing to 
the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  Pages S6303-04
  Congratulating California State University, Fresno Baseball Team: 
Senate agreed to S. Res. 604, congratulating the California State 
University, Fresno Bulldogs baseball team for winning the 2008 National 
Collegiate Athletics Association Division I College World Series. 
                                                         Pages S6304-05
  60th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift: Senate agreed to S. Res. 605, 
commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift and honoring 
the veterans of Operation Vittles.
  Page S6305
  Adjournment Resolution: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 379, providing 
for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a 
conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate.
  Pages S6305-06
  Criminal History Background Checks Pilot Program: Senate passed S. 
3218, to extend the pilot program for volunteer groups to obtain 
criminal history background checks.
  Page S6306

[[Page D823]]

Measures Considered:
  FISA Amendments Act: Senate continued consideration of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of H.R. 6304, to amend the Foreign 
Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for 
authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence. 
                                                      Pages S6177-S6207
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that on 
Tuesday, July 8, 2008, at a time to be determined by the Majority 
Leader, following consultation with the Republican Leader, all post-
cloture time be yielded back, and the motion to proceed to 
consideration of the bill be agreed to; that the only amendments in 
order be the following: Dodd/Feingold/Leahy amendment to strike 
immunity, Specter amendment which is relevant, Bingaman amendment 
concerning staying court cases against telecom companies and that no 
other amendments be in order; that debate time on the Bingaman 
amendment be limited to 60 minutes, and 2 hours each with respect to 
the Dodd and Specter amendments, and that all time be equally divided 
and controlled in the usual form, except that 10 minutes of the Dodd 
time be under the control of Senator Leahy; that upon the use or 
yielding back of all time, Senate vote on the pending amendments, there 
be 2 minutes of debate prior to each vote, and that after the first 
vote in a sequence, succeeding votes be limited to 10 minutes each; 
that the Specter and Bingaman amendments be subject to an affirmative 
60-vote threshold, and that if they do not achieve that threshold, they 
be withdrawn; if they achieve that threshold, they be agreed to and the 
motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that 
upon the disposition of all amendments, Senate vote on the motion to 
invoke cloture on the bill; provided further, that prior to the cloture 
vote, there be 60 minutes plus the time specified below for debate time 
equally divided and controlled between the Majority and Republican 
Leaders, or their designees: 10 minutes under the control of Senator 
Leahy, with an additional 30 minutes under the control of Senator 
Feingold, with an additional 15 minutes under the control of Senator 
Dodd; provided further, that if cloture is invoked on the bill, then 
all post-cloture time be yielded back, and Senate vote on passage of 
the bill, as amended, if amended; and that it be in order to the file 
the cloture motion on the bill at anytime prior to the cloture vote, 
with the mandatory quorum waived, notwithstanding rule XXII, if 
applicable, and that if applicable post-cloture time be charged during 
this agreement.
Page S6224
  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 Tuesday, July 8, 2008. 
                                                             Page S6224
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act: Senate began 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 6331, 
to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend 
expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary 
access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income 
benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, 
including pharmacy access.
  Pages S6225-31
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 58 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No.160), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to 
consideration of the bill.
Page S6231
  Senator Reid entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture 
on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill failed. 
                                                             Page S6231
  Subsequently, the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill was 
withdrawn and the measure was returned to the Senate calendar.
House Messages:
Foreclosure Prevention Act: Senate began consideration of the motion to 
concur in the amendments of the House of Representatives, striking 
Title VI through XI, to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 3221, to 
provide needed housing reform.
  Pages S6224-25
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to concur 
in the amendments of the House of Representatives, striking Title VI 
through XI, to the amendment of the Senate to 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 June 26, 
2008, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 
2008, and that the post-cloture time count as if the vote had occurred 
at 5 p.m.
Page S6224
Supplemental Appropriations Act: By 92 yeas to 6 nays (Vote No. 162), 
Senate concurred in the amendments of the House of Representatives to 
the amendment of the Senate to the amendment of the House to the 
amendment of the Senate to H.R. 2642, making appropriations for 
military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related 
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. 
                                                         Pages S6234-67
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:

[[Page D824]]


  By 77 yeas to 21 nays (Vote No. 161), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion to waive section 204 of S. Con. Res. 21, FY08 
Congressional Budget Resolution, with respect to the emergency 
designation provision in the bill. The point of order that the 
provision was in violation of section 204 of S. Con. Res. 21, FY08 
Congressional Budget Resolution, was not sustained.
Pages S6238-39
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the issuance of an 
Executive Order continuing certain restrictions on North Korea and 
North Korean nationals imposed under the Trading with the Enemy Act; 
which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs. (PM-55)
Page S6281
Executive Reports of Committees: Senate received the following 
executive report of a committee:
  Report to accompany Protocol of Amendments to Convention on 
International Hydrographic Organization (Treaty Doc. 110-9) (Ex. Rept. 
110-10).
Page S6283
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By unanimous vote of 97 yeas (Vote No. EX. 159), William T. Lawrence, 
of Indiana, to be United States District Judge for the Southern 
District of Indiana.
Pages S6207-11, S6307
  G. Murray Snow, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for 
the District of Arizona.
Pages S6211, S6307
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Mark Everett Keenum, of Mississippi, to be a Member of the Farm 
Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit Administration for a term 
expiring May 21, 2014.
  Joseph F. Bader, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the 
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board for a term expiring October 18, 
2012.
  Richard A. Anderson, of Georgia, to be a Member of the Internal 
Revenue Service Oversight Board for a term expiring September 14, 2013.
  Matthew A. Reynolds, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Secretary 
of State (Legislative Affairs).
  Mary Lucille Jordan, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Federal Mine 
Safety and Health Review Commission for a term of six years expiring 
August 30, 2014.
  Peter Robert Kann, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2010.
  Michael Meehan, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board 
of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2010.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Marine Corps.
Page S6306
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, of Wisconsin, to be a Member of the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2007, 
which was sent to the Senate on January 9, 2007.
Page S6307
Messages from the House:
  Page S6281
Measures Referred:
  Page S6281
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
  Page S6282
Measures Read the First Time:
  Page S6282
Enrolled Bills Presented:
  Page S6282
Executive Communications:
  Pages S6282-83
Petitions and Memorials:
  Page S6283
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Pages S6283-85
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S6286-87
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S6287-98
Additional Statements:
  Pages S6279-80
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S6298-99
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Page S6299
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S6299-S6300
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--162) 
                                 Pages S6210-11, S6231, S6238-39, S6267
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 10:58 p.m., 
until 9:45 a.m. on Friday, June 27, 2008. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S6306.)