[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 15, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D887-D888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                             Tuesday, July 15, 2008

[[Page D887]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate upon reconsideration passed H.R. 6331, Medicare 
      Improvement For Patients and Providers Act, the objections of the 
      President to the contrary notwithstanding.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6677-S6798
Measures Introduced: Six bills and one resolution were introduced, as 
follows: S. 3263-3268, and S. Con. Res. 93.
  Page S6722
Measures Reported:
  S. 2120, to authorize the establishment of a Social Investment and 
Economic Development Fund for the Americas to provide assistance to 
reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic 
opportunity in the countries of the Western Hemisphere. (S. Rept. No. 
110-419)
  S. 2688, to improve the protections afforded under Federal law to 
consumers from contaminated seafood by directing the Secretary of 
Commerce to establish a program, in coordination with other appropriate 
Federal agencies, to strengthen activities for ensuring that seafood 
sold or offered for sale to the public in or affecting interstate 
commerce is fit for human consumption, with an amendment in the nature 
of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-420)
  H.R. 1006, to amend the provisions of law relating to the John H. 
Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-421) 
                                                             Page S6722
Measures Considered:
Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against 
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act: Senate 
continued consideration of the S. 2731, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign 
countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                            Pages S6685-89, S6689-S6705
Rejected:
  DeMint Amendment No. 5078, to limit the countries to which Federal 
financial assistance may be targeted under this Act. (By 70 yeas to 24 
nays (Vote No. 175), Senate tabled the amendment).
Page S6685
  By 16 yeas to 80 nays (Vote No. 176), Bunning Amendment No. 5073, in 
the nature of a substitute.
Pages S6699-S6705
Pending:
  DeMint Amendment No. 5077, to reduce to $35,000,000,000 the amount 
authorized to be appropriated to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and 
malaria in developing countries during the next 5 years.
Page S6685
  Kyl Amendment No. 5082, to limit the period during which 
appropriations may be made to carry out this Act and to create a point 
of order in the Senate against appropriation to carry out this Act that 
exceeds the amount authorized for fiscal year 2013.
Pages S6692-93
  Gregg Amendment No. 5081, to strike the provision requiring the 
development of coordinated oversight plans and to establish an 
independent Inspector General at the Office of the Global AIDS 
Coordinator.
Pages S6693-99
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that no second-
degree amendments be in order to Gregg Amendment No. 5081. 
                                                         Pages S6694-99
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that no second-
degree amendments be in order to DeMint Amendment No. 5077.


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

  
  On page D887, July 15, 2008, the following language appears: A 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that no second-
degree amendments be in order to Gregg Amendment No. 5081. Pages 
S6694-99
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that no second-degree 
amendments be in order to Gregg Amendment No. 5081. Pages S6694-99 
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that no 
second-degree amendments be in order to DeMint Amendment No. 5077.


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

  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  Subsequently, DeMint Amendment No. 5079 (to Amendment No. 5078), to 
prevent certain uses of the Global Fund, fell when DeMint Amendment No. 
5078 (listed above) was tabled.
Page S6685
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, 
July 16, 2008.
Page S6797

[[Page D888]]

Veto Messages:
Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act--Veto Message: By 
70 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. 177), two-thirds of the Senators voting, a 
quorum being present, having voted in the affirmative, 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, upon reconsideration was passed, the 
objections of the President of the United States to the contrary 
notwithstanding.
  Pages S6705-10
Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that S. 3268, to amend the Commodity 
Exchange Act, to prevent excessive price speculation with respect to 
energy commodities, to be introduced by the Majority Leader, on 
Tuesday, July 15, 2008, that notwithstanding an adjournment of the 
Senate on Tuesday, July 15, 2008, it be considered to have received a 
first reading.
  Page S6797
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Thomas J. Madison, of New York, to be Administrator of the Federal 
Highway Administration.
  Beverly Allen, of Georgia, to be a Member of the National Museum and 
Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2013.
  Donald H. Dyal, of Texas, to be a Member of the National Museum and 
Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2013.
  Jeffrey B. Rudman, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the National 
Museum and Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2013.
  Timothy G. Dugan, of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge 
for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
  Michael G. Considine, of Connecticut, to be United States Attorney 
for the District of Connecticut for the term of four years.
  Benton J. Campbell, of New Jersey, to be United States Attorney for 
the Eastern District of New York for the term of four years.
  A. Brian Albritton, of Florida, to be United States Attorney for the 
Middle District of Florida for the term of four years.
  David Reid Murtaugh, of Indiana, to be Deputy Director for State, 
Local, and Tribal Affairs, Office of National Drug Control Policy.
  40 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general. 
                                                     Pages S6718, S6798
Messages from the House:
  Pages S6718-19
Measures Referred:
  Page S6719
Measures Read the First Time:
  Page S6719
Enrolled Bills Presented:
  Page S6719
Petitions and Memorials:
  Pages S6719-22
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S6722-23
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S6723-30
Additional Statements:
  Pages S6717-18
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S6730-35
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
  Page S6735
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Page S6735
Text of H.R. 3221, as Previously Passed:
  Pages S6735-97
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--177) 
                                              Pages S6685, S6704, S6710
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:01 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2008. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on pages 
S6797-98.)