[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 22, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D923-D924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                             Tuesday, July 22, 2008

[[Page D923]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6981-S7088
Measures Introduced: Twelve bills and four resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 3297-3308, S. Res. 617-619, and S. Con. Res. 94. 
                                                             Page S7030
Measures Reported:
  S. 3301, making appropriations for military construction, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2009. (S. Rept. No. 110-428)
  S. 2657, to require the Secretary of Commerce to prescribe 
regulations to reduce the incidence of vessels colliding with North 
Atlantic right whales by limiting the speed of vessels, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-429) 
                                                             Page S7029
Measures Passed:
  Clean Boating Act: Senate passed S. 2766, to amend the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act to address certain discharges incidental to the 
normal operation of a recreational vessel.               
  Pages S6981-83
  Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency: Senate passed 
S. 3298, to clarify the circumstances during which the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency and applicable States may require 
permits for discharges from certain vessels, and to require the 
Administrator to conduct a study of discharges incidental to the normal 
operation of vessels.                                    
  Pages S6581-83
  Recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the Integration of the Armed 
Forces: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 94, recognizing the 60th 
anniversary of the integration of the United States Armed Forces. 
                                                         Pages S7078-79
  United States Patent and Trademark Office: Committee on the Judiciary 
was discharged from further consideration of S. 3295, to amend title 
35, United States Code, and the Trademark Act of 1946 to provide that 
the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Director of the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office, shall appoint administrative 
patent judges and administrative trademark judges, and the bill was 
then passed.                                                 
  Page S7079
Measures Considered:
Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act: Senate continued consideration 
of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3268, to amend the 
Commodity Exchange Act, to prevent excessive price speculation with 
respect to energy commodities.              
  Pages S6985-97, S6997-S7025
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By a unanimous vote of 94 yeas (Vote No. 183), three-fifths of those 
Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
agreed to the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed 
to consideration of the bill.                                
Page S6993
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill at 
approximately 10 a.m., on Wednesday, July 23, 2008, and that the time 
during the adjournment count post-cloture; provided further, that the 
time until 11 a.m. be equally divided with Senators permitted to speak 
for up to 10 minutes each, with the Republicans controlling the first 
half of the time and the Majority controlling the final half; and that 
the time from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. be equally divided and controlled by 
the two Leaders, or their designees, in 30 minute alternating blocks of 
time, with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the 
Majority controlling the next 30 minutes.                    
Page S7087
House Messages:
  Block Burmese JADE Act: Senate concurred in the amendments of the 
House of Representatives to the amendments of the Senate to H.R. 3890, 
to amend the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 to impose import 
sanctions on Burmese gemstones, expand the number of individuals 
against whom the visa ban is applicable, expand the blocking of assets 
and other prohibited activities, clearing the measure for the 
President.                                               
  Pages S7079-84
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:

[[Page D924]]

  Transmitting certification that the export of certain materials and 
equipment for production of nutritional supplements is not detrimental 
to the U.S. space launch industry and will not measurably improve 
missile or space launch capabilities of the People's Republic of China; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (PM-58) 
                                                             Page S7029
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Glenn T. Suddaby, of New York, to be United States District Judge for 
the Northern District of New York.                
Pages S7084-87, S7088
  Cathy Seibel, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the 
Southern District of New York.                    
Pages S7084-87, S7088
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  25 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  2 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Army, Navy.             
Pages S7029-30, S7087-88
Measures Read the First Time:                                
  Page S7029
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S7029
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S7029
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S7030-32
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S7032-78
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S7027-28
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S7078
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S7078
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S7078
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--183) 
                                                             Page S6993
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:31 p.m., 
until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S7087.)