[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 150 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1127-D1129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                         Monday, September 22, 2008

[[Page D1127]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S9169-S9221
Measures Introduced: Ten bills and ten resolutions were introduced, as 
follows: S. 3528-3537, S. Res. 669-677, and S. Con. Res. 100. 
                                                             Page S9204
Measures Reported:
  S. 1577, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to 
require screening, including national criminal history background 
checks, of direct patient access employees of skilled nursing 
facilities, nursing facilities, and other long-term care facilities and 
providers, and to provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program 
for national and State background checks on direct patient access 
employees of long-term care facilities or providers, with an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-474)
  S. 1933, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide grants to 
small public drinking water systems. (S. Rept. No. 110-475)
  S. 199, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Amendments of 1996 to modify 
the grant program to improve sanitation in rural and Native villages in 
the State of Alaska. (S. Rept. No. 110-476)
  S. 906, to prohibit the sale, distribution, transfer, and export of 
elemental mercury, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. 
Rept. No. 110-477)
  S. 3109, to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a 
hazardous waste electronic manifest system. (S. Rept. No. 110-478)
  S. 3175, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act to reauthorize the predisaster hazard 
mitigation program, to make technical corrections to that Act, with 
amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-479)
  S. 3192, to amend the Act of August 9, 1955, to authorize the Cow 
Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, the Coquille Indian Tribe, and 
the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians of Oregon to obtain 99-
year lease authority for trust land, with an amendment in the nature of 
a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-480)                     
Pages S9203-04
Measures Passed:
Commemorating Irena Sendler: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged 
from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 96, commemorating Irena 
Sendler, a woman whose bravery saved the lives of thousands during the 
Holocaust and remembering her legacy of courage, selflessness, and 
hope, and the resolution was then agreed to.             
  Pages S9179-85
National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 614, designating the 
month of August 2008 as ``National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month'', 
and the resolution was then agreed to.                   
  Pages S9179-85
The Ohio State University Football Team: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 653, celebrating the 
outstanding athletic accomplishments of The Ohio State University 
football team for achieving its 800th all-time victory, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                           
  Pages S9179-85
National Child Awareness Month: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 644, designating 
September 2008 as ``National Child Awareness Month'' to promote 
awareness of charities benefiting children and youth-serving 
organizations throughout the United States and recognizing efforts made 
by these charities and organizations on behalf of children and youth as 
a positive investment in the future of the United States, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                           
  Pages S9179-85
National Runaway Prevention Month: Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further consideration of S. 
Res. 646, recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Runaway Prevention Month, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                         Pages S9179-85
National Assisted Living Week: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 652, designating the 
week beginning September 8, 2008, as ``National Assisted Living Week'', 
and the resolution was then agreed to.                   
  Pages S9179-85

[[Page D1128]]


National Aeronautics and Space Administration 50th Anniversary: 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation was discharged from 
further consideration of S. Res. 651, honoring the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration on the 50th anniversary of its establishment, 
and the resolution was then agreed to.                   
  Pages S9179-85
Dandy-Walker syndrome and hydrocephalus: Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration of H. Con. Res. 163, expressing the sense of Congress in 
support of further research and activities to increase public 
awareness, professional education, diagnosis, and treatment of Dandy-
Walker syndrome and hydrocephalus, and the resolution was then agreed 
to.                                                      
  Pages S9179-85
USS Nautilus (SSN 571) 50th Anniversary: Committee on Armed Services 
was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 648, recognizing 
the 50th anniversary of the crossing of the North Pole by the USS 
Nautilus (SSN 571) and its significance in the history of both our 
Nation and the world, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                         Pages S9179-85
Space Foundation 25th Anniversary: Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
502, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Space Foundation, and 
the resolution was then agreed to.                       
  Pages S9179-85
National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month: Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration of S. Con. Res. 93, supporting the goals and ideals of 
``National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month'', and the resolution 
was then agreed to.                                      
  Pages S9179-85
National Heat Stroke Awareness Month: Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further consideration of H. 
Con. Res. 296, expressing support for the designation of August 2008 as 
``National Heat Stroke Awareness Month'' to raise awareness and 
encourage prevention of heat stroke, and the resolution was then agreed 
to.                                                      
  Pages S9179-85
Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs 40th Anniversary: 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry was discharged from 
further consideration of S. Res. 634, recognizing July 30, 2008, as the 
40th anniversary of the enactment of the resolution establishing the 
Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                           
  Pages S9179-85
National Celiac Disease Awareness Day: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 657, designating 
September 13, 2008, as ``National Celiac Disease Awareness Day'', and 
the resolution was then agreed to.                       
  Pages S9179-85
National First Responder Appreciation Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
670, designating September 25, 2008, as ``National First Responder 
Appreciation Day''.                                      
  Pages S9179-85
University of Maryland School of Medicine 200th Anniversary: Senate 
agreed to S. Res. 671, congratulating the University of Maryland School 
of Medicine on its 200th anniversary.                    
  Pages S9179-85
National Day of Encouragement: Senate agreed to S. Res. 672, 
designating September 12, 2008, as ``National Day of Encouragement''. 
                                                         Pages S9179-85
Workplace Wellness: Senate agreed to S. Res. 673, recognizing the 
importance of workplace wellness as a strategy to help maximize 
employees' health and well being.                        
  Pages S9179-85
National Falls Prevention Awareness Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 674, 
designating September 22, 2008, as ``National Falls Prevention 
Awareness Day'' to raise awareness and encourage the prevention of 
falls among older adults.                                
  Pages S9179-85
National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 675, expressing support for the goals of National Adoption Day and 
National Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and 
the children awaiting families, celebrating children and families 
involved in adoption, and encouraging Americans to secure safety, 
permanency, and well-being for all children.             
  Pages S9179-85
Red Ribbon Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 676, supporting the goals and 
ideals of Red Ribbon Week.                               
  Pages S9179-85
Native American Heritage Day Act: Senate passed H.J. Res. 62, to honor 
the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the United 
States, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
  Page S9186
Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act: Senate passed 
S. 3341, to reauthorize and improve the Federal Financial Assistance 
Management Improvement Act of 1999.                      
  Pages S9217-18
Albuquerque Indian School Act: Senate passed S. 1193, to direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to take into trust 2 parcels of Federal land 
for the benefit of certain Indian Pueblos in the State of New Mexico. 
                                                             Page S9218
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act: Senate 
passed H.R. 6893, to amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social 
Security Act to connect and support relative caregivers, improve 
outcomes for children in foster care, provide for tribal foster care

[[Page D1129]]

and adoption access, improve incentives for adoption, clearing the 
measure for the President.                                   
  Page S9218
North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act: Committee on Foreign 
Relations was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5834, to 
amend the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 to promote respect for 
the fundamental human rights of the people of North Korea, and the bill 
was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed 
thereto:                                                 
  Pages S9218-19
  Reid (for Dodd) Amendment No. 5632, to make certain technical and 
clarifying amendments.                                       
Page S9219
Legal Representation: Senate agreed to S. Res. 677, to authorize 
testimony and legal representation in Ramsey, et al. v. Wilson, et al. 
                                                         Pages S9219-20
Measures Considered:
Advancing America's Priorities Act: Senate began consideration of the 
motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3297, to advance America's 
priorities.                                                  
  Page S9220
Unemployment Compensation--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 3507, to 
provide for additional emergency unemployment compensation, and that 
the bill be referred to the Committee on Finance.            
  Page S9220
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Bill Nelson, of Florida, to be a Representative of the United States 
of America to the Sixty-third Session of the General Assembly of the 
United Nations.
  Bob Corker, of Tennessee, to be a Representative of the United States 
of America to the Sixty-third Session of the General Assembly of the 
United Nations.                                      
Pages S9169, S9221
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  4 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Army.                                 
Page S9220
Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S9200-01
Measures Read the First Time:                                
  Page S9201
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S9201
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S9204-06
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S9206-16
Additional Statements:                                
  Pages S9196-S9200
Amendments Submitted:                                        
  Page S9216
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S9216
Recess: Senate convened at 3 p.m. and recessed at 6:42 p.m., until 10 
a.m. on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S9220.)