[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1286-D1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                        Thursday, November 20, 2008

[[Page D1286]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S10681-S10777
Measures Introduced: Fifteen bills and twelve resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 13, 16-20, 3709-3717, S. Res. 710-720, and 
S. Con. Res. 106.
  Pages S10742-43
Measures Passed:
  Unemployment Compensation Extension Act: Senate passed H.R. 6867, to 
provide for additional emergency unemployment compensation, after 
agreeing to the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill, 
clearing the measure for the President.
  Pages S10701-02
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 89 yeas to 6 nays (Vote No. 214), 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 S10701
  Dr. Walter Carl Gordon, Jr. Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 
6859, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 1501 South Slappey Boulevard in Albany, Georgia, as the 
``Dr. Walter Carl Gordon, Jr. Post Office Building'', clearing the 
measure for the President.
  Page S10768
  Joseph A. Ryan Post Office Building: Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration of 
S. 3681, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 5070 Vegas Valley Drive in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the 
``Joseph A. Ryan Post Office Building'', and the bill was then passed. 
                                                            Page S10768
  Federal Judiciary Cost of Living Adjustment: Senate passed S. 3711, 
to authorize a cost of living adjustment for the Federal judiciary. 
                                                        Pages S10768-69
  Technical Correction: Senate passed S. 3712, to make a technical 
correction in the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity 
and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
  Page S10769
  Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act: Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation was discharged from further 
consideration of S. 3663, to require the Federal Communications 
Commission to provide for a short-term extension of the analog 
television broadcasting authority so that essential public safety 
announcements and digital television transition information may be 
provided for a short time during the transition to digital television 
broadcasting, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the 
following amendment proposed thereto:
  Pages S10769-71
  Dorgan (for Rockefeller) Amendment No. 5698, to provide for the 
short-term partial extension of analog broadcasting.
Pages S10770-71
  Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall: Senate agreed to H. Con. 
Res. 435, authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall on December 2, 2008, 
for ceremonies and activities held in connection with the opening of 
the Capitol Visitor Center to the public.
  Page S10771
  Bluefin Tuna Conservation: Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
709, expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should 
pursue the adoption of bluefin tuna conservation and management 
measures at the 16th Special Meeting of the International Commission on 
the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, and the resolution was then agreed 
to.
  Pages S10771-72
  Stoning Death in Somalia: Senate agreed to S. Res. 711, condemning 
the tragic and senseless death by stoning of a 13-year-old girl from 
Somalia.
  Page S10772
  Congratulating Philadelphia Phillies: Senate agreed to S. Res. 712, 
congratulating the Philadelphia Phillies on winning the 2008 World 
Series.
  Pages S10772-73
  Democratic Republic of Congo: Senate agreed to S. Res. 713, calling 
on all parties to the escalating violence in eastern Democratic 
Republic of Congo to implement an immediate ceasefire and work with

[[Page D1287]]

the support of the international community toward a comprehensive and 
lasting solution to the crisis.
  Pages S10773-75
  Honoring California Firefighters and Emergency Workers: Senate agreed 
to S. Res. 714, honoring the firefighters and emergency workers who 
courageously fought fires in California in 2008.
  Page S10775
  Senate National Security Working Group Authority: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 715, extending the authority for the Senate National Security 
Working Group.
  Page S10775
Measures Considered:
Advancing America's Priorities Act: Senate continued consideration of 
the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3297, to advance America's 
priorities.
  Page S10702
Appointments:
  United States-China Economic Security Review Commission: The Chair, 
on behalf of the President pro tempore, pursuant to Public Law 106-398, 
as amended by Public Law 108-7, in accordance with the qualifications 
specified under section 1238(b)(3)(E) of Public Law 106-398, and upon 
the recommendation of the Majority Leader, in consultation with the 
chairmen of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Senate 
Committee on Finance, reappointed the following individual to the 
United States-China Economic Security Review Commission: Peter 
Videnieks of Virginia, for a term beginning January 1, 2009 and 
expiring December 31, 2010.
  Page S10776
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that during the session of the Senate on Thursday, November 
20, 2008, the Majority Leader, be authorized to sign duly enrolled 
bills or joint resolutions.
  Page S10707
Tributes to Retiring Senators--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement 
was reached providing that the order from September 27, 2008 regarding 
tributes to retiring Senators be modified so that Senators be permitted 
to submit such tributes for inclusion in a Senate document until 
Friday, December 12, 2008.
  Page S10776
Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the 
upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the 
Senate, the President pro tempore, and the Majority and Minority 
Leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, 
boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by 
law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.
                                                            Page S10776
Pro Forma Sessions--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that Senate meet the following days and times for pro 
forma sessions only with no business conducted: Monday, November 24 at 
9:30 a.m.; Wednesday, November 26 at 10 a.m.; Saturday, November 29 at 
2 p.m.; Tuesday, December 2 at 10:30 a.m.; and Friday, December 5 at 11 
a.m.; that when Senate recesses on Friday, December 5, 2008, it stand 
in recess until 3 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 2008; that following the 
prayer and pledge, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, the 
time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, 
and Senate be in a period of morning business for up to one hour with 
Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.
  Page S10776
Removal of Injunction of Secrecy: The injunction of secrecy was removed 
from the following treaty:
  Investment Treaty with Rwanda (Treaty Doc. No. 110-23).
  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. 
                                                        Pages S10775-76
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Gene Allan Cretz, of New York, to be Ambassador to Libya.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged 
from further consideration.)
  Ricardo H. Hinojosa, of Texas, to be a Member of the United States 
Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2013.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from 
further consideration.)
  William B. Carr, Jr., of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the United 
States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2011.
  Douglas D. Randall, of Missouri, to be a Member of the National 
Science Board, National Science Foundation, for a term expiring May 10, 
2014.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.)
  Ray M. Bowen, of Texas, to be a Member of the National Science Board, 
National Science Foundation, for a term expiring May 10, 2014.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.)

[[Page D1288]]


  France A. Cordova, of Indiana, to be a Member of the National Science 
Board, National Science Foundation, for a term expiring May 10, 2014.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.)
  G. P. Peterson, of Colorado, to be a Member of the National Science 
Board, National Science Foundation, for a term expiring May 10, 2014.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.)
  Alfred S. Irving, Jr., of the District of Columbia, to be an 
Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for 
the term of fifteen years.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration.)
  Kathryn A. Oberly, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate 
Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of 
fifteen years.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration.)
  Barbara Ernst Prey, of New York, to be a Member of the National 
Council on the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2014.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.)
  5 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral, and a Routine list, 
except the nomination of Robert E. Day.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation was discharged from further consideration.)
  Routine lists in the Foreign Service.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged 
from further consideration.)
  Routine lists in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation was discharged from further consideration.)
  Routine lists in the Public Health Service.
  (Prior to this action, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration.) 
                                             Pages S10765-68, S10776-77
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
  A routine list in the Foreign Service.
Page S10776
Messages from the House:
  Page S10735
Executive Communications:
  Pages S10735-41
Executive Reports of Committees:
  Pages S10741-42
Additional Cosponsors:
  Page S10743
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S10743-57
Additional Statements:
  Pages S10732-34
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S10757-58
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--214) 
                                                            Page S10701
Recess: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and recessed at 6:03 p.m., until 
9:30 a.m. on Monday, November 24, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S10776.)