[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 17, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D269-D270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Tuesday, March 17, 2009

[[Page D269]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3123-S3321
Measures Introduced: Twenty-one bills were introduced, as follows: S. 
606-626.                                                     
  Page S3163
Measures Passed:
  Automatic Pay Adjustments for Members of Congress: Senate passed S. 
620, to repeal the provision of law that provides automatic pay 
adjustments for Members of Congress.                         
  Page S3149
  Extension of Programs for Small Businesses: Senate passed H.R. 1541, 
to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the 
Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, 
clearing the measure for the President.                      
  Page S3318
  Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act: Senate 
passed S. 303, to reauthorize and improve the Federal Financial 
Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999.           
  Pages S3318-19
  Authorizing Use of Capitol Grounds: Committee on Rules and 
Administration was discharged from further consideration of H. Con. 
Res. 39, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of 
Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run, and the resolution 
was then agreed to.                                          
  Page S3319
  Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: Committee on Rules 
and Administration was discharged from further consideration of S.J. 
Res. 8, providing for the appointment of David M. Rubenstein as a 
citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, 
and the resolution was then passed.                      
  Pages S3319-20
  Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: Committee on Rules 
and Administration was discharged from further consideration of S.J. 
Res. 9, providing for the appointment of France A. Cordova as a citizen 
regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and the 
resolution was then passed.                                  
  Page S3320
Measures Considered:
Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act: Senate 
began consideration of H.R. 146, to establish a battlefield acquisition 
grant program for the acquisition and protection of nationally 
significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War 
and the War of 1812, after agreeing to the motion to proceed to 
consideration thereto, and taking action on the following amendments 
proposed thereto:                    
  Pages S3130-41, S3141-49, S3149-56
Pending:
  Bingaman Amendment No. 684, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                               Pages S3141-49, S3149-56
  Coburn Amendment No. 680 (to Amendment No. 684), to ensure that the 
general public has full access to our national parks and to promote the 
health and safety of all visitors and employees of the National Park 
Service.                                                 
Pages S3150-52
  Coburn Amendment No. 679 (to Amendment No. 684), to provide for the 
future energy needs of the United States and eliminate restrictions on 
the development of renewable energy.                     
Pages S3152-54
  Coburn Amendment No. 675 (to Amendment No. 684), to prohibit the use 
of eminent domain and to ensure that no American has their property 
forcibly taken from them by authorities granted under this Act. 
                                                             Page S3154
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that the 
following list of amendments be the only first-degree amendments in 
order; that upon disposition of the listed amendments, the substitute 
amendment, as amended, if amended, be agreed to, and Senate vote on 
passage of the bill, with passage of the bill subject to a 60-
affirmative vote threshold; provided debate time prior to a vote on or 
in relation to each amendment, be limited to 60 minutes, and that no 
amendment be in order to any amendment prior to a vote on or in 
relation thereto; provided if there is a sequence of votes on or in 
relation to the amendments, then prior to each vote in a sequence, 
there be 4 minutes of debate, divided as specified above, provided that 
after the first vote in any sequence, subsequent votes be limited to 10 
minutes each: Coburn Amendment No. 680 (listed

[[Page D270]]

above); Coburn Amendment No. 679 (listed above); Coburn Amendment No. 
683, relative to striking targeted provisions; Coburn Amendment No. 675 
(listed above); Coburn Amendment No. 677, relative to annual report; 
and Coburn Amendment No. 682, relative to Subtitle D clarification. 
                                                         Pages S3140-41
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, following 
executive session.                                           
Page S3320
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to the provisions of section 1512 of the Strom 
Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 
(Public Law 105-261), certification that the export of fine grain 
graphite to be used for solar cell applications and for the fabrication 
of components used in electronic and semiconductor fabrication is not 
detrimental to the U.S. space launch industry, and that the material 
and equipment will not measurably improve the missile or space launch 
capabilities of the People's Republic of China; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations. (PM-13)                  
Page S3161
Kirk Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, March 
18, 2009, Senate begin consideration of the nomination of Ronald Kirk, 
of Texas, to be United States Trade Representative, and that there be 
up to 90 minutes of debate with respect to the nomination, with the 
time divided as follows: 30 minutes under the control of the Majority, 
and 60 minutes under the control of the Republicans, and that Senate 
vote on confirmation of the nomination at a time to be determined by 
the Majority Leader, following consultation with the Republican Leader.
                                                             Page S3318
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  David F. Hamilton, of Indiana, to be United States Circuit Judge for 
the Seventh Circuit.
  Kathleen Sebelius, of Kansas, to be Secretary of Health and Human 
Services.
  William V. Corr, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Health and 
Human Services.
  Demetrios J. Marantis, of the District of Columbia, to be a Deputy 
United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador.
  Rose Eilene Gottemoeller, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary 
of State (Verification and Compliance).
  William Craig Fugate, of Florida, to be Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard.     
Page S3320
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  Demetrios J. Marantis, of the District of Columbia, to be a Deputy 
United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, which 
was sent to the Senate on March 16, 2009.                    
Page S3321
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S3161
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S3161
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S3161-62
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S3162-63
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S3163-64
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S3164-88
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S3160-61
Amendments Submitted:                                 
  Pages S3188-S3317
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S3317
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S3317-18
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:39 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S3320.)