[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 18, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D277-D278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                          Wednesday, March 18, 2009

[[Page D277]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3323-S3380
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and three resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 627-637, and S. Res. 76-78.   
  Pages S3368-69
Measures Reported:
  Special Report entitled ``History, Jurisdiction, and a Summary of 
Activities of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources During the 
110th Congress''. (S. Rept. No. 111-8)
  S. 146, to amend the Federal antitrust laws to provide expanded 
coverage and to eliminate exemptions from such laws that are contrary 
to the public interest with respect to railroads. (S. Rept. No. 111-9)
  S. 277, to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to 
expand and improve opportunities for service, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.                                      
Page S3368
Measures Passed:
  Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act: Senate passed H.R. 
1512, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding 
and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to 
amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the 
airport improvement program, clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                             Page S3379
  National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day: Senate agreed to 
S. Res. 78, designating March 22, 2009, as ``National Rehabilitation 
Counselors Appreciation Day''.                               
  Page S3379
Measures Considered:
Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act: Senate 
continued 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, taking action on the following 
amendments proposed thereto:                   
  Pages S3338-48, S3348-63
Rejected:
  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. (By 79 yeas to 19 nays (Vote No. 101), Senate tabled the 
amendment.)                                
Pages S3338, S3342, S3348-49
  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. (By 65 yeas to 33 nays (Vote No. 
102), Senate tabled the amendment.)               
Pages S3338, S3349-50
  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. (By 63 
yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 103), Senate tabled the amendment.) 
                                        Pages S3339, S3342-48, S3351-52
Pending:
  Bingaman Amendment No. 684, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                               Pages S3338-48, S3348-63
  Coburn Amendment No. 682 (to Amendment No. 684), to protect 
scientists and visitors to federal lands from unfair penalties for 
collecting insignificant rocks.                              
Page S3340
  Coburn Amendment No. 677 (to Amendment No. 684), to require Federal 
agencies to determine on an annual basis the quantity of land that is 
owned by each Federal agency and the cost to taxpayers of the ownership 
of the land.                                             
Pages S3340-42
  Coburn Amendment No. 683 (to Amendment No. 684), to prohibit funding 
for congressional earmarks for wasteful and parochial pork projects. 
                                                             Page S3361
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, 
March 19, 2009, and that there be 20 minutes of debate, equally divided 
and controlled between Senators Bingaman and Coburn, or their 
designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on 
or in relation to the amendments as listed below, and that the order 
with respect to time prior to votes and

[[Page D278]]

vote sequencing remain in effect: Coburn Amendment No. 677 (to 
Amendment No. 684) (listed above); Coburn Amendment No. 682 (to 
Amendment No. 684) (listed above); Coburn Amendment No. 683 (to 
Amendment No. 684) (listed above); provided that there be 30 minutes of 
debate with respect to the bill, equally divided and controlled between 
Senators Bingaman and Coburn, or their designees, and that upon the use 
or yielding back of time, Senate proceed as provided for under the 
order of March 17, 2009, with all other provisions remaining in effect.
                                                             Page S3363
Kagan Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, March 19, 2009, 
Senate begin consideration of the nomination of Elena Kagan, of 
Massachusetts, to be Solicitor General of the United States; that there 
be 6 hours of debate with respect to the nomination, with the time 
equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Specter, or 
their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, Senate 
vote on confirmation of the nomination.                      
  Page S3379
Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination:
  By 92 yeas 5 nays (Vote No. EX. 100), Ronald Kirk, of Texas, to be 
United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador. 
                                           Pages S3328-38, S3348, S3380
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  James W. Miller, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture 
for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
  Ashton B. Carter, of Massachusetts, to be Under Secretary of Defense 
for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.
  Susan Flood Burk, of Virginia, to be Special Representative of the 
President, with the rank of Ambassador.
  Russlynn Ali, of California, to be Assistant Secretary for Civil 
Rights, Department of Education.
  Carmel Martin, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary for Planning, 
Evaluation, and Policy Development, Department of Education.
  Charles P. Rose, of Illinois, to be General Counsel, Department of 
Education.
  Ronald H. Weich, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Attorney General.                                        
Pages S3379-80
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S3368
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S3368
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S3368
Additional Cosponsors:                                    
  Page S3369-70
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S3370-78
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S3367-68
Amendments Submitted:                                        
  Page S3378
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S3378
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S3378-79
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--103) 
                                                         Pages S3348-52
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:07 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2009. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3379.)