[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 29, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D467-D468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                          Wednesday, April 29, 2009

[[Page D467]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany S. Con. Res. 
      13, Budget Resolution.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4831-S4906
Measures Introduced: Ten bills and five resolutions were introduced, as 
follows: S. 922-931, S. Res. 117-120, and S. Con. Res. 21.   
  Page S4891
Measures Reported:
  S. 615, to provide additional personnel authorities for the Special 
Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. (S. Rept. No. 111-15)
  S. 414, to amend the Consumer Credit Protection Act, to ban abusive 
credit practices, enhance consumer disclosures, protect underage 
consumers, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S4890
Measures Passed:
  Commending the University of Georgia Gymnastics Team: Senate agreed 
to S. Res. 119, commending the University of Georgia gymnastics team 
for winning the 2009 NCAA national championship.         
  Pages S4904-05
  Congratulating the Trinity College Bantams Squash Team: Senate agreed 
to S. Res. 120, congratulating the Trinity College Bantams for their 
11th-straight College Squash Association Men's Team Championship. 
                                                             Page S4905
Conference Reports:
Budget Resolution: By 53 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 173), Senate agreed 
to the conference report to accompany S. Con. Res. 13, setting forth 
the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal 
year 2010, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 
2009, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal 
years 2011 through 2014.                                 
  Pages S4840-81
Appointments:
  Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of 
the American Latino: The Chair, announced on behalf of the Majority 
Leader, pursuant to P.L. 110-229, the appointment of the following to 
be members of the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a 
National Museum of the American Latino: Susan Gonzales of Washington, 
D.C., Moctezuma Esparza of California, Carlos Etzeta of Nevada, and 
Katherine Archuleta of Colorado (non-voting member).         
  Page S4905
Helping Families Save Their Homes Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-
time agreement was reached providing that at approximately 10:30 a.m., 
on Thursday, April 30, 2009, Senate will begin consideration of S. 896, 
to prevent mortgage foreclosures and enhance mortgage credit 
availability, and that Senator Durbin be recognized to offer an 
amendment relating to ``cramdown'', and that there be 4 hours for 
debate relative to the amendment, with the time equally divided and 
controlled between the two Leaders, or their designees; and that upon 
the use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on or in relation to the 
amendment, and that adoption of the amendment require a 60-affirmative 
vote threshold, and if the amendment does not achieve that threshold, 
then it be withdrawn; provided that no amendment be in order to the 
amendment, and no further amendments on the subject of ``cramdown'' be 
in order during the pendency of the bill; provided further, that upon 
disposition of the Durbin amendment, Senator Dodd be recognized to 
offer a Dodd-Shelby amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S4902
Strickland Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement 
was reached providing that on Thursday, April 30, 2009, after Senator 
Dodd has called up an amendment to S. 896, as previously agreed to, 
Senate will begin consideration of the nomination of Thomas L. 
Strickland, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and 
Wildlife, Department of the Interior, and that there be 3 hours of 
debate with respect to the nomination, with

[[Page D468]]

1 hour under the control of the Majority, and 2 hours under the control 
of the Republicans, and 30 minutes of the Republican time under the 
control of Senator Bunning; provided further, that upon the use or 
yielding back of time, Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination. 
                                                         Pages S4902-03
Morton Nomination Referral--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement 
was reached providing that the nomination of John Morton, to be 
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, reported by the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Monday, April 27, 2009, 
be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary for a period of 30 
calendar days; provided further, that at the end of the 30 days, if the 
Committee on the Judiciary has not reported the nomination, then it be 
automatically discharged and placed on the Executive Calendar. 
                                                             Page S4905
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Sherburne B. Abbott, of Texas, to be an Associate Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy.
  Dana G. Gresham, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of Transportation.
  Roy W. Kienitz, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of 
Transportation for Policy.
  Ronald H. Weich, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Attorney General.
  April S. Boyd, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce.
  Joseph C. Szabo, of Illinois, to be Administrator of the Federal 
Railroad Administration.
  Peter H. Appel, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Research and 
Innovative Technology Administration, Department of Transportation.
  Robert S. Rivkin, of Illinois, to be General Counsel of the 
Department of Transportation.
  4 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Coast Guard.               
Pages S4903, S4905-06
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Andrew Charles Weber, of Virginia, to be Assistant to the Secretary 
of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs.
  Peter M. Rogoff, of Virginia, to be Federal Transit Administrator.
  Eric P. Goosby, of California, to be Ambassador at Large and 
Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS 
Globally.
  Martha J. Kanter, of California, to be Under Secretary of Education.
  Kevin W. Concannon, of Maine, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture 
for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services.
  Robert M. Groves, of Michigan, to be Director of the Census. 
                                                             Page S4905
Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S4889-90
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S4890
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S4890
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S4890-91
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S4891-92
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:           
  Pages S4892-S4901
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S4888-89
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S4901
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S4901-02
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--173) 
                                                             Page S4881
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:53 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2009. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S4905.)