[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 8, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D798-D799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Wednesday, July 8, 2009

[[Page D798]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7217-S7276
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and one resolution were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1408-1418, and S. Res. 210.                   
  Page S7261
Measures Reported:
  S. 423, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize advance 
appropriations for certain medical care accounts of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal-year budget authority. (S. 
Rept. No. 111-41)                                            
Page S7258
Measures Considered:
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act: Senate continued 
consideration of H.R. 2892, making appropriations for the Department of 
Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                  Pages S7227-51, S7253
Adopted:
  Leahy Amendment No. 1407 (to Amendment No. 1371), to permanently 
reauthorize the EB-5 Regional Center Program.                
Page S7230
  Sessions Amendment No. 1371 (to Amendment No. 1373), to make the 
pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation for aliens 
permanent and to improve verification of immigration status of 
employees. (By 44 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 219), Senate earlier failed 
to table the amendment.)                   
Pages S7227, S7228-30, S7230
  By 54 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 220), DeMint Amendment No. 1399 (to 
Amendment No. 1373), to require the completion of at least 700 miles of 
reinforced fencing along the southwest border by December 31, 2010. 
                                               Pages S7227-28, S7230-31
Rejected:
  By 38 yeas to 60 nays (Vote No. 221), Feingold Amendment No. 1402 (to 
Amendment No. 1373), to require grants for Emergency Operations Centers 
and financial assistance for the predisaster mitigation program to be 
awarded without regard to earmarks.               
Pages S7227, S7233-41
  By 37 yeas to 61 nays (Vote No. 222), McCain Amendment No. 1406 (to 
Amendment No. 1373), to strike the provision relating to the Loran-C 
signal, as recommended by the Administration.            
Pages S7243-48
Pending:
  Reid (for Byrd/Inouye) Amendment No. 1373, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                       
Pages S7227-51, S7253
  Vitter Modified Amendment No. 1375 (to Amendment No. 1373), to 
prohibit amounts made available under this Act from being used to amend 
the final rule to hold employers accountable if they hire illegal 
aliens.                                                      
Page S7231
  Grassley Amendment No. 1415 (to Amendment No. 1373), to authorize 
employers to voluntarily verify the immigration status of existing 
employees.                                               
Pages S7231-33
  Kyl/McCain Amendment No. 1432 (to Amendment No. 1373), to strike the 
earmark for the City of Whitefish Emergency Operations Center. 
                                                  Pages S7241, S7248-51
  Hatch Amendment No. 1428 (to Amendment No. 1373), to amend the 
Immigration and Nationality Act to extend the religious workers and 
Conrad-30 visa programs, to protect orphans and widows with pending or 
approved visa petitions.                                 
Pages S7241-43
  A motion was entered to close further debate on Reid (for Byrd/
Inouye) Amendment No. 1373, and, in accordance with the provisions of 
rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will 
occur on Friday, July 10, 2009.                              
Page S7253
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the bill, and, in 
accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Friday, July 10, 2009. 
                                                             Page S7253
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 11 a.m., on Thursday, July 
9, 2009, that there be 10 minutes of debate prior to a vote on or in 
relation to Kyl/McCain Amendment No. 1432 (listed above), with the time 
equally divided and controlled between Senators Tester and Kyl, or 
their designees; provided that no amendment be in order to the 
amendment prior to a vote on or in relation thereto; provided further, 
that upon the use or

[[Page D799]]

yielding back of time, Senate vote on or in relation to Kyl/McCain 
Amendment No. 1432 (listed above).                           
Page S7253
National Defense Authorization Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that on Monday, July 13, 2009, after 
the pledge, prayer, and any Leader remarks, Senate begin consideration 
of S. 1390, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for 
military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year. 
                                                             Page S7253
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Irene Cornelia Berger, of West Virginia, to be United States District 
Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia.
  Roberto A. Lange, of South Dakota, to be United States District Judge 
for the District of South Dakota.
  2 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  7 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general.          
Page S7276
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S7257
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S7257
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S7257-58
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S7258-61
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S7261-63
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S7263-68
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S7256-57
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S7268-75
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S7275-76
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--222) 
                                    Pages S7230, S7230-31, S7241, S7248
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:39 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2009. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S7276.)