[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 135 (Wednesday, September 23, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1075-D1076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                      Wednesday, September 23, 2009

[[Page D1075]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S9693-S9759
Measures Introduced: Eight bills and five resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1695-1702, S. Res. 281-284, and S. Con. Res. 41. 
                                                             Page S9733
Measures Passed:
  Government of Libya: Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged 
from further consideration of S. Res. 253, expressing the sense of the 
Senate that the Government of Libya should apologize for the welcome 
home ceremony held to celebrate the release of convicted Lockerbie 
bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                         Pages S9705-06
  Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental 
Policy Amendments Act: Committee on Environment and Public Works was 
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1035, to amend the Morris 
K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental and 
Native American Public Policy Act of 1992 to honor the legacy of 
Stewart L. Udall, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the 
following amendment proposed thereto:                        
  Page S9757
  Feinstein (for Bingaman) Amendment No. 2546, to strike the 
authorization of appropriations.                             
Page S9757
  Senior Caregiving and Affordability: Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further consideration of H. 
Con. Res. 59, supporting the goals and ideals of senior caregiving and 
affordability, and the resolution was then agreed to.    
  Pages S9757-58
  Helen Keller Statue: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 41, providing for 
the acceptance of a statue of Helen Keller, presented by the people of 
Alabama.                                                     
  Page S9758
  Hurricane Hugo 20th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 282, 
remembering the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo, which struck 
Charleston, South Carolina on September 21 through September 22, 1989. 
                                                             Page S9758
  National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
283, expressing support for the goals and ideals of the first annual 
National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day taking place on September 
26, 2009.                                                
  Pages S9758-59
  National Health Information Technology Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
284, expressing support for the designation and goals of ``National 
Health Information Technology Week'' for the period beginning on 
September 21, 2009, and ending on September 25, 2009.        
  Page S9759
Measures Considered:
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act--Agreement: Senate continued consideration of H.R. 
2996, making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, 
environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 
30, 2010, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S9706-27
Rejected:
  Vitter motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Appropriations, with instructions to report the same back to the Senate 
forthwith with Vitter Amendment No. 2508 (to the instructions on Vitter 
motion to recommit the bill), to prohibit the use of funds to delay the 
implementation of the Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and 
Gas Leasing Program 2010-2015. (By 56 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 293), 
Senate tabled the motion.)                                   
Page S9724
  Feinstein (for McCaskill) Amendment No. 2514, to strike the earmarks 
for the Save America's Treasure program and to provide criteria for the 
distribution of grants under that program. (By 72 yeas to 26 nays (Vote 
No. 294), Senate tabled the motion.)              
Pages S9723-24, S9725
Pending:
  Carper Amendment No. 2456, to require the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study on black carbon 
emissions.                                                   
Page S9706
  Collins Amendment No. 2498, to provide that no funds may be used for 
the administrative expenses of any official identified by the President 
to serve in a position without express statutory authorization and

[[Page D1076]]

which is responsible for the interagency development or coordination of 
any rule, regulation, or policy unless the President certifies to 
Congress that such official will respond to all reasonable requests to 
testify before, or provide information to, any congressional committee 
with jurisdiction over such matters, and such official submits certain 
reports biannually to Congress.                              
Page S9706
  Isakson Modified Amendment No. 2504, to encourage the participation 
of the Smithsonian Institution in activities preserving the papers and 
teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., under the Civil Rights 
History Project Act of 2009.                                 
Page S9706
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, 
September 24, 2009, and that the filing deadline for second-degree 
amendments be 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, September 24, 2009.   
Page S9759
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S9731
Measures Referred:                                       
  Pages S9731-32
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S9732-33
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S9733-35
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S9735-50
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S9730-31
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S9750-57
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S9757
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--294) 
                                                     Pages S9724, S9725
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 5:38 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2009. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S9759.)