[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 153 (Wednesday, October 21, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1205-D1206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                        Wednesday, October 21, 2009

[[Page D1205]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S10587-10653
Measures Introduced: Sixteen bills and five resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1819-1834, and S. Res. 315-319. 
                                                            Page S10635
Measures Reported:
  S. 668, to reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
Initiative Act to promote the protection of the resources of the 
Northwest Straits, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. 
Rept. No. 111-90)                                           
Page S10634
Measures Passed:
  Honoring Former Senator Clifford Peter Hansen: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 315, relative to the death of Clifford Peter Hansen, former United 
States Senator for the State of Wyoming.                
  Pages S10648-50
  Boy Scouts of America Day: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged 
from further consideration of S. Res. 112, designating February 8, 
2010, as ``Boy Scouts of America Day'', in celebration of the 100th 
anniversary of the largest youth scouting organization in the United 
States, and the resolution was then agreed to.          
  Pages S10650-51
  Lights On Afterschool: Senate agreed to S. Res. 318, supporting 
``Lights On Afterschool'', a national celebration of afterschool 
programs.                                                   
  Page S10651
  Women in National FFA Organization: Senate agreed to S. Res. 319, 
commemorating 40 years of membership by women in the National FFA 
Organization and celebrating the achievements and contributions of 
female members of the National FFA Organization.        
  Pages S10651-52
Measures Considered:
Medicare Physicians Fairness Act: Senate resumed consideration of the 
motion to proceed to consideration of S. 1776, to amend title XVIII of 
the Social Security Act to provide for the update under the Medicare 
physician fee schedule for years beginning with 2010 and to sunset the 
application of the sustainable growth rate formula.     
  Pages S10613-14
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 47 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 325), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to 
consideration of the bill.                                  
Page S10614
Unemployment Compensation Extension Act--Cloture: Senate began 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 3548, 
to amend the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 to provide for the 
temporary availability of certain additional emergency unemployment 
compensation.                                               
  Page S10653
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed 
to consideration of 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, October 23, 2009.                          
Page S10653
  Subsequently, the motion to proceed was withdrawn.        
Page S10653
Conference Reports:
Department of Defense Authorization Act Conference Report--Agreement: 
Senate continued consideration of the conference report to accompany 
H.R. 2647, 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, to 
provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed 
Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA 
disability benefits to disabled military retirees.      
  Pages S10614-32
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the conference report at approximately 10:30 a.m., on 
Thursday, October 22, 2009, and that there be one hour for debate 
equally divided and controlled between Senators Levin and McCain, or 
their designees, prior to the vote on the motion to invoke cloture on 
the conference report.                                      
Page S10653
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By unanimous vote of 100 yeas (Vote No. EX. 324), Roberto A. Lange, 
of South Dakota, to be

[[Page D1206]]

United States District Judge for the District of South Dakota. 
                                                        Pages S10601-11
  William K. Sessions III, of Vermont, to be Chair of the United States 
Sentencing Commission.
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the 
previously scheduled vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the 
nomination, be withdrawn.
  William E. Spriggs, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Labor.
  Joseph A. Main, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Mine Safety and Health.
  Jose Antonio Garcia, of Florida, to be Director of the Office of 
Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy.
  Marcia K. McNutt, of California, to be Director of the United States 
Geological Survey.
  Arun Majumdar, of California, to be Director of the Advanced Research 
Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy.           
Pages S10652-53
Messages from the House:                                
  Pages S10633-34
Measures Referred:                                          
  Page S10634
Executive Communications:                                   
  Page S10634
Executive Reports of Committees:                            
  Page S10634
Additional Cosponsors:                                  
  Pages S10635-37
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:             
  Pages S10637-47
Additional Statements:                                      
  Page S10633
Amendments Submitted:                                   
  Pages S10647-48
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                               
  Page S10648
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                         
  Page S10648
Privileges of the Floor:                                    
  Page S10648
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--325) 
                                                   Pages S10611, S10614
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned, in accordance 
with S. Res. 315, at 7:50 p.m., until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 
22, 2009. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader 
in today's Record on Page S10653.)