[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 172 (Thursday, November 19, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1357-D1358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                        Thursday, November 19, 2009

[[Page D1357]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed S. 1963, Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 
      Services Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S11515-11824      
Measures Introduced: Eight bills and three resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2799-2806, and S. Res. 355-357.          
  Pages S11593-94
Measures Reported:
  S. 2799, to expand the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, to provide for the 
divestment of assets in Iran by State and local governments and other 
entities, to identify locations of concern with respect to 
transshipment, reexportation, or diversion of certain sensitive items 
to Iran. (S. Rept. No. 111-99)
  S. 1147, to prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure the collection of 
all tobacco taxes, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1261, to repeal title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005 and amend 
title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to better protect the 
security, confidentiality, and integrity of personally identifiable 
information collected by States when issuing driver's licenses and 
identification documents, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                 
Page S11593
Measures Passed:
  Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act: By unanimous 
vote of 98 yeas (Vote No. 352), Senate passed S. 1963, to amend title 
38, United States Code, to provide assistance to caregivers of 
veterans, to improve the provision of health care to veterans, after 
taking action on the following amendment:    
  Pages S11523-44, S11552-72
Rejected:
  By 32 yeas to 66 nays (Vote No. 351), Coburn Amendment No. 2785, to 
transfer funding for United Nations contributions to offset costs of 
providing assistance to family caregivers of disabled veterans. 
                                             Pages S11523-44, S11552-53
  Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
355, expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of the 
Islamic Republic of Iran has systematically violated its obligations to 
uphold human rights provided for under its constitution and 
international law.                                      
  Pages S11817-18
Measures Considered:
Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act--Agreement: Senate began 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 3590, 
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time 
homebuyers credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and 
certain other Federal employees.                        
  Pages S11577-78
   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, and 
pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Thursday, November 19, 
2009, a vote on cloture will occur at 8 p.m., on Saturday, November 21, 
2009.                                                       
Page S11578
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that at 10 
a.m., on Friday, November 20, 2009, Senate continue consideration of 
the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 3590, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers 
credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other 
Federal employees, and proceed to a period of debate until 11 p.m., 
with the time controlled in alternating one hour blocks, with the 
Majority controlling the first hour; that at 10 p.m., there be 30 
minute blocks until 11 p.m., with the Majority controlling the first 30 
minutes; provided further, that on Saturday, November 21, 2009, at 10 
a.m., Senate continue consideration of the motion to proceed to 
consideration of H.R. 3590, and with controlled debate in alternating 
blocks until 6 p.m., with the Majority controlling the first hour 
block; that at 6:00 p.m., the Majority control the time until 6:30 
p.m., the Republicans then control 6:30 to 7:15 p.m., the Majority 
control

[[Page D1358]]

7:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; the Republican Leader control 7:30 to 7:45 
p.m., and the Majority Leader control 7:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.; that at 8 
p.m., Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to 
proceed to consideration of H.R. 3590; that if cloture is invoked on 
the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill, then all post-
cloture time be yielded back, and the motion to proceed be agreed to; 
that after the bill is reported, the Majority Leader be recognized to 
call up his amendment, and that it be reported by number only. 
                                                Pages S11577-78, S11824
Appointments:
  Social Security Advisory Board: The Chair, on behalf of the President 
pro tempore, and in consultation with the Ranking Member of the Senate 
Committee on Finance, pursuant to Public Law 103-296, appointed 
Jagadeesh Gokhale, of Maryland, vice Sylvester Schieber, of Michigan, 
as a member of the Social Security Advisory Board.          
  Page S11818
Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination:
  By 59 yeas 39 nays (Vote No. EX. 350), David F. Hamilton, of Indiana, 
to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit. 
                                                        Pages S11544-52
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Victor H. Ashe, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2010.
  Walter Isaacson, of Louisiana, to be a Member of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2012.
  Walter Isaacson, of Louisiana, to be Chairman of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors.
  Michael Lynton, of California, to be a Member of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2012.
  Susan McCue, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of 
Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2011.
  Michael P. Meehan, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2010.
  Dennis Mulhaupt, of California, to be a Member of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2011.
  Dana M. Perino, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2012.
  S. Enders Wimbush, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2010.     
Page S11824
Messages from the House:                                
  Pages S11591-92
Measures Referred:                                          
  Page S11592
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                   
  Page S11592
Executive Communications:                               
  Pages S11592-93
Executive Reports of Committees:                            
  Page S11593
Additional Cosponsors:                                  
  Pages S11594-95
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:         
  Pages S11595-S11607
Additional Statements:                                      
  Page S11591
Amendments Submitted:                               
  Pages S11607-S11816
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                               
  Page S11816
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                     
  Pages S11816-17
Privileges of the Floor:                                    
  Page S11817
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--352) 
                                        Pages S11552, S11552-53, S11553
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:31 a.m. and adjourned at 7:51 p.m., 
until 9:45 a.m. on Friday, November 20, 2009. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S11818.)