[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 178 (Thursday, December 3, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1395-D1396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                         Thursday, December 3, 2009

[[Page D1395]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S12261-S12354
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and three resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2825-2835, and S. Res. 367-369. 
                                                            Page S12321
Measures Reported:
  S. 372, to amend chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, to 
clarify the disclosures of information protected from prohibited 
personnel practices, require a statement in nondisclosure policies, 
forms, and agreements that such policies, forms, and agreements conform 
with certain disclosure protections, provide certain authority for the 
Special Counsel, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. 
Rept. No. 111-101)
  S. 1353, to amend title 1 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
Streets Act of 1986 to include nonprofit and volunteer ground and air 
ambulance crew members and first responders for certain benefits, with 
an amendment in the nature of a substitute.                 
Page S12321
Measures Passed:
  National Miners Day: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from 
further consideration of S. Res. 337, designating December 6, 2009, as 
``National Miners Day'', and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                            Page S12352
  Collection for Charitable Purposes in Senate Buildings: Senate agreed 
to S. Res. 369, to permit the collection of clothing, toys, food, and 
housewares during the holiday season for charitable purposes in Senate 
buildings.                                                  
  Page S12352
Measures Considered:
Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act--Agreement: Senate continued 
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, taking action on 
the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                         Pages S12265-S12300, S12301-17
Adopted:
  By 61 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. 355), Mikulski Amendment No. 2791 (to 
Amendment No. 2786), to clarify provisions relating to first dollar 
coverage for preventive services for women. (Pursuant to the order of 
Wednesday, December 2, 2009, the amendment having achieved 60 
affirmative votes, was agreed to).                 
Pages S12265, S12277
  By a unanimous vote of 100 yeas (Vote 357), Bennet Amendment No. 2826 
(to Amendment No 2786), to protect and improve guaranteed Medicare 
benefits. (Pursuant to the order of Wednesday, December 2, 2009, the 
amendment having achieved 60 affirmative votes, was agreed to). 
                                                        Pages S12278-93
Withdrawn:
  By 41 yeas to 59 nays (Vote No. 356), Murkowski Amendment No. 2836 
(to Amendment No. 2786), to ensure patients receive doctor 
recommendations for preventive health services, including mammograms 
and cervical cancer screening, without interference from government or 
insurance company bureaucrats. (Pursuant to the order of Wednesday, 
December 2, 2009, the amendment having failed to achieve 60 affirmative 
votes, be withdrawn).                                   
Pages S12276-77
  By 42 yeas to 58 nays (Vote No. 358), McCain motion to commit the 
bill to the Committee on Finance, with instructions. (Pursuant to the 
order of Wednesday, December 2, 2009, the amendment having failed to 
achieve 60 affirmative votes, be withdrawn).    
Pages S12265, S12293-94
Pending:
  Reid Amendment No. 2786, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                         Pages S12265-S12300, S12301-17
  Whitehouse Amendment No. 2870 (to Amendment No. 2786), to promote 
fiscal responsibility by protecting the Social Security surplus and 
CLASS program savings in this Act.                      
Pages S12303-06
  Hatch motion to commit the bill to the Committee on Finance, with 
instructions.                                           
Pages S12306-17
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill after any Leader remarks on Friday, December 
4, 2009, with debate only in order until 11:30 a.m., with no

[[Page D1396]]

amendments, motions to commit, or any other motion, other than a motion 
to reconsider a vote, if applicable, in order during this period, 
except those that are currently pending; with the time after the Leader 
time, equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders, or their 
designees, with the Majority controlling the first portion of time. 
                                                            Page S12317
Treaty Approved: The following treaty having passed through its various 
parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of the 
resolution of ratification, upon division, two-thirds of the Senators 
present having voted in the affirmative, the resolution of ratification 
was agreed to:
  Protocol Amending Tax Convention with France (Treaty Doc. 111-4) with 
1 declaration and 1 condition.                          
Pages S12350-51
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  David Morris Michaels, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Labor.
  Victoria Angelica Espinel, of the District of Columbia, to be 
Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, Executive Office of the 
President.
  Alan C. Kessler, of Pennsylvania, to be a Governor of the United 
States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2015.
  Lawrence G. Romo, of Texas, to be Director of the Selective Service.
  3 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  5 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  5 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, and Navy. 
                                                Pages S12351, S12353-54
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Donald L. Cook, of Washington, to be Deputy Administrator for Defense 
Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration.
  Malcolm Ross O'Neill, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
the Army.
  Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary 
of the Navy.
  Douglas B. Wilson, of Arizona, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Defense.
  Brooke D. Anderson, of California, to be Alternate Representative of 
the United States of America for Special Political Affairs in the 
United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador.
  Brooke D. Anderson, of California, to be an Alternate Representative 
of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly 
of the United Nations, during her tenure of service as Alternate 
Representative of the United States of America for Special Political 
Affairs in the United Nations.
  Rosemary Anne DiCarlo, of the District of Columbia, to be the Deputy 
Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, 
with the rank and status of Ambassador, and the Deputy Representative 
of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United 
Nations.
  Rosemary Anne DiCarlo, of the District of Columbia, to be 
Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the 
General Assembly of the United Nations, during her tenure of service as 
Deputy Representative of the United States of America to the United 
Nations.
  Nancy D. Freudenthal, of Wyoming, to be United States District Judge 
for the District of Wyoming.
  Denzil Price Marshall, Jr., of Arkansas, to be United States District 
Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
  Benita Y. Pearson, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for 
the Northern District of Ohio.                              
Page S12353
Messages from the House:                                    
  Page S12320
Measures Referred:                                          
  Page S12320
Executive Communications:                               
  Pages S12320-21
Executive Reports of Committees:                        
  Pages S12321-22
Additional Cosponsors:                                  
  Pages S12322-23
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Page S12323-33
Additional Statements:                                      
  Page S12319
Amendments Submitted:                                   
  Pages S12333-49
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                     
  Pages S12349-50
Privileges of the Floor:                                    
  Page S12350
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--358) 
                                                   Pages S12277, S12293
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:32 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, December 4, 2009. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S12353.)