[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 198 (Tuesday, December 22, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1509-D1510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                              Tuesday, December 22, 2009

[[Page D1509]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate

Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S13713-S13793
Measures Introduced: Four bills and three resolutions were introduced, as 
follows: S. 2922-2925, and S. Res. 384-386.                      
  Page S13785
Measures Reported:
  H.R. 3819, to extend the commercial space transportation liability regime.
                                                                 Page S13785
Measures Passed:
  Generalized System of Preferences and the Andean Trade Preference Act 
Extension: Senate passed H.R. 4284, to extend the Generalized System of 
Preferences and the Andean Trade Preference Act, clearing the measure for 
the President.                                                   
  Page S13792
  Commending the Soldiers, Civilian Personnel, and Families at Fort Gordon: 
Committee on Armed Services was discharged from further consideration of H. 
Con. Res. 206, commending the soldiers and civilian personnel stationed at 
Fort Gordon and their families for their service and dedication to the 
United States and recognizing the contributions of Fort Gordon to Operation 
Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and its role as a pivotal 
communications training installation, and the resolution was then agreed to.
                                                                 Page S13792
  Condemning the Government of Iran: Senate agreed to S. Res. 386, 
condemning the Government of Iran for restricting and suppressing freedom of 
the press, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of 
assembly, and for its human rights abuses.                   
  Pages S13792-93
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 S13714-44, S13745-51
Adopted:
  By 60 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. 387), Reid Amendment No. 3276 (to 
Amendment No. 2786), of a perfecting nature.         
Pages S13714-15, S13716
Rejected:
  Reid Amendment No. 3278 (to the language proposed to be stricken by 
Amendment No. 2786), to change the enactment date. (By 60 yeas to 39 nays 
(Vote No. 386), Senate tabled the amendment.)           
Pages S13714, S13715
Withdrawn:
  Reid Amendment No. 3277 (to Amendment No. 3276), to change the enactment 
date.                                                
Pages S13714, S13715-16
Pending:
  Reid Amendment No. 2786, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                  Pages S13714-44, S13745-51
  Reid (for Cardin) Amendment No. 2878 (to Amendment No. 2786), to provide 
for the establishment of Offices of Minority Health.    
Pages S13714, S13716
  Reid Amendment No. 3292 (to Amendment No. 2878), to change the effective 
date.                                                        
Pages S13716-44
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following 
action:
  Reid Amendment No. 3279 (to Amendment No. 3278), to change the enactment 
date, fell when Reid Amendment No. 3278 (to the language proposed to be 
stricken by Amendment No. 2786) (listed above), was tabled.      
Page S13714
  By 60 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. 388), three-fifths of those Senators duly 
chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the 
motion to close further debate on the Reid Amendment No. 2786, in the nature 
of a substitute.                                                 
Page S13716
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that all post-cloture 
time be considered expired on the bill at 8 a.m., Thursday, December 24, 
2009, if cloture is invoked, and immediately the bill, as amended, be read a 
third time, and Senate vote on passage of the bill.              
Page S13747
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 9:45 a.m., on Wednesday, December 
23, 2009, with the time following any Leader remarks and until 10 a.m. 
equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders, or their designees; 
that at 10 a.m. and until 2 p.m. the time be controlled in alternating one 
hour blocks of time, with the Majority controlling the first hour; provided 
further, that the remaining time until 2:13 p.m. be equally divided and 
controlled between the two Leaders, with the Majority controlling the final 
half.                                                            
Page S13779

[[Page D1510]]

Appointments:
  U.S.-China Interparliamentary Group Conference: The Chair, on behalf of 
the President pro tempore, pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 276n, as amended, appointed 
the following Senator as a delegate of the U.S.-China Interparliamentary 
Group conference during the 111th Congress: Senator Burris.      
  Page S13793
  U.S.-China Interparliamentary Group Conference: The Chair, on behalf of 
the President pro tempore, pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 276n, as amended, appointed 
the following Senator as a delegate of the U.S.-China Interparliamentary 
Group conference during the 111th Congress: Senator Enzi.        
  Page S13793
Continued Financing of Government Operations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that on Thursday, December 24, 2009, after 
passage 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, as amended, Senate immediately begin 
consideration of H.R. 4314, an act to permit continued financing of 
Government operations; that no amendments be in order; Senate vote on 
passage of the bill; that passage require a 60 affirmative vote threshold. 
                                                                 Page S13747
Increasing the Statutory Limit on the Public Debt--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that on Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 
at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, following consultation 
with the Republican Leader, the Committee on Finance be discharged of H.J. 
Res. 45, increasing the statutory limit on the public debt; Senate proceed 
to the measure; that immediately after the joint resolution is reported, the 
Majority Leader, or his designee, be recognized to offer a substitute 
amendment; and that the following be the only first-degree amendments in 
order to the joint resolution: Thune Amendment relative to TARP; Murkowski 
Amendment relative to Endangerment EPA regulations; Coburn Amendment 
relative to Rescissions package; Sessions Amendment relative to Spending 
caps; McConnell Amendment relative to any on list; Reid Amendment relative 
to any on list; Reid Amendment relative to pay go; three Baucus Amendments 
relative to any on list; and Conrad/Gregg Amendment relative to fiscal 
taskforce; that each of the listed amendments be subject to an affirmative 
60 vote threshold; and that if any achieve that threshold, then they be 
agreed to; that if they do not achieve the 60 vote threshold, then they be 
withdrawn; that upon disposition of all amendments, the substitute 
amendment, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; that Senate vote on passage 
of the joint resolution, as amended, that passage also be subject to an 
affirmative 60 vote threshold.                                   
  Page S13747
Martin Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached 
providing that on Wednesday, January 20, 2010, after a period of morning 
business, Senate begin consideration of the nomination of Beverly Baldwin 
Martin, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh 
Circuit; that there be 60 minutes of debate with respect to the nomination, 
with time equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and 
Sessions, or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, 
Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination.               
  Pages S13747-48
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  J. Michelle Childs, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge 
for the District of South Carolina.
  Richard Mark Gergel, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge 
for the District of South Carolina.
  William N. Nettles, of South Carolina, to be United States Attorney for 
the District of South Carolina for the term of four years.
  Kelvin Corneilius Washington, of South Carolina, to be United States 
Marshal for the District of South Carolina for the term of four years.
  1 Coast Guard nomination in the rank of admiral.               
Page S13793
Executive Communications:                                        
  Page S13785
Additional Cosponsors:                                       
  Pages S13785-86
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:                  
  Pages S13786-91
Additional Statements:                                       
  Pages S13784-85
Amendments Submitted:                                        
  Pages S13791-92
Notices of Intent:                                               
  Page S13792
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--388) 
                                                             Pages S13715-16
Adjournment: Senate convened at 7:01 a.m. and adjourned at 7:06 p.m., until 
9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2009. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S13779.)