[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D344-D346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, March 25, 2010

[[Page D344]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 4872, Health Care and Education Affordability 
      Reconciliation Act, as amended.
      Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 257, Adjournment Resolution.
      The House concurred in the Senate amendments to H.R. 4872, Health 
      Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2069-S2134
Measures Introduced: Twenty-four bills and three resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 3164-3187, S. Res. 469-470, and S. Con. Res. 
56.                                                      
  Pages S2115-16
Measures Reported:
  S. 1635, to establish an Indian Youth telemental health demonstration 
project, to enhance the provision of mental health care services to 
Indian youth, and to encourage Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and 
other mental health care providers serving residents of Indian country 
to obtain the services of predoctoral psychology and psychiatry 
interns, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 111-166)
  S. 1830, to establish the Chief Conservation Officers Council to 
improve the energy efficiencies of Federal agencies, with an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute.                               
Page S2115
Measures Passed:
  Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act: By 56 
yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 105), Senate passed H.R. 4872, to provide for 
reconciliation pursuant to Title II of the concurrent resolution on the 
budget for fiscal year 2010 (S. Con. Res. 13), as amended by operation 
of Section 313(e) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, after taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto:     
  Pages S2069-89
Rejected:
  Sessions Amendment No. 3701, to ensure that Americans are not 
required to pay for the health benefits for those here illegally by 
requiring the use of an effective eligibility verification system, 
consistent with existing law for other federal health related programs, 
and to also maintain the current, and well-established requirement of 
law, that legal immigrants should not become a ``public charge'' or 
burden to the American taxpayers, to reduce the cost of this bill, and 
to reduce the deficit. (By 55 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 95), Senate 
tabled the amendment.)                                   
Pages S2071-72
  Cornyn Amendment No. 3698, to ensure that health care reform reduces 
health care costs for American families, small businesses, and 
taxpayers. (By 58 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. 96), Senate tabled the 
amendment.)                                              
Pages S2072-73
  Grassley Amendment No. 3569, to amend title XVIII of the Social 
Security Act to ensure Medicare beneficiary access to physicians, 
eliminate sweetheart deals for frontier States, and ensure equitable 
reimbursement under the Medicare programs for all rural states. (By 53 
yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 97), Senate tabled the amendment.) 
                                                         Pages S2073-74
  Brownback/Murkowski Amendment No. 3697, to index tax thresholds 
imposed under the legislation to prevent the government from using 
inflation to impose those taxes on individuals currently making less 
than $200,000 and families making less than $250,000. (By 56 yeas to 42 
nays (Vote No. 98), Senate tabled the amendment.)        
Pages S2074-75
  DeMint motion to commit the bill to the Committee on Finance, with 
instructions. (By 56 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 100), Senate tabled the 
motion.)                                                 
Pages S2075-76
  Ensign/Brown (MA) Amendment No. 3710, to strike the penalty for 
failure to comply with the individual mandate. (By 58 yeas to 40 nays 
(Vote No. 101), Senate tabled the amendment.)                
Page S2076
  Hutchison Amendment No. 3634, to strike the 2-year limitation on the 
small business tax credit for taxable years after the Exchanges open. 
(By 55 yeas

[[Page D345]]

to 43 nays (Vote No. 103), Senate tabled the amendment.) 
                                                         Pages S2077-78
  Cornyn Amendment No. 3712, to give States incentives to reduce fraud, 
waste, and abuse in their Medicaid programs. (By 57 yeas to 41 nays 
(Vote No. 104), Senate tabled the amendment.)            
Pages S2078-79
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 40 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No. 93), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected a motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 and section (4)(G)(3) of the statutory Pay-As-You-Go 
Act of 2010, all applicable sections of those acts and applicable 
budget resolutions, with respect to consideration of Ensign Amendment 
No. 3593, to improve access to pro bono care for medically underserved 
or indigent individuals by providing limited medical liability 
protections. Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment violates 
section 313(b)(1)(C) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was 
sustained, and the amendment thus fell.                  
Pages S2069-70
  By 45 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 94), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected a motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 and section (4)(G)(3) of the statutory Pay-As-You-Go 
Act of 2010, all applicable sections of those acts and applicable 
budget resolutions, with respect to consideration of Coburn Amendment 
No. 3700, to help protect Second Amendment rights of law-abiding 
Americans. Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment violates 
section 313(b)(1)(C) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was 
sustained, and the amendment thus fell.                  
Pages S2070-71
  By 39 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 99), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected a motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 and section (4)(G)(3) of the statutory Pay-As-You-Go 
Act of 2010, all applicable sections of those acts and applicable 
budget resolutions, with respect to consideration of Vitter Amendment 
No. 3665, to prevent the new government entitlement program from 
further increasing an unsustainable deficit. Subsequently, a point of 
order that the amendment violates section 313(b)(1)(C) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was sustained, and the amendment thus 
fell.                                                        
Page S2075
  By 42 yeas to 57 nays (Vote No. 102), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected a motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 and section (4)(G)(3) of the statutory Pay-As-You-Go 
Act of 2010, all applicable sections of those acts and applicable 
budget resolutions, with respect to consideration of Murkowski 
Amendment No. 3711, to provide an inflation adjustment for the 
additional hospital insurance tax on high-income taxpayers. 
Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment violates section 
313(b)(1)(C) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was sustained, and 
the amendment thus fell.                                     
Page S2077
  Chair sustained a point of order against the bill, that the provision 
on page 118, lines 15-25 do not produce changes in outlays or revenues 
and is extraneous pursuant to section 313(a) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, and the language was stricken.           
Page S2086
  Chair sustained a point of order against the bill, that the provision 
on page 120, lines 3-5 do not produce changes in outlays or revenues 
and is extraneous pursuant to section 313(b)(1)(a) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, and the language was stricken.           
Page S2086
  Adjournment Resolution: By 49 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. 108), Senate 
agreed to H. Con. Res. 257, providing for a conditional adjournment of 
the House of Representatives and a conditional recess or adjournment of 
the Senate.                                           
  Pages S2099-S2104
  Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act: Senate 
passed S. 3186, to reauthorize the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and 
Reauthorization Act of 2004 through April 30, 2010.          
  Page S2104
  Internal Revenue Code: Senate passed S. 3187, to amend the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of 
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States 
Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program. 
                                                         Pages S2104-05


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page D345, March 25, 2010 the following language appears: 
Internal Revenue Code: Senate passed S. 3187, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and 
expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to 
amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for 
the airport improvement program. Pages S2104-06
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Internal Revenue 
Code: Senate passed S. 3187, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the 
Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States 
Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement 
program. Pages S2104-05


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

  Small Business Loan Guarantee Program: Senate passed H.R. 4938, to 
permit the use of previously appropriated funds to extend the Small 
Business Loan Guarantee Program, clearing the measure for the 
President.                                                   
  Page S2105
Measures Considered:
Continuing Extension Act: Senate began consideration of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of S. 3153, to provide a fully offset 
temporary extension of certain programs so as not to increase the 
deficit.                                               
  Pages S2091-2094
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed 
to consideration of the bill.                                
Page S2091

[[Page D346]]


  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action: By 59 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. 106), Senate tabled 
the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill.          
Page S2094
Continuing Extension Act: Senate began consideration of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of H.R. 4851, to provide a temporary extension 
of certain programs.                           
  Pages S2098-99, S2105-06
  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 Saturday, March 27, 2010.                           
Page S2099
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the Majority Leader be authorized to sign any duly 
enrolled bills and joint resolutions through Friday, March 26, 2010. 
                                                             Page S2134
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Mary Helen Murguia, of Arizona, to be United States Circuit Judge for 
the Ninth Circuit.
  Jerry E. Martin, of Tennessee, to be United States Attorney for the 
Middle District of Tennessee for the term of four years.
  James A. Lewis, of Illinois, to be United States Attorney for the 
Central District of Illinois for the term of four years.
  Melinda L. Haag, of California, to be United States Attorney for the 
Northern District of California for the term of four years.
  Frank Leon-Guerrero, of Guam, to be United States Marshal for the 
District of Guam and concurrently United States Marshal for the 
District of the Northern Mariana Islands for the term of four years.
  Robert R. Almonte, of Texas, to be United States Marshal for the 
Western District of Texas for the term of four years.
  Dallas Stephen Neville, of Wisconsin, to be United States Marshal for 
the Western District of Wisconsin for the term of four years.
  Todd E. Edelman, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate 
Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of 
fifteen years.
  Judith Anne Smith, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate 
Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of 
fifteen years.
  Routine lists in the Army, and Navy.                       
Page S2134
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S2114
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S2114
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S2114
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S2115
Additional Cosponsors:                                       
  Page S2116
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S2116-30
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S2111-14
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S2130-34
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S2134
Quorum Calls:
  One quorum call was taken today. (Total--1)                
Page S2099
  By 58 yeas to 35 nays (Vote No. 107), Senate agreed to the motion to 
instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request the attendance of absent 
Senators.                                                    
Page S2099
Record Votes: Sixteen record votes were taken today. (Total--108) 
                          Pages S2070-79, S2086-87, S2094, S2099, S2100
Recess: Senate convened at 9:46 a.m. and recessed at 9:33 p.m., until 
9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 26, 2010. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S2134.)