[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 53 (Thursday, April 15, 2010)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D387-D389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, April 15, 2010

[[Page D387]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 4851, Continuing Extension Act, as amended.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2331-S2397
Measures Introduced: Thirteen bills and five resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 3208-3220, and S. Res. 483-487.   
  Page S2377
Measures Reported:
  S. 3031, to authorize Drug Free Communities enhancement grants to 
address major emerging drug issues or local drug crises, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 3217, A original bill to promote the financial stability of the 
United States by improving accountability and transparency in the 
financial system, to end ``too big to fail'', to protect the American 
taxpayer by ending bailouts, to protect consumers from abusive 
financial services practices.                            
Pages S2376-77
Measures Passed:
  Continuing Extension Act: By 59 yeas to 38 nays (Vote No. 117), 
Senate passed H.R. 4851, to provide a temporary extension of certain 
programs, as amended, after taking action on the following amendments 
proposed thereto:                              
  Pages S2341-57, S2363-67
  Adopted:
  By 85 yeas to 13 nays (Vote No. 115), McCain Modified Amendment No. 
3724 (to Amendment No. 3721), expressing the sense of the Senate that 
the Value Added Tax is a massive tax increase that will cripple 
families on fixed income and only further push back America's economic 
recovery and the Senate opposes a Value Added Tax. 
                                                  Pages S2351-57, S2364
  Baucus Modified Amendment No. 3721, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                               Pages S2341-57, S2363-67
  Rejected:
  Coburn Amendment No. 3726 (to Amendment No. 3721), to pay for the 
full cost of extending additional unemployment insurance and other 
Federal programs. (By 50 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 113), Senate tabled 
the amendment.)                                   
Pages S2341, S2345-46
  Coburn Amendment No. 3727 (to Amendment No. 3721), to pay for the 
full cost of extending additional unemployment insurance and other 
Federal programs. (By 53 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 114), Senate tabled 
the amendment.)                                   
Pages S2341-45, S2346
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 60 yeas to 38 nays (Vote No. 116), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion to close further debate on Baucus Modified Amendment No. 
3721 (listed above).                                         
Page S2365
  Subsequently, the motion to invoke cloture on the bill was withdrawn.
                                                             Page S2365
  National Public Works Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 484, designating 
the week of May 16 through May 22, 2010, as ``National Public Works 
Week''.                                                  
  Pages S2393-95
  Financial Literacy Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 485, designating 
April 2010 as ``Financial Literacy Month''.              
  Pages S2393-95
  2010 National Crime Victims' Rights Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
486, supporting the mission and goals of the 2010 National Crime 
Victims' Rights Week to increase public awareness of the rights, needs, 
and concerns of victims and survivors of crime in the United States, no 
matter the country of origin or creed of the victim, and to commemorate 
the National Crime Victims' Rights Week theme referred to as ``Crime 
Victims' Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect.''.          
  Pages S2393-95
  Honoring the Coal Miners Who Perished in West Virginia: Senate agreed 
to S. Res. 487, honoring the coal miners who perished in the Upper Big 
Branch Mine-South in Raleigh County, West Virginia, extending the 
condolences of the United

[[Page D388]]

States Senate to the families of the fallen coal miners, and 
recognizing the valiant efforts of the emergency response workers. 
                                                         Pages S2393-95
Impeachment of Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr.: The Chair submitted to 
the Senate for printing in the Senate Journal and in the Congressional 
Record the replication of the House of Representatives to the Answer of 
Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., to the articles of impeachment against 
Judge Porteous, pursuant to S. Res. 457, 111th Congress, Second 
Session, which replication was received by the Secretary of the Senate 
on April 15, 2010.                                       
  Pages S2357-60
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the Majority Leader, be authorized to sign duly enrolled 
bills or joint resolutions April 15, 2010 or April 16, 2010. 
                                                             Page S2395
Brainard Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be an 
Under Secretary of the Treasury.                             
  Page S2367
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, 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, April 15, 2010, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m. on 
Monday, April 19, 2010.                                      
Page S2367
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senate 
resume consideration of the nomination at approximately 3:00 p.m., on 
Monday, April 19, 2010.                                      
Page S2395
Demeo Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Marisa J. Demeo, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate 
Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.     
  Page S2367
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, 
in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of the 
nomination of Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be an 
Under Secretary of the Treasury.                             
Page S2367
Schroeder Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Christopher H. Schroeder, of North Carolina, to be an 
Assistant Attorney General.                                  
  Page S2367
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, 
in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of the 
nomination of Marisa J. Demeo, of the District of Columbia, to be an 
Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. 
                                                             Page S2367
Vanaskie Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Thomas I. Vanaskie, of Pennsylvania, to be United States 
Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.                         
  Page S2367
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, 
in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of the 
nomination of Christopher H. Schroeder, of North Carolina, to be an 
Assistant Attorney General.                                  
Page S2367
Chin Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Denny Chin, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 
Second Circuit.                                              
  Page S2367
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, 
in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of the 
nomination of Thomas I. Vanaskie, of Pennsylvania, to be United States 
Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.                         
Page S2367
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S2375
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S2375
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                             
  Page S2375
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S2375-76
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S2377
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S2377-78
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S2378-91
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S2372-75
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S2391-92
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S2392
Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--117) 
                                               Pages S2345-46, S2364-65
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:26 p.m., 
until 2 p.m. on Monday, April 19, 2010. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S2395.)

[[Page D389]]