[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 161 (Wednesday, December 8, 2010)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1167-D1169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                        Wednesday, December 8, 2010

[[Page D1167]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate convicted Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. of High Crimes and 
      Misdemeanors.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S8607-S8658
Measures Introduced: Three bills and one resolution were introduced, as 
follows: S. 4015-4017, and S. Res. 697.                      
  Page S8641
Measures Reported:
  S. 3648, to establish a commission to conduct a study and provide 
recommendations on a comprehensive resolution of impacts caused to 
certain Indian tribes by the Pick-Sloan Program, with an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 111-357)
  S. 4016, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to 
establish within the Environmental Protection Agency a Columbia Basin 
Restoration Program. (S. Rept. No. 111-358)
  S. 2902, to improve the Federal Acquisition Institute, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.                     
Page S8641
Measures Passed:
  Taxpayer Assistance Act: Committee on Finance was discharged from 
further consideration of H.R. 4994, to extend certain expiring 
provisions of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and the bill was then 
passed, after agreeing to the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S8631-34
  Bennet (for Reid) Amendment No. 4742, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                         Pages S8631-34
  Bennet (for Reid) Amendment No. 4743, to amend the title. 
                                                         Pages S8631-34
  Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act: Senate passed H.R. 
4337, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify certain 
rules applicable to regulated investment companies, after agreeing to 
the following amendment proposed thereto:                    
  Page S8651
  Reid (for Bingaman) Amendment No. 4744, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S8651
  Census Oversight Efficiency and Management Reform Act: Senate passed 
S. 3167, to amend title 13 of the United States Code to provide for a 
5-year term of office for the Director of the Census and to provide for 
the authority and duties of the Director and Deputy Director of the 
Census, after agreeing to the committee amendments, and the following 
amendment proposed thereto:                              
  Pages S8651-54
  Reid (for Carper) Amendment No. 4745, to provide for the 
establishment of a technology advisory committee and to strike the 
requirement that the Director of the Census submit a budget request 
each year to the Secretary of Commerce for inclusion in the President's 
budget request for that year.                            
Pages S8653-54
  National Alzheimer's Project Act: Senate passed S. 3036, to establish 
the National Alzheimer's Project, after agreeing to the committee 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.                 
  Pages S8654-55
  15th Anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 697, recognizing the 15th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords.
                                                             Page S8655
Measures Considered:
  Impeachment of Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr.: Senate, sitting as a 
Court of Impeachment, continued consideration of the articles of 
impeachment against Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. of the Eastern 
District of Louisiana, taking the following action:          
Page S8607
  By a unanimous vote of 94 nays (Vote No. 260), Senate rejected the 
motion that notwithstanding Impeachment Rule XXIII, the Senate shall 
disaggregate the articles of impeachment by holding preliminary votes 
on individual allegations in the articles.                   
Page S8608
  On this article of impeachment, 96 Senators having voted guilty, 0 
Senators having voted not guilty (Vote No. 261), two-thirds of the 
Senators present

[[Page D1168]]

having voted guilty, the verdict on Article I (improperly denied a 
motion to recuse based on corrupt financial relationship) is guilty. 
                                                         Pages S8608-09
  On this article of impeachment, 69 Senators having voted guilty, 27 
Senators having voted not guilty (Vote No. 262), two-thirds of the 
Senators having voted guilty, the verdict on Article II (alleges a 
pattern of corrupt conduct based on improper structuring of bail bonds) 
is guilty.                                                   
Page S8609
  On this article of impeachment, 88 Senators having voted guilty, 8 
Senators having voted not guilty (Vote No. 263), two-thirds of the 
Senators having voted guilty, the verdict on Article III (intentionally 
made material false statements in a personal bankruptcy filing) is 
guilty.                                                  
Pages S8609-10
  On this article of impeachment, 90 Senators having voted guilty, 6 
Senators having voted not guilty (Vote No. 264), two-thirds of the 
Senators having voted guilty, the verdict on Article IV (knowingly made 
false statements to the Senate and FBI during his confirmation process) 
is guilty.                                                   
Page S8610
  By 94 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. 265), Senate agreed to the motion to 
forever disqualify Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. of the Eastern 
District of Louisiana, to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or 
profit under the United States.                          
Pages S8610-11
  The Senate having tried G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., U.S. District Judge 
for the Eastern District of Louisiana, upon four articles of 
impeachment exhibited against him by the House of Representatives, and 
two-thirds of the Senators present having found him guilty of the 
charges contained in Articles I, II, III, and IV of the articles of 
impeachment: it is, therefore, ordered and adjudged that the said G. 
Thomas Porteous. Be, and is hereby, removed from office; and that he 
be, and he is hereby, forever disqualified to hold and enjoy any office 
or honor, trust, or profit under the United States.      
Pages S8610-11
  Ordered, that the Secretary be directed to communicate to the 
Secretary of State, as provided by rule XXIII of the Rules of Procedure 
and Practice in the Senate When Sitting on Impeachment Trials, and also 
to the House of Representatives, the judgment of the Senate in the case 
of G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., and transmit a certified copy of the 
judgment to each.                                            
Page S8610
  Subsequently, Senate, sitting as Court of Impeachment, adjourned sine 
die.                                                         
Page S8610
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senators may 
be permitted, within 7 days from Wednesday, December 8, 2010, to have 
printed in the Congressional Record opinions or statements explaining 
their votes and that the Secretary be authorized to include these 
statements, along with the record of the Senate's proceedings, in a 
Senate document printed to complete the documentation of the Senate's 
handling of these impeachment proceedings.                   
Page S8608
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act: Senate resumed 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3991, to 
provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers 
employed by States or their political subdivisions. 
                                               Pages S8613-17, S8617-27
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 55 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 266), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to 
consideration of the bill.                               
Pages S8626-27
Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act: Senate resumed consideration of 
the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3985, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions. 
                                                         Pages S8627-28
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 53 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 267), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to 
consideration of the bill.                               
Pages S8627-28
Appointments:
  United States-China Economic Security Review Commission: The Chair, 
on behalf of the President pro tempore, pursuant to Public Law 106-398, 
as amended by Public Law 108-7, and upon the recommendation of the 
Republican Leader, in consultation with the Ranking Members of the 
Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Finance, 
reappointed the following individuals to the United States-China 
Economic Security Review Commission:
  Robin Cleveland of Virginia for a term expiring December 31, 2012, 
and Dennis C. Shea of Virginia for a term expiring December 31, 2012. 
                                                             Page S8655
  United States-China Economic Security Review Commission: The Chair, 
on behalf of the President pro tempore, pursuant to Public Law 106-398, 
as amended by Public Law 108-7, and upon the recommendation of the 
Majority Leader, in consultation with the Chairmen of the Senate 
Committee on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Finance, 
appointed the following individual to the United States-China Economic 
Security Review Commission:

[[Page D1169]]


  C. Richard D'Amato of Maryland for a term beginning January 1, 2011, 
and expiring December 31, 2012, vice Peter Videnieks of Virginia. 
                                                         Pages S8655-56
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that the 
cloture vote on the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3992, 
Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, occur at 11 
a.m., on Thursday, December 9, 2010, with the time following any Leader 
time, until 11 a.m., equally divided and controlled between the two 
Leaders, or their designees; that following any Leader statement, 
Senator Durbin be recognized for up to 10 minutes; Senate then resume 
the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3992; that during 
Thursday's session, Senator Bennett be recognized, after any votes 
Thursday morning, to speak for up to 20 minutes for his farewell 
speech, and that Senator Dorgan be recognized at 2 p.m., for up to 20 
minutes for his farewell speech; and also that Senator Bunning be 
recognized at 1 p.m., for up to 30 minutes for his farewell speech. 
                                                             Page S8651
Retiring Members Tributes--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that there be printed as a Senate document a 
compilation of materials from the Congressional Record in the tribute 
to retiring members of the 111th Congress, and that members have until 
Thursday, December 16, 2010, to submit such tributes.        
  Page S8655
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Albert J. Beveridge III, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member 
of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 
26, 2016.
  Constance M. Carroll, of California, to be a Member of the National 
Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2016.
  Cathy M. Davidson, of North Carolina, to be a Member of the National 
Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2016.
  41 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. 
                                                         Pages S8656-58
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S8639
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S8639
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S8639-41
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S8641
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S8641-42
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:                  
  Page S8642
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S8638-39
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S8642-51
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S8651
Quorum Calls: One quorum call was taken today. (Total--8) 
                                                         Pages S8607-08
Record Votes: Eight record votes were taken today. (Total--267) 
                                               Pages S8608-11, S8626-28
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:31 a.m. and adjourned at 7:09 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2010. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S8656.)