[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D183-D184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                            Thursday, March 3, 2011

[[Page D183]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S1171-S1243
Measures Introduced: Twenty-four bills and seven resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 467-490, S. Res. 87-92, and S. Con. Res. 10.
                                                         Pages S1218-19
Measures Passed:
  Surface Transportation Extension Act: Senate passed H.R. 662, to 
provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor 
carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway 
Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such 
programs.                                                
  Pages S1202-04
  Death of Frank W. Buckles: Senate agreed to S. Res. 89, relating to 
the death of Frank W. Buckles, the longest surviving United States 
veteran of the First World War.                          
  Pages S1240-41
  International Women's Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 90, supporting 
the goals of ``International Women's Day'' and recognizing this year's 
centennial anniversary of International Women's Day.         
  Page S1241
  Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 91, 
supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. 
                                                         Pages S1241-42
  Payment of Legal Expenses of Senate Employees: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 92, to authorize the payment of legal expenses of Senate employees 
out of the contingent fund of the Senate.                    
  Page S1242
Measures Considered:
  Patent Reform Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 23, to amend 
title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform, taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                               Pages S1175-85, S1204-13
Adopted:
  Stabenow/Levin Amendment No. 126, to designate the satellite office 
of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to be located in 
Detroit, Michigan as the ``Elijah J. McCoy United States Patent and 
Trademark Office''.                                          
Page S1183


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

  
  On page D183, March 3, 2011, the following language appears: 
Adopted: Stabenow/Levin Amendment No. 126, to designate the 
satellite office of the United States Patent and Trademark Office 
to be located in Detroit, Michigan as the ``Elijah J. McCoy United 
States Patent and Trademark Office''. Pages S1183-85
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Adopted: Stabenow/
Levin Amendment No. 126, to designate the satellite office of the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office to be located in 
Detroit, Michigan as the ``Elijah J. McCoy United States Patent 
and Trademark Office''. Page S1183


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

  Whitehouse (for Bingaman) Amendment No. 142, to require the PTO to 
disclose the length of time between the commencement of each inter 
partes and post-grant review and the conclusion of that review. 
                                                             Page S1206


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

  
  On page D183, March 3, 2011, the following language appears: 
Whitehouse (for Bingaman) Amendment No. 142, to require the PTO to 
disclose the length of time between the commencement of each inter 
partes and post-grant review and the conclusion of that review. 
Pages S1206-13
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Whitehouse (for 
Bingaman) Amendment No. 142, to require the PTO to disclose the 
length of time between the commencement of each inter partes and 
post-grant review and the conclusion of that review. Page S1206


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

Rejected:
  Feinstein Modified Amendment No. 133, to strike the first inventor to 
file requirement. (By 87 yeas to 13 nays (Vote No. 31), Senate tabled 
the amendment.)                                          
Pages S1175-83
Pending:
  Leahy Amendment No. 114, to improve the bill.              
Page S1175
  Bennet Amendment No. 116, to reduce the fee amounts paid by small 
entities requesting prioritized examination under Three-Track 
Examination.                                                 
Page S1175
  A motion was entered to close further debate on 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 Monday, March 7, 2011, 
following disposition of the nominations of James E. Shadid, of 
Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Central District 
of Illinois, and Anthony J. Battaglia, of California, to be United 
States District Judge for the Southern District of California. 
                                                             Page S1213
Battaglia, Myerscough, and Shadid Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent-time agreement was reached providing that at 4:30 p.m., on 
Monday, March 7, 2011, Senate begin consideration of the nominations of 
Anthony J. Battaglia, of California, to be United States District Judge 
for the Southern District of California, Sue E. Myerscough, of 
Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Central District 
of Illinois, and James E. Shadid, of Illinois, to be United States 
District Judge for the Central District of Illinois; that there be one 
hour for debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form; that 
upon the use or yielding back of time, the nomination of Sue E. 
Myerscough, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the 
Central District of Illinois, be confirmed, and Senate vote, without 
intervening action or debate, on the confirmation of the nominations of 
James E. Shadid,

[[Page D184]]

of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Central 
District of Illinois, and Anthony J. Battaglia, of California, to be 
United States District Judge for the Southern District of California; 
that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations and 
Senate then resume legislative session.                      
  Page S1242
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Daniel L. Shields III, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to Brunei 
Darussalam.
  Pamela L. Spratlen, of California, to be Ambassador to the Kyrgyz 
Republic.
  Eric G. Postel, of Wisconsin, to be an Assistant Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development.
  Sue Kathrine Brown, of Texas, to be Ambassador to Montenegro.
  David Lee Carden, of New York, to be Representative of the United 
States of America to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with 
the rank of Ambassador.                               
Pages S1242-S1243


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

  
  On page D184, March 3, 2011, the following language appears: 
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: 
. . . Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with the rank of 
Ambassador. Page S1242
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Nominations 
Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: . . . 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with the rank of 
Ambassador. Pages S1242-43


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

Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S1216
Measures Read the First Time:                     
  Pages S1216, S1242-43
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S1216-18
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S1218
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S1219-20
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S1220-39
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S1215-16
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S1239-40
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S1240
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--31)   
  Page S1183
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned, as a further 
mark of respect to the memory of the late Frank W. Buckles, in 
accordance with S. Res. 89, at 6:39 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Friday, 
March 4, 2011. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority 
Leader in today's Record on page S1243.)