[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 132 (Thursday, September 8, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D933-D934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                        Thursday, September 8, 2011

[[Page D933]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 1249, Leahy-Smith America Invents Act.
      House and Senate met in a Joint Session to receive a message from 
      the President of the United States.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S5395-S5470
Measures Introduced: Thirteen bills and three resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1523-1535, S.J. Res. 27, and S. Res. 259-
260.                                                     
  Pages S5458-59
Measures Reported:
  Special Report entitled ``Allocation to Subcommittees of Budget 
Totals for Fiscal Year 2012''. (S. Rept. No. 112-76)
  S. 657, to encourage, enhance, and integrate Blue Alert plans 
throughout the United States in order to disseminate information when a 
law enforcement officer is seriously injured or killed in the line of 
duty, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1525, to extend the authority of Federal-aid highway programs. 
                                                             Page S5458
Measures Passed:
  Leahy-Smith America Invents Act: By 89 yeas to 9 nays (Vote No. 129), 
Senate passed H.R. 1249, to amend title 35, United States Code, to 
provide for patent reform, after taking action on the following 
amendments proposed thereto:                             
  Pages S5402-43
Rejected:
  By 47 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 126), Sessions Amendment No. 600, to 
strike the provision relating to the calculation of the 60-day period 
for application of patent term extension.      
Pages S5402-07, S5425-36
  By 13 yeas to 85 nays, 1 responding present (Vote No. 127), Cantwell 
Amendment No. 595, to establish a transitional program for covered 
business method patents.                       
Pages S5407-18, S5436-37
  Coburn Modified Amendment No. 599, to amend the provision relating to 
funding the Patent and Trademark Office by establishing a United States 
Patent and Trademark Office Public Enterprise Fund. (By 50 yeas to 48 
nays (Vote No. 128), Senate tabled the amendment.) 
                                               Pages S5418-25, S5437-39
  Authorizing the Use of the Capitol Grounds: Senate agreed to H. Con. 
Res. 67, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of 
Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.         
  Page S5464
  Authorizing the Use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor 
Center: Committee on Rules and Administration was discharged from 
further consideration of S. Con. Res. 28, authorizing the use of 
Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to award 
the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry 
Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence 
Service, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service 
during World War II, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                             Page S5464
  National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day: Senate 
agreed to S. Res. 259, designating September 9, 2011, as ``National 
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day.''        
  Pages S5464-65
  75th Anniversary of Shenandoah National Park: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 260, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the dedication of 
Shenandoah National Park.                                    
  Page S5465
Measures Considered:
  Debt Limit Increase Resolution of Disapproval: Senate began 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S.J. Res. 
25, relating to the disapproval of the President's exercise of 
authority to increase the debt limit, as submitted under section 3101A 
of title 31, United States Code, on August 2, 2011.
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:

[[Page D934]]


  By 45 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 130), Senate did not agree to the 
motion to proceed to consideration of the resolution.        
Page S5466
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting the President's address concerning proposals to create 
jobs and improve the economy delivered to a Joint Session of Congress 
on September 8, 2011; which was ordered to lie on the table. (PM-18) 
                                                         Pages S5451-54
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Cyrus Amir-Mokri, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank for a term of three 
years.
  Cyrus Amir-Mokri, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Treasury.
  Stephanie Dawn Thacker, of West Virginia, to be United States Circuit 
Judge for the Fourth Circuit.
  Gregg Jeffrey Costa, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for 
the Southern District of Texas.
  Kathryn Keneally, of New York, to be an Assistant Attorney General.
  16 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Foreign Service, Marine Corps, 
Navy, and Public Health Service.                         
Pages S5466-70
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S5454
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                     
  Pages S5395, S5454
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S5454-58
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S5458
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S5459-60
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S5460-63
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S5449-51
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                            
  Pages S5463-64
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S5464
Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--130) 
                                    Pages S5436-37, S5439, S5442, S5466
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:30 p.m., 
until 9:45 a.m. on Friday, September 9, 2011. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S5466.)