[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 190 (Monday, December 12, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1346-D1347]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                          Monday, December 12, 2011

[[Page D1346]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S8469-S8492
Measures Introduced: Four bills were introduced, as follows: S. 1977-
1980.                                                    
  Pages S8489-90
Measures Passed:
  Risk-Based Security Screening for Members of the Armed Forces Act: 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation was discharged from 
further consideration of H.R. 1801, to amend title 49, United States 
Code, to provide for expedited security screenings for members of the 
Armed Forces, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the 
following amendment proposed thereto:                    
  Pages S8485-86
  Hutchison Amendment No. 1458, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                         Pages S8485-86
Balanced Budget Amendment Joint Resolutions--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent-time agreement was reached providing that pursuant to the 
Budget Control Act of 2011, at approximately 12 p.m., on Tuesday, 
December 13, 2011, the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from 
further consideration, and Senate begin consideration of S.J. Res. 10, 
proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States 
relative to balancing the budget, and S.J. Res. 24, proposing an 
amendment to the Constitution relative to requiring a balanced budget; 
provided further, that the titles of both joint resolutions be amended 
as follows so they can comply with the Budget Control Act of 2011: 
Joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the 
Constitution of the United States; that there be up to 8 hours of 
debate on the joint resolutions to run concurrently during Tuesday's 
session, equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees; 
that when the Senate continues consideration of the joint resolutions, 
en bloc, on Wednesday, December 14, 2011, there be up to ten minutes of 
debate equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees, 
prior to votes on passage of the joint resolutions in the following 
order: S.J. Res. 24; and S.J. Res. 10; provided further, that there be 
two minutes, equally divided, between the votes; and that there be no 
amendments, motions or points of order in order to either joint 
resolution prior to the votes.                               
  Page S8492
Aponte Nomination--Cloture: Senate resumed consideration of Mari Carmen 
Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of El Salvador.                                          
  Pages S8476-85
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
   By 49 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. 227), 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 nomination. 
                                                             Page S8485
  Subsequently, Senator Reid entered a motion to reconsider the vote by 
which cloture was not invoked on the nomination of Mari Carmen Aponte, 
of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of El 
Salvador.                                                    
Page S8485
Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination:
  Norman L. Eisen, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the 
Czech Republic (Recess Appointment).              
Pages S8476-85, S8492
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 70 yeas to 16 nays (Vote No. 226), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.     
Page S8484
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S8489
Measures Read the First Time:                        
  Pages S8489, S8492
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S8489
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S8489
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S8490-91
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:                  
  Page S8491
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S8488-89
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S8491-92
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S8492
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S8492

[[Page D1347]]

Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--227) 
                                                     Pages S8484, S8485
Adjournment: Senate convened at 2 p.m. and adjourned at 7:23 p.m., 
until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S8492.)