[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 195 (Saturday, December 17, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1382-D1384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                        Saturday, December 17, 2011

[[Page D1382]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 3630, Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation 
      Act, as amended.
      Senate passed H.R. 3672, Disaster Relief Appropriations Act.
      Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2055, 
      Omnibus Appropriations Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S8745-S8785
Measures Introduced: Five bills and three resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2027-2031, and S. Res. 349-351.               
  Page S8775
Measures Reported:
  Special Report entitled ``Further Revised Allocation to Subcommittees 
of Budget Totals for Fiscal Year 2012''. (S. Rept. No. 112-102) 
                                                             Page S8775
Measures Passed:
  Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act: Senate passed H.R. 
3630, to extend the payroll tax holiday, unemployment compensation, 
Medicare physician payment, provide for the consideration of the 
Keystone XL pipeline, after agreeing to the motion to proceed, and 
taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S8748-53
Adopted:
  By 89 yeas to 10 nays (Vote No. 232), Reid/McConnell Amendment No. 
1465, in the nature of a substitute. (A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that the amendment, having achieved 60 affirmatives 
votes, be agreed to.)                                    
Pages S8748-49
  Reid Amendment No. 1466, to amend the title.           
Pages S8752-53
  Disaster Relief Appropriations Act: By 72 yeas to 27 nays (Vote No. 
233), Senate passed H.R. 3672, making appropriations for disaster 
relief requirements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012. (A 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the bill, having 
achieved 60 affirmatives votes, pass).                       
  Page S8759
  Combat Mission in Iraq: Senate agreed to S. Res. 349, commemorating 
and honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States 
Armed Forces and their families as the official combat mission in Iraq 
draws to a close.                                        
  Pages S8759-60
  Further Continuing Appropriations: Senate passed H.J. Res. 95, making 
further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2012.      
  Page S8780
  HUBZone Qualified Census Tract Act: Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 1874, 
to require the timely identification of qualified census tracts for 
purposes of the HUBZone program, and the bill was then passed. 
                                                         Pages S8780-81
  Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act: Committee on Foreign 
Relations was discharged from further consideration of S. 1959, to 
require a report on the designation of the Haqqani Network as a foreign 
terrorist organization, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to 
the following amendment proposed thereto:                
  Pages S8781-82
  Reid (for Burr) Amendment No. 1467, to provide that the Act may not 
be construed to infringe upon the sovereignty of Pakistan to combat 
militant or terrorist groups operating inside the boundaries of 
Pakistan.                                                
Pages S8781-82
  James M. Fitzgerald United States Courthouse: Committee on 
Environment and Public Works was discharged from further consideration 
of S. 1710, to designate the United States courthouse located at 222 
West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska, as the James M. Fitzgerald United 
States Courthouse, and the bill was then passed.             
  Page S8782
  M.D. Anderson Plaza: Senate passed H.R. 1264, to designate the 
property between the United States

[[Page D1383]]

Federal Courthouse and the Ed Jones Building located at 109 South 
Highland Avenue in Jackson, Tennessee, as the ``M.D. Anderson Plaza'' 
and to authorize the placement of a historical/identification marker on 
the grounds recognizing the achievements and philanthropy of M.D. 
Anderson.                                                    
  Page S8782
  Sergeant Matthew J. Fenton Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 789, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
20 Main Street in Little Ferry, New Jersey, as the ``Sergeant Matthew 
J. Fenton Post Office''.                                     
  Page S8782
  Sergeant Angel Mendez Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 2422, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
45 Bay Street, Suite 2, in Staten Island, New York, as the ``Sergeant 
Angel Mendez Post Office''.                                  
  Page S8782
  Recognizing the Accomplishments of the Alaska Native People: Senate 
agreed to S. Res. 351, recognizing the accomplishments and 
commemorating the numerous achievements and contributions of the Alaska 
Native people over the past 40 years.                        
  Page S8782
Measures Failed:
  Offset for Disaster Funding: By 43 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 234), 
Senate failed to agree to H. Con. Res. 94, directing the Clerk of the 
House of Representatives to make corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 
3672. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the 
concurrent resolution, having failed to achieve 60 affirmatives votes, 
was not agreed to).                                          
  Page S8759
Measures Considered:
  Protect IP Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of S. 968, to prevent online threats to 
economic creativity and theft of intellectual property.      
  Page S8783
   A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to 
proceed to consideration of the bill, and, in accordance with the 
provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and 
pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Saturday, December 17, 
2011, a vote on cloture will occur at 2:15 p.m., on Tuesday, January 
24, 2012.                                                    
Page S8783
Conference Reports:
  Omnibus Appropriations Act Conference Report: By 67 yeas to 32 nays 
(Vote No. 235), Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany 
H.R. 2055, making appropriations for military construction, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2012. (A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that the conference report having achieved 60 
affirmatives votes, be agreed to.)                
  Pages S8753-59, S8760
House Messages:
  Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District Land Exchange Act: Senate 
concurred in the amendment of the House of Representatives to S. 278, 
to provide for the exchange of certain land located in the Arapaho-
Roosevelt National Forests in the State of Colorado.         
  Page S8780
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 individual to the United States-China 
Economic Security Review Commission:
  Daniel Blumenthal of Maryland for a term beginning January 1, 2012 
and expiring December 31, 2013.                              
Page S8783
Authority for Committees--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that, notwithstanding the recess of the Senate, 
committees be authorized to report legislative and executive matters on 
Friday, January 13th, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. 
                                                             Page S8783
Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the 
upcoming recess, or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the 
Senate, the President Pro Tempore, and the Majority and Minority 
Leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, 
boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by 
law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.
                                                             Page S8783
Pro Forma Sessions--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that when the Senate completes its business today, it 
adjourn and convene for pro forma sessions only with no business 
conducted on the following dates and times and that following each pro 
forma session, the Senate adjourn until the following pro forma 
session: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 11 a.m., Friday, December 23, 
2011 at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 12 p.m., Friday, 
December 30, 2011 at 11 a.m.; and that the 2nd session of the 112th 
Congress convene on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 12 p.m., for a pro 
forma session only with no business conducted

[[Page D1384]]

and that following the pro forma session, the Senate adjourn and 
convene for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted on the 
following dates and times and that following each pro forma session, 
the Senate adjourn until the following pro forma session: Friday, 
January 6, 2012 at 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 11 a.m., 
Friday, January 13, 2012 at 12 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 10:15 
a.m., Friday, January 20, 2012 at 2 p.m.; and that the Senate adjourn 
on Friday, January 20, 2012 until 2 p.m. on Monday, January 23, 2012. 
                                                         Pages S8783-84
Gerrard Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that at 4 p.m., on Monday, January 23, 2012, Senate 
begin consideration of the nomination of John M. Gerrard, of Nebraska, 
to be United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska; that 
there be 90 minutes for debate; 60 minutes divided in the usual form, 
and 30 minutes under the control of Senator Sessions; that upon the use 
or yielding back of time, Senate vote, without intervening action or 
debate, on confirmation of the nomination; and that no further motions 
be in order.                                                 
  Page S8769
Nominations in Status Quo--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that all the nominations received by the Senate 
during the 112th Congress, first session, remain in status quo, 
notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXX1, paragraph 6, of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, with the following exceptions:
  Victoria Frances Nourse, of Wisconsin, to be United States Circuit 
Judge for the Seventh Circuit.
  Caitlin Joan Halligan, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge 
for the District of Columbia Circuit.
  Louis B. Butler, Jr., of Wisconsin, to be United States District 
Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin.
  Michael Charles Green, of New York, to be United States District 
Judge for the Western District of New York.
  V. Natasha Perdew Silas, of Georgia, to be United States District 
Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
  Linda T. Walker, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for 
the Northern District of Georgia.
  Philip E. Coyle III, of California, to be an Associate Director of 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
  William J. Boarman, of Maryland, to be Public Printer (Recess 
Appointment).
  Arvo Mikkanen, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for 
the Northern District of Oklahoma.
  Steve Six, of Kansas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth 
Circuit.
  Rebecca R. Wodder, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish 
and Wildlife.
  Richard Cordray, of Ohio, to be Director, Bureau of Consumer 
Financial Protection for a term of five years.               
Page S8769
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Joyce A. Barr, of Washington, to be Assistant Secretary of State 
(Administration).
  Michael Anthony McFaul, of California, to be Ambassador to the 
Russian Federation.
  Brad Carson, of Oklahoma, to be General Counsel of the Department of 
the Army.
  Michael A. Sheehan, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Defense.
  39 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  36 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Foreign Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Navy, and Public Health 
Service.                                       
Pages S8769-73, S8784-85
Messages from the House:                                          
  Page S8774
Measures Referred:                                                
  Page S8774
Measures Read the First Time:                       
  Pages S8774-75, S8782-83
Executive Reports of Committees:                                  
  Page S8775
Additional Cosponsors:                                            
  Page S8775
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:                   
  Pages S8775-76
Amendments Submitted:                                         
  Pages S8776-80
Record Votes:  Four record votes were taken today. (Total--235) 
                                                    Pages S8748-49, S8759-60
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 3:33 p.m., until 11 
a.m. on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. (For Senate's program, see the remarks 
of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S8784.)