[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 27 (Friday, February 17, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D136-D137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                          Friday, February 17, 2012

[[Page D136]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 3630, 
      Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act.
      House agreed to the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 3630, 
      Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S879-1023
Measures Introduced: Eight bills were introduced, as follows: S. 2123-
2130.                                                         
  Page S909
Measures Passed:
  World Choir Games Month: Committee on Foreign Relations was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 325, recognizing the 
2012 World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a global event of 
cultural significance to the United States and expressing support for 
designation of July 2012 as World Choir Games Month in the United 
States, and the resolution was then agreed to.           
  Pages S1019-20
  Condemning Violence against the Syrian People: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 379, condemning violence by the Government of Syria against the 
Syrian people.                                           
  Pages S1020-21
Measures Considered:
  Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century: Senate continued 
consideration of S. 1813, to reauthorize Federal-aid highway and 
highway safety construction programs, taking action on the following 
amendments proposed thereto:                        
  Pages S885-86, S892
Pending:
  Reid Amendment No. 1730, of a perfecting nature.            
Page S892
Withdrawn:
  Reid Motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works, with instructions, Reid Amendment No. 1635, to change the 
enactment date.                                               
Page S885
  Reid Amendment No. 1633, of a perfecting nature.            
Page S885
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 54 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 20), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on Reid Amendment No. 1633 
(listed above).                                               
Page S886
  Reid Amendment No. 1636 (to (the instructions) Amendment No. 1635), 
of a perfecting nature, fell when Reid Motion to recommit the bill to 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works, with instructions, Reid 
Amendment No. 1635, was withdrawn.                            
Page S885
  Reid Amendment No. 1637 (to Amendment No. 1636), of a perfecting 
nature, fell when Reid Amendment No. 1636 (to (the instructions) 
Amendment No. 1635), fell.                                    
Page S885
  Reid Amendment No. 1634 (to Amendment No. 1633), to change the 
enactment date, fell when Reid Amendment No. 1633, was withdrawn. 
                                                              Page S885
Conference Reports:
  Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act: By 60 yeas to 36 nays 
(Vote No. 22), Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 
3630, to extend the payroll tax holiday, unemployment compensation, 
Medicare physician payment, provide for the consideration of the 
Keystone XL pipeline.                                     
  Pages S888-92
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 S1020

[[Page D137]]

Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that from Friday, February 17, 2012 through Monday, February 
27, 2012, the Majority Leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills 
or joint resolutions.                                        
  Page S1020
Pro Forma--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that Senate adjourn until 12 p.m., on Tuesday, February 21, 
2012 and convene for a pro forma session only with no business 
conducted and that following the pro forma session, Senate adjourn 
until 11 a.m., on Friday, February 24, 2012 and convene for a pro forma 
session only with no business conducted and that following the pro 
forma session, Senate adjourn until 2 p.m., on Monday, February 27, 
2012.                                                        
  Page S1021
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, the Economic Report of the President 
dated February 2012 with the Annual Report of the Council of Economic 
Advisers for 2012; which was referred to the Joint Economic Committee. 
(PM-41)                                                   
Pages S906-07
Brodie Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that at 4:30 p.m., on Monday, February 27, 2012, 
Senate will begin consideration of the nomination of Margo Kitsy 
Brodie, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern 
District of New York; that there be 60 minutes for debate equally 
divided in the usual form; 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 S1019
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 62 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. EX. 21), Jesse M. Furman, of New 
York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of 
New York.                                                 
pages S886-88
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the 
previously scheduled vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the 
nomination, be withdrawn.                                     
Page S886
  34 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  85 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  7 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general.
  6 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Foreign Service, Marine Corps, 
and Navy.                                                
Pages S1021-23
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Major General John Peabody, United States Army, to be a Member and 
President of the Mississippi River Commission.
  C. Peter Mahurin, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 
2016.
  Mark A. Pekala, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Latvia.
  Richard B. Norland, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to Georgia.
  Jeffrey D. Levine, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Estonia.
  Makila James, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the 
Kingdom of Swaziland.
  Carlos Pascual, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of State (Energy Resources).
  Erica Lynn Groshen, of New York, to be Commissioner of Labor 
Statistics, Department of Labor, for a term of four years.   
Page S1021
Messages from the House:                                      
  Page S907
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                       
  Pages S879, S907
Executive Reports of Committees:                          
  Pages S907-09
Additional Cosponsors:                                    
  Pages S909-10
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:               
  Pages S910-12
Amendments Submitted:                                   
  Pages S912-1019
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--22) 
                                                  Page S886, S888, S892
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 2:27 p.m., 
until 12 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S1021.)