[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 14, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D245-D246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                          Wednesday, March 14, 2012

[[Page D245]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed S. 1813, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st 
      Century, as amended.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S1639-S1683
Measures Introduced: One bill and one resolution were introduced, as 
follows: S. 2191, and S. Res. 396.                       
  Pages S1679-80
Measures Passed:
  Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century: By 74 yeas to 22 nays 
(Vote No. 48), Senate passed S. 1813, to reauthorize Federal-aid 
highway and highway safety construction programs, after taking action 
on the following amendments proposed thereto:            
  Pages S1645-60
Adopted:
  Coats (for Alexander) Amendment No. 1779, to make technical 
corrections to certain provisions relating to overflights of National 
Parks.                                               
Pages S1645, S1649
  By 76 yeas to 20 nays (Vote No. 46), Boxer Amendment No. 1816, to 
express the sense of the Senate that Federal agencies should ensure 
that all applicable environmental reviews, approvals, licensing, and 
permit requirements under Federal law are completed on an expeditious 
basis after a disaster or emergency.              
Pages S1647, S1649-50
Rejected:
  Corker Amendment No. 1810, to ensure that the aggregate amount made 
available for transportation projects for a fiscal year does not exceed 
the estimated amount available for those projects in the Highway Trust 
Fund for the fiscal year.                            
Pages S1645, S1649
Withdrawn:
  McCain Modified Amendment No. 1669, to enhance the natural quiet and 
safety of airspace of the Grand Canyon National Park. 
                                                  Pages S1645, S1648-49
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 42 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 47), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to section 904 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and section 4(g)(3) of the Statutory 
Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, and all applicable sections of those acts 
and applicable budget resolutions with respect to Paul Amendment No. 
1556, to permit emergency exemptions from compliance with certain laws 
for highway construction projects. Subsequently, the Chair sustained a 
point of order against Paul Amendment No. 1556, as being in violation 
of section 311(a)(2)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and 
the amendment thus fell.                             
Pages S1647, S1650
  Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 396, 
supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. 
                                                         Pages S1682-83
Reopening American Capital Markets to Emerging Growth Companies Act--
Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
11 a.m., on Thursday, March 15, 2012, Senate begin consideration of 
H.R. 3606, to increase American job creation and economic growth by 
improving access to the public capital markets for emerging growth 
companies.                                               
  Pages S1674-75
Cloture Motions Withdrawn--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that the cloture motions relative to the nominations 
of Gina Marie Groh, of West Virginia, to be United States District 
Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia, David Nuffer, of 
Utah, to be United States District Judge for the District of Utah, 
Michael Walter Fitzgerald, of California, to be United States District 
Judge for the Central District of California, Ronnie Abrams, of New 
York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of 
New York, Rudolph Contreras, of Virginia, to be United States District 
Judge for the District of Columbia, Miranda Du, of Nevada, to be United 
States

[[Page D246]]

District Judge for the District of Nevada, Susie Morgan, of Louisiana, 
to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of 
Louisiana, Gregg Jeffrey Costa, of Texas, to be United States District 
Judge for the Southern District of Texas, David Campos Guaderrama, of 
Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of 
Texas, Brian C. Wimes, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge 
for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, Kristine Gerhard 
Baker, of Arkansas, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern 
District of Arkansas, John Z. Lee, of Illinois, to be United States 
District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, George Levi 
Russell III, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the 
District of Maryland, John J. Tharp, Jr., of Illinois, to be United 
States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, Jeffrey J. 
Helmick, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the Northern 
District of Ohio, Mary Geiger Lewis, of South Carolina, to be United 
States District Judge for the District of South Carolina, and Timothy 
S. Hillman, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for 
the District of Massachusetts, be withdrawn.                 
  Page S1658
Groh and Fitzgerald Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time 
agreement was reached providing that at 1:45 p.m., on Thursday, March 
15, 2012, Senate resume consideration of the nominations of Gina Marie 
Groh, of West Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the 
Northern District of West Virginia, and Michael Walter Fitzgerald, of 
California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District 
of California; that there be 15 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 nominations 
of Gina Marie Groh, of West Virginia, to be United States District 
Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia, and Michael Walter 
Fitzgerald, of California, to be United States District Judge for the 
Central District of California, in that order; and that no further 
motions be in order.                                         
  Page S1682
Measures Read the First Time:                                
  Page S1679
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S1679
Additional Cosponsors:                                       
  Page S1680
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:                  
  Page S1680
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S1678-79
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S1681-82
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S1682
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S1682
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--48) 
                                                     Pages S1650, S1659
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:45 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 15, 2012. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S1683.)