[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D331-D335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, March 29, 2012

[[Page D331]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 4281, Surface Transportation Extension Act.
      Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 38, Adjournment Resolution.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2187-S2285
Measures Introduced: Thirty-four bills and eight resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2250-2283, S. Res. 411-417, and S. Con. Res. 
37.                                                      
  Pages S2242-43
Measures Reported:
  H.R. 2297, to promote the development of the Southwest waterfront in 
the District of Columbia. (S. Rept. No. 112-154)
  S. 2159, to extend the authorization of the Drug-Free Communities 
Support Program through fiscal year 2017, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.                                      
Page S2242
Measures Passed:
  Surface Transportation Extension Act: Senate passed H.R. 4281, to 
provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor 
carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway 
Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such 
programs.                                                
  Pages S2209-12
  Adjournment Resolution: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 38, providing 
for a conditional adjournment or recess of the Senate and an 
adjournment of the House of Representatives.                 
  Page S2275
  Southwest Waterfront in the District of Columbia: Senate passed H.R. 
2297, to promote the development of the Southwest waterfront in the 
District of Columbia, after agreeing to the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                        
  Pages S2275-76
  Reid (for Lieberman) Amendment No. 1998, to deauthorize a portion of 
the project for navigation of the Corps of Engineers at Potomac River, 
Washington Channel, District of Columbia.                
Pages S2275-76
  Baha'i Minority in Iran: Senate agreed to S. Res. 80, condemning the 
Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i 
minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on 
Human Rights, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed 
thereto:                                                     
  Page S2276
  Reid (for Paul) Amendment No. 1999, of a perfecting nature. 
                                                             Page S2276
  People of Tibet: Senate agreed to S. Res. 356, expressing support for 
the people of Tibet.                                     
  Pages S2276-78
  Journalists and Freedom of the Press in Syria: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 391, condemning violence by the Government of Syria against 
journalists, and expressing the sense of the Senate on freedom of the 
press in Syria.                                              
  Page S2278
  North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
395, expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization and the NATO summit to be held in Chicago, 
Illinois, from May 20 through 21, 2012.                  
  Pages S2279-80
  Promoting Peace in Sudan: Senate agreed to S. Res. 397, promoting 
peace and stability in Sudan, after agreeing to the committee amendment 
in the nature of a substitute.                           
  Pages S2280-82
  University of North Carolina at Pembroke 125th Anniversary: Senate 
agreed to S. Res. 414, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the 
University of North Carolina at Pembroke.                    
  Page S2282
  National Association of Junior Auxiliaries Day: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 415, designating April 4, 2012, as ``National Association of 
Junior Auxiliaries Day''.                                    
  Page S2282
  Parkinson's Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 416, supporting 
the designation of April as Parkinson's Awareness Month.     
  Page S2282

[[Page D332]]

Measures Considered:
Paying a Fair Share Act--Agreement: Senate continued consideration of 
the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2230, to reduce the 
deficit by imposing a minimum effective tax rate for high-income 
taxpayers.                                     
  Pages S2188-99, S2223-24
  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 Thursday, March 29, 2012, a vote on 
cloture will occur on Monday, April 16, 2012, when the Senate resumes 
legislative session immediately following the vote on the confirmation 
of the nomination of Stephanie Dawn Thacker, of West Virginia, to be 
United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit.      
Pages S2223-24
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senate 
resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the 
bill at approximately 2 p.m., on Monday, April 16, 2012.     
Page S2283
Oil Tax Subsidies: Senate resumed consideration of S. 2204, to 
eliminate unnecessary tax subsidies and promote renewable energy and 
energy conservation, after agreeing to the motion to proceed, and 
taking action on the following amendments and motions proposed thereto:
                                                             Page S2199
Pending:
  Reid Amendment No. 1968, to change the enactment date.     
Page S2199
  Reid Amendment No. 1969 (to Amendment No. 1968), of a perfecting 
nature.                                                      
Page S2199
  Reid motion to commit the bill to the Committee on Finance with 
instructions, Reid Amendment No. 1970, to change the enactment date. 
                                                             Page S2199
  Reid Amendment No. 1971 (to (the instructions) Amendment No. 1970), 
of a perfecting nature.                                      
Page S2199
  Reid Amendment No. 1972 (to Amendment No. 1971), of a perfecting 
nature.                                                      
Page S2199
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 51 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 63), 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 bill.     
Page S2199
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that from Thursday, March 29, 2012 through Monday, April 16, 
2012, the Majority Leader, Senator Webb and Senator Rockefeller be 
authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions. 
                                                             Page S2282
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 S2282
Pro Forma Sessions--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that when the Senate adjourns on Thursday, March 29, 
2012, it 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 next pro forma session: Monday, 
April 2, 2012 at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 11 a.m., Monday, 
April 9, 2012 at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 2 p.m.; and that 
the Senate adjourn on Thursday, April 12, 2012 until 2 p.m., on Monday, 
April 16, 2012, unless the Senate has received a message from the House 
of Representatives that it has adopted S. Con. Res. 38, and if the 
Senate has received such a message, the Senate stand adjourned until 2 
p.m. on Monday, April 16, 2012, under the provisions of S. Con. Res. 
38.                                                          
  Page S2283
Thacker Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that at 4:30 p.m., on Monday, April 16, 2012, Senate 
begin consideration of the nomination of Stephanie Dawn Thacker, of 
West Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth 
Circuit; 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 S2275
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Phyllis Nichamoff Segal, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the 
Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community 
Service for a term expiring October 6, 2013.
  Lisa M. Quiroz, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term 
expiring February 8, 2014.
  Marguerite W. Kondracke, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a 
term expiring June 10, 2014.

[[Page D333]]


  Richard Christman, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for the 
remainder of the term expiring October 6, 2012.
  Thomas M. Harrigan, of New York, to be Deputy Administrator of Drug 
Enforcement.
  Jon D. Leibowitz, of Maryland, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner for 
a term of seven years from September 26, 2010.
  Deepa Gupta, of Illinois, to be a Member of the National Council on 
the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2016.
  Anuj Chang Desai, of Wisconsin, to be a Member of the Foreign Claims 
Settlement Commission of the United States for the term expiring 
September 30, 2011.
  Anuj Chang Desai, of Wisconsin, to be a Member of the Foreign Claims 
Settlement Commission of the United States for the term expiring 
September 30, 2014.
  Dennis J. Erby, of Mississippi, to be United States Marshal for the 
Northern District of Mississippi for the term of four years.
  Kathleen Kerrigan, of Massachusetts, to be a Judge of the United 
States Tax Court for the term of fifteen years.
  Christopher Merrill, of Iowa, to be a Member of the National Council 
on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2016.
  Martin J. Gruenberg, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for a term 
expiring December 27, 2018.
  Gregory K. Davis, of Mississippi, to be United States Attorney for 
the Southern District of Mississippi for the term of four years.
  Thomas J. Curry, of Massachusetts, to be Comptroller of the Currency 
for a term of five years.
  Mary John Miller, of Maryland, to be an Under Secretary of the 
Treasury.
  Charles DeWitt McConnell, of Ohio, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Energy (Fossil Energy).
  Michael A. Hammer, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of State (Public Affairs).
  Stephanie Orlando, of New York, to be a Member of the National 
Council on Disability for the remainder of the term expiring September 
17, 2011.
  Stephanie Orlando, of New York, to be a Member of the National 
Council on Disability for a term expiring September 17, 2014.
  Bruce J. Sherrick, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation.
  Chester John Culver, of Iowa, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation.
  Maureen K. Ohlhausen, of Virginia, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner 
for a term of seven years from September 26, 2011.
  David T. Danielson, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Energy (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy).
  LaDoris Guess Harris, of Georgia, to be Director of the Office of 
Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy.
  Michael E. Horowitz, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, Department 
of Justice.
  Gregory Howard Woods, of New York, to be General Counsel of the 
Department of Energy.
  Eduardo Arriola, of Florida, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Inter-American Foundation for a term expiring October 6, 2016.
  J. Kelly Ryan, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Inter-American Foundation for the remainder of the term expiring 
September 20, 2012.
  James R. Hannah, of Arkansas, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the State Justice Institute for a term expiring September 
17, 2013.
  Daniel J. Becker, of Utah, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the State Justice Institute for a term expiring September 17, 2013.
  Catherine Allgor, of California, to be a Member of the Board of 
Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation for a term 
expiring September 27, 2014.
  David J. McMillan, of Minnesota, to be a Member of the Advisory Board 
of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
  Wenona Singel, of Michigan, to be a Member of the Advisory Board of 
the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
  Michael James Warren, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of 
the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation 
for a term expiring December 17, 2014.
  Kathryn Keneally, of New York, to be an Assistant Attorney General.
  Alastair M. Fitzpayne, of Maryland, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of 
the Treasury.
  Maurice A. Jones, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development.
  Gary Blumenthal, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the National 
Council on Disability for a term expiring September 17, 2013.
  Earl W. Gast, of California, to be an Assistant Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development.
  Roberta S. Jacobson, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
State (Western Hemisphere Affairs).
  Elizabeth M. Cousens, of Washington, to be Representative of the 
United States of America on the

[[Page D334]]

Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, with the rank of 
Ambassador.
  Elizabeth M. Cousens, of Washington, to be an Alternate 
Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the 
General Assembly of the United Nations, during her tenure of service as 
Representative of the United States of America on the Economic and 
Social Council of the United Nations.
  Wendy M. Spencer, of Florida, to be Chief Executive Officer of the 
Corporation for National and Community Service.
  Gina K. Abercrombie-Winstanley, of Ohio, to be Ambassador to the 
Republic of Malta.
  Julissa Reynoso, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Oriental 
Republic of Uruguay.
  Robert E. Whitehead, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Togolese 
Republic.
  Thomas Hoenig, of Missouri, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for a term of six years.
  Rebecca M. Blank, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce.
  Larry Leon Palmer, of Georgia, to be Ambassador to Barbados, and to 
serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to 
St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth 
of Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  Anne Claire Richard, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
State (Population, Refugees, and Migration).
  Tara D. Sonenshine, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of State for 
Public Diplomacy.
  Margaret Ann Sherry, of Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, 
Department of Homeland Security.
  Frederick D. Barton, of Maine, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(Conflict and Stabilization Operations).
  Frederick D. Barton, of Maine, to be Coordinator for Reconstruction 
and Stabilization.
  Jonathan Don Farrar, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Panama.
  Phyllis Marie Powers, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Nicaragua.
  William E. Todd, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of 
Cambodia.
  Jacob Walles, of Delaware, to be Ambassador to the Tunisian Republic.
  Nancy J. Powell, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to India.
  Linda Thomas-Greenfield, of Louisiana, to be Director General of the 
Foreign Service.
  Pamela A. White, of Maine, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Haiti.
  John Christopher Stevens, of California, to be Ambassador to Libya.
  Tracey Ann Jacobson, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to 
the Republic of Kosovo.
  Christy L. Romero, of Virginia, to be Special Inspector General for 
the Troubled Asset Relief Program. (Prior to this action, Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs was discharged from further 
consideration.)
  Jeremiah O'Hear Norton, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for the 
remainder of the term expiring July 15, 2013.
  Kenneth Merten, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Croatia.
  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.
  4 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral. (Prior to this 
action, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation was 
discharged from further consideration.)
  Routine lists in the Coast Guard. (Prior to this action, Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation was discharged from further 
consideration.)
  Routine lists in the Foreign Service.        
Pages S2272-74, S2283-85
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Patrick A. Miles, Jr., of Michigan, to be United States Attorney for 
the Western District of Michigan for the term of four years.
  Danny Chappelle Williams, Sr., of Oklahoma, to be United States 
Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma for the term of four 
years.
  Patrick J. Wilkerson, of Oklahoma, to be United States Marshal for 
the Eastern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years.
  Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, of California, to be a Director of the 
Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years.
  Patricia K. Falcone, of California, to be an Associate Director of 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
  Douglas M. Griffiths, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Mozambique.
  Maria Rosario Jackson, of California, to be a Member of the National 
Council on the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2016.   
Page S2283
Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S2238-39
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S2239
Measures Read the First Time:                                
  Page S2239

[[Page D335]]

Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S2239-41
Petitions and Memorials:                                     
  Page S2241
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S2242
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S2243-46
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S2246-71
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S2235-38
Amendments Submitted:                                        
  Page S2272
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S2272
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S2272
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--63)   
  Page S2199
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned, pursuant to 
the provisions of S. Con. Res. 38, at 6:26 p.m., until 2 p.m. on 
Monday, April 2, 2012 (Unless the Senate has received a message from 
the House of Representatives that the House has adopted S. Con. Res. 
38, Adjournment Resolution. And if the Senate has received such a 
message, the Senate stand adjourned until 2 p.m., on Monday, April 16, 
2012.) (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in 
today's Record on page S2283.)