[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 20, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D627-D629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Wednesday, June 20, 2012

[[Page D627]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4313-S4377
Measures Introduced: Ten bills and three resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 3315-3324, and S. Res. 500-502.               
  Page S4368
Measures Reported:
  S. Res. 385, condemning the Government of Iran for its continued 
persecution, imprisonment, and sentencing of Youcef Nadarkhani on the 
charge of apostasy, and with an amended preamble.
  S. Res. 402, condemning Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army 
for committing crimes against humanity and mass atrocities, and 
supporting ongoing efforts by the United States Government and 
governments in central Africa to remove Joseph Kony and Lord's 
Resistance Army commanders from the battlefield, with an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble.
  S. Res. 429, supporting the goals and ideals of World Malaria Day.
  S. Res. 473, commending Rotary International and others for their 
efforts to prevent and eradicate polio.                      
Page S4366
Measures Passed:
  Celebrating the Accomplishments of Title IX: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
500, celebrating the accomplishments of title IX of the Education 
Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal 
Opportunity in Education Act, and recognizing the need to continue 
pursuing the goal of equal educational opportunities for all women and 
girls.                                                   
  Pages S4375-76
  National Men's Health Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 501, supporting 
National Men's Health Week.                                  
  Page S4376
  150th Anniversary of the Signing of the First Morrill Act: Senate 
agreed to S. Res. 502, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing 
of the First Morrill Act.                                
  Pages S4376-77
Measures Considered:
Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act--Cloture: Senate began 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 1940, to 
amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, to restore the 
financial solvency of the flood insurance fund.              
  Page S4313
  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, a vote on cloture will 
occur on Friday, June 22, 2012.                          
Pages S4313-14
Boiler MACT/EPA: Committee on Environment and Public Works was 
discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C. 802 (c) on June 19, 2012, and Senate began consideration of 
the motion to proceed to consideration of S.J. Res. 37, to disapprove a 
rule promulgated by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency relating to emission standards for certain steam generating 
units.                                                   
  Pages S4314-34
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 46 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 139), Senate did not agree to the 
motion to proceed to consideration of the joint resolution. 
                                                             Page S4334
Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act--Agreement: Senate continued 
consideration of S. 3240, to reauthorize agricultural programs through 
2017, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S4334
Adopted:
  Manchin/Ayotte Amendment No. 2345, to require national dietary 
guidelines for pregnant women and children from birth until the age of 
2.                                                           
Page S4334
  By 63 yeas to 36 nays (Vote No. 140), Merkley Amendment No. 2382, to 
require the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to provide crop 
insurance for organic crops under similar terms and conditions to crop 
insurance provided for other crops.                      
pages S4334-35
  By 63 yeas to 36 nays (Vote No. 143), Coburn Amendment No. 2293, to 
limit subsidies for millionaires.                        
Pages S4336-38
  Stabenow/Snowe Amendment No. 2453, to provide assistance for certain 
losses.                                                      
Page S4338

[[Page D628]]


  By 59 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. 144), Kerry/Lugar Amendment No. 2454, 
to prohibit assistance to North Korea under title II of the Food for 
Peace Act unless the President issues a national interest waiver. 
                                                         Pages S4338-39
  By 77 yeas to 22 nays (Vote No. 146), Udall (CO) Amendment No. 2295, 
to increase the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the 
designation of treatment areas.                          
Pages S4339-40
  Warner Modified Amendment No. 2457, to improve access to broadband 
telecommunication services in rural areas.               
Pages S4341-43
  Stabenow (for Schumer) Amendment No. 2427, to support State and 
tribal government efforts to promote research and education related to 
maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple 
syrup industry, market promotion of maple products, and greater access 
to lands containing maple trees for maple-sugaring activities. 
                                                             Page S4344
  Wyden Amendment No. 2388, to modify a provision relating to purchases 
of locally produced foods.                               
Pages S4344-45
  Boozman Amendment No. 2355, to support the dissemination of objective 
and scholarly agricultural and food law research and information. 
                                                             Page S4345
  Wyden Amendment No. 2442, to establish a pilot loan program to 
support healthy foods for the hungry.                    
Pages S4345-46
  Leahy Amendment No. 2204, to support the State Rural Development 
Partnership.                                             
Pages S4346-48
  Nelson (NE) Amendment No. 2242, to amend section 520 of the Housing 
Act of 1949 to revise the census data and population requirements for 
areas to be considered as rural areas for purposes of such Act. 
                                                             Page S4348
  Klobuchar Amendment No. 2299, to require the Secretary of Agriculture 
and Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on rural 
transportation issues.                                       
Page S4350
  Stabenow (for Ayotte) Amendment No. 2195, to require a GAO report on 
crop insurance fraud.                                        
Page S4351
  Stabenow (for Blunt) Amendment No. 2246, to assist military veterans 
in agricultural occupations.                                 
Page S4351
  Stabenow (for Moran) Amendment No. 2403, to increase the minimum 
level of nonemergency food assistance.                       
Page S4351
  Stabenow (for Moran) Amendment No. 2443, to improve farm safety at 
the local level.                                             
Page S4351
  Carper/Boozman Amendment No. 2287, to modify a provision relating to 
high-priority research and extension initiatives.        
Pages S4351-52
  Sanders Amendment No. 2254, to improve the community wood energy 
program.                                                 
Pages S4352-53
  By 88 yeas to 11 nays (Vote No. 154), Vitter/Blumenthal Modified 
Amendment No. 2363, to ensure that extras in films and television who 
bring personal, common domesticated household pets do not face 
unnecessary regulations and to prohibit attendance at an animal 
fighting venture. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing 
that the amendment, having achieved 60 affirmatives votes, be agreed 
to.)                                                 
Pages S4351, S4353
  By 52 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 155), Chambliss Amendment No. 2438, 
to establish highly erodible land and wetland conservation compliance 
requirements for the Federal crop insurance program.     
Pages S4353-54
  By 66 yeas to 33 nays (Vote No. 157), Coburn/Durbin Amendment No. 
2439, to limit the amount of premium subsidy provided by the Federal 
Crop Insurance Corporation on behalf of any person or legal entity with 
an average adjusted gross income in excess of $750,000, with a delayed 
application of the limitation until completion of a study on the 
effects of the limitation.                               
Pages S4355-56
  Chambliss/Isakson Amendment No. 2340, to move the sugar import quota 
adjustment date forward in the crop year.                    
Page S4356
  Stabenow (for Bennet/Crapo) Amendment No. 2202, to improve 
agricultural land easements.                             
Pages S4357-59
Rejected:
  By 44 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No. 141), DeMint Amendment No. 2273, to 
eliminate the authority of the Secretary to increase the amount of 
grants provided to eligible entities relating to providing access to 
broadband telecommunications services in rural areas.    
Pages S4335-36
  By 30 yeas to 69 nays (Vote No. 142), Coburn Amendment No. 2289, to 
reduce funding for the market access program and to prohibit the use of 
funds for reality television shows, wine tastings, animal spa products, 
and cat or dog food.                                         
Page S4336
  By 43 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 145), Kyl Amendment No. 2354, to 
prohibit assistance to North Korea under title II of the Food for Peace 
Act.                                                         
Page S4339
  By 21 yeas to 77 nays (Vote No. 147), Lee Amendment No. 2313, to 
repeal the forest legacy program.                        
Pages S4340-41
  By 15 yeas to 84 nays (Vote No. 148), Lee Amendment No. 2314, to 
repeal the conservation stewardship program and the conservation 
reserve program.                                         
Pages S4343-44
  By 35 yeas to 63 nays, 1 responding present (Vote No. 149), Boozman 
Modified Amendment No. 2360, to provide for emergency food assistance. 
                                                             Page S4346

[[Page D629]]


  By 36 yeas to 63 nays (Vote No. 150), Toomey Amendment No. 2226, to 
eliminate biorefinery, renewable chemical, and biobased product 
manufacturing assistance.                                    
                                                             Page S4348
  By 46 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 151), Toomey Amendment No. 2433, to 
reform the sugar program.                                
                                                         Pages S4348-50
  By 29 yeas to 70 nays (Vote No. 152), Lee Motion to Recommit the bill 
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, with 
instructions to report the same back to the Senate with a reduction in 
spending to 2008 levels so that overall spending shall not exceed 
$714,247,000,000.                                        
                                                         Pages S4350-51
  By 40 yeas to 59 nays (Vote No. 153), Johnson (WI) Motion to Recommit 
the bill to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, with 
instructions to report the same back to the Senate after removing the 
title relating to nutrition and to report to the Senate as a separate 
bill the title related to nutrition.                         
                                                             Page S4352
  By 44 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No. 156), Thune Amendment No. 2437, to 
limit the amount of premium subsidy provided by the Federal Crop 
Insurance Corporation on behalf of any person or legal entity with an 
average adjusted gross income in excess of $750,000, with a delayed 
application of the limitation until completion of a study on the 
effects of the limitation.                               
                                                         Pages S4354-55
  Chambliss Amendment No. 2432, to repeal mandatory funding for the 
farmers market and local food promotion program.             
                                                             Page S4357
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill and the votes on the remaining amendments to 
the bill, at 11 a.m., on Thursday, June 21, 2012.            
                                                             Page S4377
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Polly Ellen Trottenberg, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of 
Transportation for Policy.
  David Masumoto, of California, to be a Member of the National Council 
on the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2018.
  A routine list in the Foreign Service.                     
                                                             Page S4377
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  Patricia M. Wald, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the 
Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board for a term expiring January 
29, 2019, which was sent to the Senate on April 16, 2012.    
                                                             Page S4377
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S4363
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S4363
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S4363
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S4363-66
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S4366-68
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S4368-70
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S4370-75
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S4362-63
Notices of Intent:                                           
  Page S4375
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S4375
Record Votes: Nineteen record votes were taken today. (Total--157) 
                Pages S4334-36, S4338-40, S4344, S4346, S4348, S4350-56
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:15 p.m., 
until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2012. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S4377.)