[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 152 (Friday, November 30, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D985-D987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                          Friday, November 30, 2012

[[Page D985]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7279-S7310
Measures Introduced: Three resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 
Res. 605-607.                                                
  Page S7303
Measures Reported:
  S. 810, to prohibit the conducting of invasive research on great 
apes, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 
112-242)
  S. 1735, to approve the transfer of Yellow Creek Port properties in 
Iuka, Mississippi. (S. Rept. No. 112-243)                    
Page S7302
Measures Passed:
  Hatch Act Modernization Act: Senate passed S. 2170, to amend the 
provisions of title 5, United States Code, which are commonly referred 
to as the ``Hatch Act'', to scale back the provision forbidding certain 
State and local employees from seeking elective office, clarify the 
application of certain provisions to the District of Columbia, and 
modify the penalties which may be imposed for certain violations under 
subchapter III of chapter 73 of that title, after agreeing to the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute and the committee 
amendment to the title.                                  
  Pages S7307-08
  Congratulating the Southern Baptist Convention: Committee on the 
Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 518, 
congratulating the Southern Baptist Convention for electing Reverend 
Fred Luter, Jr., as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, 
acknowledging Reverend Luter's unique role as the first African-
American leader of the Southern Baptist Convention, and honoring the 
commitment of the Southern Baptist Convention to an inclusive faith-
based community and society, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                             Page S7308
  National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 605, designating the week beginning November 26, 2012, as 
``National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week''.      
  Pages S7308-09
  Sisters of Charity of Nazareth 200th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 606, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the founding of the 
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, on December 1, 1812.         
  Page S7309
  Death of Former Senator and Congressman George McGovern: Senate 
agreed to S. Res. 607, relative to the death of the Honorable George 
McGovern, former United States Senator and Congressman from the State 
of South Dakota.                                             
  Page S7310
Measures Considered:
  National Defense Authorization Act--Agreement: Senate continued 
consideration of S. 3254, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2013 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                            Pages S7280-93, S7293-S7300
Adopted:
  Sessions Amendment No. 3009, to provide for congressional review of 
any bilateral security agreement with Afghanistan.       
Pages S7280-81
  By a unanimous vote of 94 yeas (Vote No. 215), Menendez Amendment No. 
3232, to enhance sanctions imposed with respect to Iran. 
                                                         Pages S7282-83
  Levin (for McCain) Amendment No. 3052, to provide a military resource 
plan to meet the United States Force Posture Strategy in the Asia 
Pacific Region.                                              
Page S7288
  Levin (for Whitehouse) Amendment No. 3075, to express the sense of 
the Senate on the continuing progress of the Department of Defense in 
implementing its Item Unique Identification Initiative.      
Page S7288
  Levin (for Snowe) Amendment No. 3133, to terminate the Federal 
authorization of the National Veterans Business Development 
Corporation.                                             
Pages S7288-89
  Levin (for Sanders) Amendment No. 3182, to require an annual report 
on Federal contracting fraud.                            
Pages S7288-89

[[Page D986]]


  Levin (for Sanders) Amendment No. 3183, to require public 
availability of the database of senior Department officials seeking 
employment with defense contractors.                     
Pages S7288-89
  Levin (for Warner/Cornyn) Amendment No. 3233, to promote a more 
efficient, responsive, and effective bilateral defense trade 
relationship between the United States and India.        
Pages S7288-89
  Levin (for Coburn) Amendment No. 3236, to ensure that the Deputy 
Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense obtains 
information from the military departments and Defense Agencies 
necessary to conduct defense business system investment reviews. 
                                                         Pages S7288-89
  Levin (for Sanders/Inhofe) Amendment No. 3248, to amend the Federal 
renewable energy purchase requirement to include geothermal heat pumps.
                                                         Pages S7288-89
  Levin (for Rubio/Wyden) Amendment No. 3283, to require a report on 
implementation by the Government of Bahrain of the recommendations 
contained in the Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of 
Inquiry.                                                 
Pages S7288-90
  Levin (for Wyden) Amendment No. 2959, to require reports on the use 
of indemnification agreements in Department of Defense contracts. 
                                                             Page S7294
  Levin (for Bingaman/Udall (NM)) Amendment No. 2984, to provide for 
national security benefits for White Sands Missile Range and Fort 
Bliss.                                                       
Page S7294
  Levin (for Grassley) Amendment No. 3079, to permit Federal officers 
to remove cases involving crimes of violence to Federal court. 
                                                             Page S7294
  Levin (for Barrasso) Amendment No. 3082, to require a report on the 
issuance by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner of death certificates for 
members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty abroad. 
                                                         Pages S7294-95
  Levin (for Vitter) Modified Amendment No. 3087, to require a report 
on Department of the Navy plans to implement efficiency initiatives to 
reduce overhead costs at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command 
(SPAWAR).                                                
Pages S7294-95
  Levin (for Klobuchar/Snowe) Amendment No. 3102, to provide for the 
retention of certain forms in connection with Restricted Reports on 
sexual assault involving members of the Armed Forces.    
Pages S7294-95
  Levin (for Klobuchar/Snowe) Amendment No. 3105, relating to the 
prevention and response to sexual harassment in the Armed Forces. 
                                                         Pages S7294-95
  Levin (for Murkowski) Amendment No. 3135, to extend the deadline for 
submission of a report on the findings and conclusions of the National 
Commission on the Structure of the Air Force.            
Pages S7294-95
  Levin (for Warner) Amendment No. 3145, to require a study on the 
ability of national air and ground test and evaluation infrastructure 
facilities to support defense hypersonic test and evaluation 
activities.                                              
Pages S7294-96
  Levin (for Collins) Modified Amendment No. 3196, to require a 
research study on resilience in members of the Army.     
Pages S7294-96
  Levin (for Barrasso/Enzi) Amendment No. 3198, to renew expired 
prohibition on return of veterans memorial objects without specific 
authorization in law.                                    
Pages S7294-96
  Levin (for Klobuchar/Snowe) Amendment No. 3234, to enhance the annual 
reports regarding sexual assaults involving members of the Armed 
Forces.                                                  
Pages S7294-96
  Levin (for Reid) Amendment No. 3244, to amend title 18, United States 
Code, to provide penalties for transporting minors in foreign commerce 
for the purposes of female genital mutilation.           
Pages S7294-97
  Levin (for McCain) Modified Amendment No. 3247, relating to the 
transfer of excess aircraft.                             
Pages S7294-97
  Levin (for Alexander/Corker) Amendment No. 3258, to modify the 
authority to carry out a fiscal year 2011 military construction project 
at Nashville International Airport.                      
Pages S7294-97
  Levin Amendment No. 3280, to require reports to the Department of 
Defense on penetrations of networks and information systems of certain 
contractors.                                             
Pages S7294-97
  Levin (for Begich) Amendment No. 3290, to modify notice requirements 
in advance of permanent reductions of sizeable numbers of members of 
the Armed Forces at military installations.              
Pages S7294-98
Rejected:
  By 41 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 214), Cardin Amendment No. 3025, to 
ensure sufficient sizing of the civilian and contract services 
workforces of the Department of Defense.                 
Pages S7281-82
Pending:
  Kyl Modified Amendment No. 3123, to require briefings on dialogue 
between the United States and the Russian Federation on nuclear arms, 
missile defense, and long-range conventional strike systems. 
                                                  Pages S7280, S7285-88
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 58 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 216), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive pursuant to the Congressional Budget Act

[[Page D987]]

of 1974, with respect to Nelson (FL) Amendment No. 3073, to repeal the 
requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor 
Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation. 
Subsequently, the point of order that the amendment was in violation of 
section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, was sustained, 
and the amendment thus fell.                             
Pages S7284-85
  A motion was entered to close further debate on 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 Friday, 
November 30, 2012, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of the 
nomination of Paul William Grimm, of Maryland, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of Maryland.                 
Page S7293
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senate 
resume consideration of the bill at approximately 2 p.m., on Monday, 
December 3, 2012; that following the disposition of the order with 
respect to the nomination of Paul William Grimm, of Maryland, to be 
United States District Judge for the District of Maryland, Senate 
resume consideration of the bill, and vote on the motion to invoke 
cloture; and that the second-degree filing deadline for amendments to 
the bill be at 4 p.m., on Monday, December 3, 2012.          
Page S7310
Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Treaty--
Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that 
there be no amendments in order to the treaty or the resolution of the 
ratification; that following Leader remarks on Tuesday, December 4, 
2012, the time until 12 noon be divided in the usual form; that at 12 
noon, Senate vote on the Resolution of Advice and Consent to 
Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with 
Disabilities; provided further, that if the resolution is not adopted, 
the treaty be returned to the calendar, and there be no motions or 
points of order in order other than a motion to reconsider. 
                                                             Page S7293
Grimm Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that at 5 p.m., on Monday, December 3, 2012, Senate 
begin consideration of the nomination of Paul William Grimm, of 
Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District of 
Maryland; that there be 30 minutes for debate equally provided in the 
usual form; that upon the use yielding back of time, Senate vote 
without intervening action or debate on confirmation of the nomination; 
and that no further motions be in order to the nomination.   
  Page S7310
Shea Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that at a time to be determined by the Majority 
Leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, Senate begin 
consideration of the nomination of Michael P. Shea, of Connecticut, to 
be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; that 
there be 30 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 to the nomination.                       
  Page S7307
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S7302
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S7303-05
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S7305-06
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S7306-07
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--216) 
                                                         Pages S7282-85
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:15 a.m. and adjourned, as a further 
mark of respect to the memory of the late former Senator George 
McGovern, in accordance with S. Res. 607, at 4:38 p.m., until 2 p.m. on 
Monday, December 3, 2012. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the 
Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7310.)