[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 5, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1004-D1005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                        Wednesday, December 5, 2012

[[Page D1004]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7405-S7641
Measures Introduced: Six bills and two resolutions were introduced, as 
follows: S. 3657-3662, and S. Res. 609-610.              
  Pages S7458-59
Measures Reported:
  Report to accompany S. 183, to clarify the applicability of certain 
maritime laws with respect to the blowout and explosion of the mobile 
offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon. (S. Rept. No. 112-245)
  Report to accompany S. 1759, to facilitate the hosting in the United 
States of the 34th America's Cup by authorizing certain eligible 
vessels to participate in activities related to the competition. (S. 
Rept. No. 112-246)
  Report to accompany S. 2279, to amend the R.M.S. Titanic Maritime 
Memorial Act of 1986 to provide additional protection for the R.M.S. 
Titanic and its wreck site. (S. Rept. No. 112-247)
  Report to accompany S. 3410, to extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, 
And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2006. (S. 
Rept. No. 112-248)                                           
Page S7458
Measures Passed:
  Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act: Senate passed S. 
3331, to provide for universal intercountry adoption accreditation 
standards, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S7636-37
  Cardin (for Kerry) Amendment No. 3310, in the nature of a substitute.
                                                         Pages S7636-37
  Alan Phillip Gross: Senate agreed to S. Res. 609, calling for the 
immediate and unconditional release of United States citizen Alan 
Phillip Gross from detention in Cuba and urging the Government of Cuba 
to address his medical issues.                           
  Pages S7637-38
  Teen Cancer Awareness Week: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged 
from further consideration of S. Res. 573, designating the third week 
of January 2013 as ``Teen Cancer Awareness Week'', and the resolution 
was then agreed to.                                          
  Page S7638
  National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month: Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further 
consideration of S. Res. 595, expressing support for the goals of 
National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month by promoting national 
awareness of adoption and the children awaiting families, celebrating 
children and families involved in adoption, and encouraging the people 
of the United States to secure safety, permanency, and well-being for 
all children, and the resolution was then agreed to.         
  Page S7638
  Graduate Research Fellowship Program: Senate agreed to S. Res. 610, 
commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Graduate Research Fellowship 
Program of the National Science Foundation.                  
  Page S7639
Measures Considered:
  Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal Act--Agreement: Senate began 
consideration of H.R. 6156, to authorize the extension of 
nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to 
products of the Russian Federation and Moldova and to require reports 
on the compliance of the Russian Federation with its obligations as a 
member of the World Trade Organization.        
  Pages S7437-45, S7448-53
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that no 
amendments be in order to the bill; that on Thursday, December 6, 2012, 
at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation 
with the Republican Leader, there be up to ten minutes of debate 
equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees; and that 
upon the use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on passage of the 
bill.                                                    
Pages S7435-36
  Walker and Berg Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time 
agreement was reached providing that at 11:45 a.m., on Thursday, 
December 6, 2012, Senate begin consideration of the nominations of Mark 
E. Walker, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the 
Northern District of Florida, and Terrence G. Berg, of Michigan, to be 
United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; that 
there be 15 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form; that 
following the

[[Page D1005]]

period of debate on the nominations, Senate proceed to Legislative 
Session to resume consideration of H.R. 6156, and following disposition 
of H.R. 6156, Senate resume Executive Session and vote without 
intervening action or debate on confirmation of the nominations of Mark 
E. Walker, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the 
Northern District of Florida, and Terrence G. Berg, of Michigan, to be 
United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, in 
that order; and that no further motions be in order.         
  Page S7636
Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination:
  By 72 yeas to 23 nays (Vote No. EX. 222), Michael P. Shea, of 
Connecticut, to be United States District Judge for the District of 
Connecticut.                                      
Pages S7445-48, S7641
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  29 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
  1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Coast Guard 
Reserve, and Navy.                                       
Pages S7639-41
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S7457
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S7457
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S7457-58
Additional Cosponsors:                                       
  Page S7459
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S7459-60
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S7456-57
Amendments Submitted:                                        
  Page S7460
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S7460
Privileges of the Floor:                                 
  Pages S7460-61
Text of S. 3254 as Previously Passed:                 
  Pages S7461-S7636
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--222) 
                                                             Page S7448
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:11 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 6, 2012. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S7639.)