Friday, November 16, 2007 [[Page D1544]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S14577-S14661 Measures Introduced: Twenty-four bills and eight resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2376-2399, S.J. Res. 25, S. Res. 385-387, and S. Con. Res. 53-56. Pages S14618-19 Measures Reported: S. 274, to amend chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, to clarify the disclosures of information protected from prohibited personnel practices, require a statement in nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements that such policies, forms, and agreements conform with certain disclosure protections, provide certain authority for the Special Counsel, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-232) S. 2248, to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to modernize and streamline the provisions of that Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Page S14618 Measures Passed: Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision and Extension Act: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2761, to extend the Terrorism Insurance Program of the Department of the Treasury, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S14592-96 Reid (for Dodd/Shelby) Amendment No. 3800, in the nature of a substitute. Page S14592 Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act: Senate passed H.R. 50, to reauthorize the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, clearing the measure for the President. Pages S14655-56 Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act: Senate passed H.R. 465, to reauthorize the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, clearing the measure for the President. Page S14656 Larry S. Pierce Post Office: Senate passed S. 2110, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 427 North Street in Taft, California, as the ``Larry S. Pierce Post Office''. Page S14656 Paul E. Gillmor Post Office Building: Senate passed S. 2174, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 175 South Monroe Street in Tiffin, Ohio, as the ``Paul E. Gillmor Post Office Building''. Pages S14656 Beatrice E. Watson Post Office Building: Senate passed S. 2290, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16731 Santa Ana Avenue in Fontana, California, as the ``Beatrice E. Watson Post Office Building''. Page S14656 Louisiana Armed Services Veterans Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 2089, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 701 Loyola Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the ``Louisiana Armed Services Veterans Post Office'', clearing the measure for the President. Page S14656 Corporal Christopher E. Esckelson Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 2276, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 203 North Main Street in Vassar, Michigan, as the ``Corporal Christopher E. Esckelson Post Office Building'', clearing the measure for the President. Page S14656 Nate DeTample Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3297, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 950 West Trenton Avenue in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, as the ``Nate DeTample Post Office Building'', clearing the measure for the President. Page S14656 Dennis P. Collins Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3307, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 570 Broadway in Bayonne, New Jersey, as the ``Dennis P. Collins Post Office Building'', clearing the measure for the President. Page S14656 Charles H. Hendrix Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3518, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1430 South [[Page D1545]] Highway 29 in Cantonment, Florida, as the ``Charles H. Hendrix Post Office Building'', clearing the measure for the President. Page S14656 Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Weaver Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3530, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1400 Highway 41 North in Inverness, Florida, as the ``Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Weaver Post Office Building'', clearing the measure for the President. Page S14656 Lance Corporal David K. Fribley Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 3308, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 216 East Main Street in Atwood, Indiana, as the ``Lance Corporal David K. Fribley Post Office'', clearing the measure for the President. Page S14656 Corporal Stephen R. Bixler Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 3325, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 235 Mountain Road in Suffield, Connecticut, as the ``Corporal Stephen R. Bixler Post Office'', clearing the measure for the President. Pages S14656-57 Philip A. Baddour, Sr. Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 3382, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 North William Street in Goldsboro, North Carolina, as the ``Philip A. Baddour, Sr. Post Office'', clearing the measure for the President. Pages S14656-57 Michael W. Schragg Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3446, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 East Michigan Avenue in Marshall, Michigan, as the ``Michael W. Schragg Post Office Building'', clearing the measure for the President. Pages S14656-57 Wallace S. Hartsfield Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3572, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4320 Blue Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri, as the ``Wallace S. Hartsfield Post Office Building'', clearing the measure for the President. Pages S14656-57 John ``Marty'' Thiels Southpark Station: Senate passed S. 2272, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service known as the Southpark Station in Alexandria, Louisiana, as the John ``Marty'' Thiels Southpark Station, in honor and memory of Thiels, a Louisiana postal worker who was killed in the line of duty on October 4, 2007. Pages S14656-57 National Methamphetamine Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 366, designating November 2007 as ``National Methamphetamine Awareness Month'', to increase awareness of methamphetamine abuse. Page S14657 Soviet Jewish Freedom and Freedom Sunday Rally for Soviet Jewry: Senate agreed to S. Res. 367, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the mass movement for Soviet Jewish freedom and the 20th anniversary of the Freedom Sunday rally for Soviet Jewry on the National Mall. Pages S14657-58 San Francisco Bay Oil Spill Volunteers: Senate agreed to S. Res. 385, honoring those who have volunteered to assist in the cleanup of the November 7, 2007, oil spill in San Francisco Bay. Page S14658 Senate Legal Counsel: Senate agreed to S. Res. 386, to authorize testimony and legal representation in State of Nebraska v. Pamir J. Safi. Page S14658 Jordan River and the Dead Sea: Senate agreed to S. Res. 387, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the degradation of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea and welcoming cooperation between the peoples of Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority. Pages S14658-59 Great White Fleet Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 55, commemorating the centennial anniversary of the sailing of the Navy's ``Great White Fleet'', launched by President Theodore Roosevelt on December 16, 1907, from Hampton Roads, Virginia, and returning there on February 22, 1909. Pages S14659-60 Burma and Democracy: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 56, encouraging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to take action to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy in Burma. Page S14660 Measures Considered: Farm Bill Extension Act: Senate continued consideration of H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Page S14592 Pending: Harkin Amendment No. 3500, in the nature of a substitute. Reid (for Dorgan/Grassley) Amendment No. 3508 (to Amendment No. 3500), to strengthen payment limitations and direct the savings to increased funding for certain programs. Reid Amendment No. 3509 (to Amendment No. 3508), to change the enactment date. Reid Amendment No. 3510 (to the language proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 3500), to change the enactment date. Reid Amendment No. 3511 (to Amendment No. 3510), to change the enactment date. Motion to commit the bill to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, with instructions to report back forthwith, with Reid Amendment No. 3512. [[Page D1546]] Reid Amendment No. 3512 (to the instructions of the motion to commit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, with instructions), to change the enactment date. Reid Amendment No. 3513 (to the instructions of the motion to recommit), to change the enactment date. Reid Amendment No. 3514 (to Amendment No. 3513), to change the enactment date. During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action: By 55 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 412), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to close further debate on Harkin Amendment No. 3500 (listed above). Page S14592 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations--Cloture: Senate continued consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2340, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. Pages S14578-91 During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action: By 45 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 410), 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 motion to proceed to consideration of the bill. Pages S14590-91 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations--Cloture: Senate continued consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 4156, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. Pages S14591-92 During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action: By 53 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 411), 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 motion to proceed to consideration of the bill. Pages S14591-92 Authority for Committees--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the adjournment of the Senate, all committees be authorized to file legislative and executive reports on Tuesday, November 27, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Page S14655 Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous- consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President Pro Tempore, and the Majority and Minority Leader 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 S14655 Treaties Approved: The following treaties having passed through their various parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of the resolution of ratification, upon division, two-thirds of the Senators present having voted in the affirmative, the resolutions of ratification were agreed to: Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Denmark (Treaty Doc. 109-19); and Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Finland (Treaty Doc. 109-18). Page S14654 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: Douglas A. Brook, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy. John J. Young, Jr., of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Reed Charles O'Connor, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas. Robert L. Smolen, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration. Mark D. Gearan, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring December 1, 2010. Julie Fisher Cummings, of Michigan, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring September 14, 2011. Donna N. Williams, of Texas, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring October 6, 2009. Tom Osborne, of Nebraska, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring October 6, 2012. Alan D. Solomont, 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, 2009. Michael W. Hager, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Human Resources and Management). 1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general. 6 Army nominations in the rank of general. Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Public Health Service. Pages S14654-55, S14661 [[Page D1547]] Nomination Received: Senate received the following nomination: Larry Woodrow Walther, of Arkansas, to be Director of the Trade and Development Agency. Page S14661 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Page S14616 Measures Read the First Time: Page S14616 Executive Communications: Pages S14616-18 Petitions and Memorials: Page S14618 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S14618 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S14619-21 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S14621-46 Additional Statements: Pages S14614-18 Amendments Submitted: Pages S14646-54 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S14654 Privileges of the Floor: Page S14654 Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--412) Pages S14591, S14592 Recess: Senate convened at 8:30 a.m. and recessed at 1:54 p.m., until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 20, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S14661.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported S. 2248, to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to modernize and streamline the provisions of that Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, completing its action thereon. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of Michael W. Hager, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Human Resources and Management). House of Representatives Chamber Action The House was not in session today. The House is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2007, pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 259. Committee Meetings VOTER REGISTRATION AND LIST MAINTENANCE Committee on House Administration: Continued hearings on Voter Registration and List Maintenance. Testimony was heard from the former officials of the Department of Justice: Joseph Rich, former Chief, Voting Rights Section; and J. Gerald Hebert, former Acting Chief, Deputy Chief, and Special Litigation Counsel, Justice Voting Rights Section; Scott Leiendecker, Co-Director of Elections, Board of Elections, St. Louis, Missouri; and public witnesses. NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D 1517) H.R. 2546, to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina, as the ``Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''. Signed on November 15, 2007. (Public Law 110-117) CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD Week of November 19 through November 24, 2007 Senate Chamber On Tuesday, at 9:00 a.m., Senate will meet in a pro forma session. 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Following each session of Congress, the daily Congressional Record is revised, printed, permanently bound and sold by the Superintendent of Documents in individual parts or by sets. With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D1548]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9 a.m., Tuesday, November 20 Senate Chamber Program for Tuesday: Senate will meet in a pro forma session. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 4 House Chamber Program for Tuesday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Boren, Dan, Okla., E2458 Brady, Robert A., Pa., E2458 Burton, Dan, Ind., E2455 Campbell, John, Calif., E2458 Clyburn, James E., S.C., E2455 Grijalva, Raul M., Ariz., E2457 Holt, Rush D., N.J., E2459 Inslee, Jay, Wash., E2459 Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E2455, E2456 Latham, Tom, Iowa, E2455 Lewis, Jerry, Calif., E2456 Lewis, John, Ga., E2458 Mahoney, Tim, Fla., E2455, E2457 Ortiz, Solomon P., Tex., E2456 Udall, Mark, Colo., E2457