Wednesday, October 1, 2008 [[Page D1219]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS See Resume of Congressional Activity. Senate completed action on H.R. 2095, Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act. Senate passed H.R. 7081, United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act. Senate passed H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act). Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S10189-S10397 Measures Introduced: Twenty bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3659-3678, S. Res. 701, and S. Con. Res. 105. Pages S10323-24 Measures Reported: H.R. 1187, To expand the boundaries of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-516) S. 2148, to provide for greater diversity within, and to improve policy direction and oversight of, the Senior Executive Service, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-517) S. 2838, to amend chapter 1 of title 9 of United States Code with respect to arbitration. (S. Rept. No. 110-518) S. 1779, to establish a program for tribal colleges and universities within the Department of Health and Human Services and to amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to authorize the provision of grants and cooperative agreements to tribal colleges and universities, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-519) H.R. 404, to require the establishment of customer service standards for Federal agencies, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. S. 547, to establish a Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security for Management. S. 967, to amend chapter 41 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for the establishment and authorization of funding for certain training programs for supervisors of Federal employees, with amendments. S. 1000, to enhance the Federal Telework Program, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. S. 1924, to amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to create a presumption that a disability or death of a Federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. S. 2583, to amend the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 note) in order to prevent the loss of billions in taxpayer dollars, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. S. 3384, to amend section 11317 of title 40, United States Code, to require greater accountability for cost overruns on Federal IT investment projects, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. S. 3474, to amend title 44, United States Code, to enhance information security of the Federal Government. S. 3662, to establish the Controlled Unclassified Information Office, to require policies and procedures for the designation, marking, safeguarding, and dissemination of controlled unclassified information. Page S10323 Measures Passed: Child Safe Viewing Act: Senate passed S. 602, to develop the next generation of parental control technology, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and the following amendment proposed thereto: Page S10199 [[Page D1220]] Dodd (for Pryor) Amendment No. 5684, of a perfecting nature. Page S10199 United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act: By 86 yeas to 13 nays (Vote No. 211), Senate passed H.R. 7081, to approve the United States-India Agreement for Cooperation on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, pursuant to the order of the Senate of Tuesday, September 30, 2008, the bill having achieved 60 affirmative votes, and after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S10191-S10208, S10290-91 Rejected: Bingaman (for Dorgan) Amendment No. 5683, to prohibit nuclear trade with India in the event that India detonates a nuclear weapon and to impose certain certification, reporting, and control requirements. Page S10201 Paul Wellstone Mental Health And Addiction Equity Act (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act): By 74 yeas to 25 nays (Vote No. 213), Senate passed H.R. 1424, to amend section 712 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, section 2705 of the Public Health Service Act, section 9812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require equity in the provision of mental health and substance- related disorder benefits under group health plans, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment, pursuant to the order of the Senate of Tuesday, September 30, 2008, the bill having achieved 60 affirmative votes, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S10220-83, S10291-95 Adopted: Dodd Amendment No. 5685, in the nature of a substitute. (By 74 yeas to 25 nays (Vote No. 212), and pursuant to the order of the Senate of Tuesday, September 30, 2008, the amendment having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was agreed to). Pages S10222-34, S10292-94 Rejected: Sanders Amendment No. 5687 (to Amendment No. 5685), to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the tax on high income individuals. Pages S10234-36, S10291-92 Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 105, directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to correct the enrollment of H.R. 6063. Page S10388 Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act: Senate passed S. 1703, to prevent and reduce trafficking in persons, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S10388-90 Durbin Amendment No. 5688, in the nature of a substitute. Page S10390 Non-Foreign AREA Act: Senate passed S. 3013, to provide for retirement equity for Federal employees in nonforeign areas outside the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia, after agreeing to the committee amendments, which will be considered as original text for the purpose of further amendment, and the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S10390-94 Durbin (for Collins) Amendment No. 5689, to strike the provision relating to election of coverage by employees. Page S10394 Military Voting Protection Act: Committee on Rules and Administration was discharged from further consideration of S. 3073, to amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to improve procedures for the collection and delivery of absentee ballots of absent overseas uniformed services voters, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S10394-96 Durbin (for Cornyn) Amendment No. 5690, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S10394-96 Transfer of Naval Vessels: Senate passed H.R. 7177, to authorize the transfer of naval vessels to certain foreign recipients, clearing the measure for the President. Page S10396 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act: Senate passed H.R. 7198, to establish the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal for organ donors and the family of organ donors, clearing the measure for the President. Page S10396 House Messages: Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act: By 74 yeas to 24 nays (Vote No. 210), Senate concurred in the amendment of the House of Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 2095, to amend title 49, United States Code, to prevent railroad fatalities, injuries, and hazardous materials releases, to authorize the Federal Railroad Safety Administration, taking action on the following motion and amendments proposed thereto: Pages S10283-90 Withdrawn: Reid Motion to Concur in the amendment of the House of Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to the bill with Reid Amendment No. 5677, to establish the enactment date. Page S10283 During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action: Reid Amendment No. 5678 (to Amendment No. 5677), of a perfecting nature, fell when Reid Motion to Concur in the amendment of the House of Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to the [[Page D1221]] bill with Reid Amendment No. 5677 was withdrawn. Page S10283 Appointments: Commission on the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade: The Chair, on behalf of the Majority Leader, pursuant to Public Law 110- 183, announced the appointment of the following individual as a member of the Commission on the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade: Rainier Spencer of Nevada. Page S10191 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Jonathan R. Scharfen, of Virginia, to be Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. Routine lists in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service. Pages S10396-97 Messages from the House: Pages S10320-21 Executive Communications: Pages S10321-23 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S10324-39 Additional Statements: Pages S10307-20 Amendments Submitted: Pages S10339-88 Privileges of the Floor: Page S10388 Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--213) Pages S10290, S10291, S10294 Recess: Senate convened at 10:00 a.m. and recessed at 9:56 p.m., until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S10396.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) No committee meetings were held. House of Representatives Chamber Action The House was not in session today. The House is scheduled to meet at 12 p.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2008. Committee Meetings No committee meetings were held. NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D1191) H.R. 1777, to amend the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 to make permanent the favorable treatment of need-based educational aid under the antitrust laws. Signed on September 30, 2008. (Public Law 110-327) H.R. 2608, to amend section 402 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to provide, in fiscal years 2009 through 2011, extensions of supplemental security income for refugees, asylees, and certain other humanitarian immigrants, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to collect unemployment compensation debts resulting from fraud. Signed on September 30, 2008. (Public Law 110-328) H.R. 2638, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. Signed on September 30, 2008. (Public Law 110-329) H.R. 6984, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. Signed on September 30, 2008. (Public Law 110-330) S. 171, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 301 Commerce Street in Commerce, Oklahoma, as the ``Mickey Mantle Post Office Building''. Signed on September 30, 2008. (Public Law 110-331) S. 2339, to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Alpena, Michigan, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel Clement C. Van Wagoner Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''. Signed on September 30, 2008. (Public Law 110-332) S. 3241, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1717 Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the ``CeeCee Ross Lyles Post Office Building''. Signed on September 30, 2008. (Public Law 110-333) [[Page D1222]] S. 3009, to designate the Federal Bureau of Investigation building under construction in Omaha, Nebraska, as the ``J. James Exon Federal Bureau of Investigation Building''. Signed on October 1, 2008. (Public Law 110-334) COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2008 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House No committee meetings are scheduled. *These figures include all measures reported, even if there was no accompanying report. A total of 261 written reports have been filed in the Senate, a total of 397 reports have been filed in the House. [[Page D1223]] Resume of Congressional Activity SECOND SESSION OF THE ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS The first table gives a comprehensive resume of all legislative business transacted by the Senate and House. The second table accounts for all nominations submitted to the Senate by the President for Senate confirmation. DATA ON LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY January 3 through September 30, 2008 Senate House Total Days in session............... 150 112 .. Time in session............... 914 hrs., 56 869 hrs., 43 .. Congressional Record: Pages of proceedings........... 10,188 10,643 .. Extensions of Remarks.......... .. 2,160 .. Public bills enacted into law. 49 99 .. Private bills enacted into law .. .. .. Bills in conference........... 4 5 .. Measures passed, total........ 521 978 1,499 Senate bills................... 97 90 .. House bills.................... 155 421 .. Senate joint resolutions....... 4 4 .. House joint resolutions........ 3 3 .. Senate concurrent resolutions.. 22 5 .. House concurrent resolutions... 33 92 .. Simple resolutions............. 207 363 .. Measures reported, total...... *436 *389 825 Senate bills................... 283 4 .. House bills.................... 125 281 .. Senate joint resolutions....... 3 1 .. House joint resolutions........ 1 .. .. Senate concurrent resolutions.. 2 .. .. House concurrent resolutions... 2 5 .. Simple resolutions............. 20 98 .. Special reports............... 6 5 .. Conference reports............ 1 4 .. Measures pending on calendar.. 638 81 .. Measures introduced, total.... 1,468 3,108 4,576 Bills.......................... 1,128 2,309 .. Joint resolutions.............. 18 25 .. Concurrent resolutions......... 40 163 .. Simple resolutions............. 282 611 .. Quorum calls.................. 3 2 .. Yea-and-nay votes............. 209 460 .. Recorded votes................ .. 212 .. Bills vetoed.................. .. 4 .. Vetoes overridden............. 3 3 .. DISPOSITION OF EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS January 3 through September 30, 2008 Civilian nominations, totaling 488 (including 180 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed..........................................210... Unconfirmed........................................238... Withdrawn...........................................40... Civilian nominations, totaling 2,459 (including 8 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed........................................1,084... Unconfirmed......................................1,375... Air Force nominations, totaling 5,917 (including 5 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed........................................4,979... Unconfirmed........................................937... Withdrawn............................................1... Army nominations, totaling 5,667 (including 19 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed........................................3,308... Unconfirmed......................................2,358... Withdrawn............................................1... Navy nominations, totaling 4,677 (including 3 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed........................................2,417... Unconfirmed......................................2,259... Withdrawn............................................1... Marine Corps nominations, totaling 1,558 (including 1 nomination carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows: Confirmed........................................1,557... Unconfirmed..........................................1... Summary Total nominations carried over from the First Session..216 Total nominations received this Session.............20,550 Total confirmed.....................................13,555 Total unconfirmed....................................7,168 Total withdrawn.........................................43 Total returned to the White House........................0 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. 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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 D1224]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 10 a.m., Thursday, October 2 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: Senate will be in a period of morning business. Next meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 12 p.m., Thursday, October 2 House Chamber Program for Thursday: To be announced.