Friday, February 6, 2009
[[Page D119]]
Daily Digest
Senate
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S1773-S1893
Measures Introduced: Two bills and one resolution were introduced, as
follows: S. 392-393, and S. Con. Res. 5.
Page S1864
Measures Considered:
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Senate continued consideration
of H.R. 1, making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and
creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science,
assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization,
for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, taking action on the
following amendments proposed thereto:
Pages S1774-S1840, S1841-59
Adopted:
Sanders/Grassley Modified Amendment No. 306 (to Amendment No. 98), to
require recipients of TARP funding to meet strict H-1B worker hiring
standard to ensure non-displacement of U.S. workers.
Pages S1775, S1803
By 73 yeas to 24 nays (Vote No. 51), Coburn Amendment No. 309 (to
Amendment No. 98), to ensure that taxpayer money is not lost on
wasteful and non-stimulative projects.
Pages S1775, S1803-04
Udall Amendment No. 359 (to Amendment No. 98), to expand the number
of veterans eligible for the employment tax credit for unemployed
veterans.
Pages S1775, S1804
By a unanimous vote of 97 yeas (Vote No. 52), Coburn Amendment No.
176 (to Amendment No. 98), to require the use of competitive procedures
to award contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements funded under
this Act.
Pages S1775, S1804-07
Baucus (for Dodd) Modified Amendment No. 145 (to Amendment No. 98),
to improve the efforts of the Federal Government in mitigating home
foreclosures and to require the Secretary of the Treasury to develop
and implement a foreclosure prevention loan modification plan.
Pages S1775, S1850-51, S1852
Cantwell Further Modified Amendment No. 274 (to Amendment No. 98), to
improve provisions relating to energy tax incentives and provisions
relating manufacturing tax incentives for energy property.
Pages S1819-26, S1853-54
Wyden Amendment no. 468 (to Amendment No. 98), to require financial
institutions receiving TARP assistance to redeem from the United States
preferred stock in an amount equal to excess bonuses from 2008 or to
pay a 35 percent tax on such amount.
Pages S1834-38, S1855
Enzi Further Modified Amendment No. 293 (to Amendment No. 98), to
provide for a manager's amendment.
Pages S1831-34, S1856-59
Rejected:
By 39 yeas to 57 nays (Vote No. 53), Graham/Conrad Modified Amendment
No. 501 (to Amendment No. 98), to limit wasteful spending, to fund a
systematic program of foreclosure prevention, to be administered by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Pages S1808-17, S1831, S1851-52
By 47 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 54), Grassley Amendment No. 297 (to
Amendment No. 98), to provide the same temporary increase in the FMAP
for all States and to permit States to choose the period through June
2011 for receiving the increase.
Pages S1817-19, S1852-53
By 45 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 56), Vitter Amendment No. 107 (to
Amendment No. 98), prohibiting direct or indirect use of funds to fund
the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).
Pages S1808, S1854
By 41 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No. 57), Bunning Amendment No. 531 (to
Amendment No. 98), to temporarily increase the limitations on
offsetting ordinary income with capital losses and to strike the 5-year
carryback of general business credits.
Pages S1826-27, S1855
Withdrawn:
Feingold/Stabenow Amendment No. 485 (to Amendment No. 98), to clarify
that certain programs constitute a qualified conservation purpose for
qualified energy conservation bonds.
Pages S1827-28, S1855
Murray Amendment No. 110 (to Amendment No. 98), to strengthen the
infrastructure investments made by the bill.
Pages S1775, S1855
Reid (for Inouye/Baucus) Amendment No. 98, in the nature of a
substitute.
Pages S1774-S1840, S1841-59
[[Page D120]]
During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the
following action:
By 80 yeas to 16 nays (Vote No. 55), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed
to the motion to waive section 904 of Congressional Budget Act of 1974
with respect to Cantwell Further Modified Amendment No. 274 (to
Amendment No. 98), to improve provisions relating to energy tax
incentives and provisions relating manufacturing tax incentives for
energy property. The point of order that the amendment was in violation
of section 201 of S. Con. Res. 21, FY08 Congressional Budget
Resolution, was not sustained.
Pages S1853-54
By 35 yeas to 61 nays (Vote No. 58), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected the motion to waive section 201 of S. Con. Res. 21, FY08
Congressional Budget Resolution, with respect to Thune Amendment No.
538 (to Amendment No. 98), to replace all spending and tax provisions
with a direct rebate to all Americans filing a tax return.
Subsequently, the pay-as-you-go point of order that the amendment would
cause or increase an on-budget deficit for either of the applicable
time periods set out in S. Con. Res. 21, was sustained, and the
amendment thus fell.
Pages S1828-31, S1855-56
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further
consideration of the bill at 12 p.m., on Saturday, February 7, 2009,
and that the Collins-Nelson (NE) Amendment be called up, and that
cloture be filed on the amendment, and that no further amendments or
motions be in order for the duration of the bill; provided further,
that on Monday, February 9, 2009, the time from 1 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.,
be equally divided and controlled in the same manner and at 5:30 p.m.,
Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the amendment offered by
Senator Reid for Senators Collins and Nelson (NE); that if cloture is
invoked on the amendment; then post-cloture time run during any recess
or adjournment of the Senate on Monday, February 9, 2009; and that all
post-cloture time be considered expired at 12 noon, on Tuesday,
February 10, 2009; that on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, the time until
12 noon be equally divided and controlled as provided above; and that
if a budget point of order is raised against the amendment, then a
motion to waive the applicable point of order be considered made; that
if the waiver is successful, the amendment be agreed to; that if there
is no point of order against the amendment, then adoption of the
amendment be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold, and Senate
vote on final passage of the bill, that upon passage of the bill,
Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House on
the disagreeing votes of the two Houses, and the Chair be authorized to
appoint conferees, with the ratio agreed upon by the two Leaders.
Page S1859
Appointments:
British-American Interparliamentary Group: The Chair, on behalf of
the President pro tempore, and upon the recommendation of the
Republican Leader, pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2761, as amended, appointed
the following Senator as Vice Chairman of the British-American
Interparliamentary Group conference during the 111th Congress: Senator
Cochran.
Page S1883
British-American Interparliamentary Group: The Chair, on behalf of
the President pro tempore, and upon the recommendation of the Majority
Leader, pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2761, as amended, appointed the following
Senator as Chairman of the British-American Interparliamentary Group
conference during the 111th Congress: Senator Leahy.
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S1864-66
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Page S1866
Additional Statements:
Pages S1862-64
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S1866-83
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
Page S1883
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Page S1883
Privileges of the Floor:
Page S1883
Record Votes: Eight record votes were taken today. (Total--58)
Pages S1804, S1805, S1852, S1853, S1853-54, S1854, S1855, S1856
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2009 and
adjourned at 12:39 a.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2009, until 12 p.m. on
the same day. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority
Leader in today's Record on page S1883.)
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATION
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the nomination of Leon E. Panetta, of California, to be
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, after the nominee
testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
[[Page D121]]
House of Representatives
Chamber Action
The House was not in session today. The House is scheduled to meet at
2 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2009, pursuant to the provisions of H.
Con. Res. 26.
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
Joint Meetings
EMPLOYMENT
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
employment situation for January 2009, after receiving testimony from
Keith Hall, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of
Labor.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR SATURDAY,
FEBRUARY 7, 2009
(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)
Senate
No meetings/hearings scheduled.
House
No committee meetings are scheduled.
CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD
Week of February 9 through February 14, 2009
Senate Chamber
On Monday, at approximately 1 p.m., Senate will resume consideration
of H.R. 1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and vote on the
motion to invoke cloture on the amendment offered by Senator Reid for
Senators Collins and Nelson (NE) at 5:30 p.m.
During the balance of the week, Senate may consider any cleared
legislative and executive business.
Senate Committees
(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)
Committee on Appropriations: February 11, Subcommittee on Energy
and Water Development, to hold hearings to examine protecting
residents of the Devils Lake region from rising water, 9:30 a.m.,
SD-138.
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: February 10,
business meeting to consider the nominations of Austan Dean
Goolsbee, of Illinois, and Cecilia Elena Rouse, of California, both
to be Members of the Council of Economic Advisers; and an original
resolution authorizing expenditures for committee operations,
committee's rules of procedure for the 111th Congress, and
subcommittee assignments; to be followed by an oversight hearing to
examine the financial rescue program, focusing on a new plan for the
Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP), 10 a.m., SD-106.
February 12, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine consumer
protection in the financial regulatory system, focusing on
strengthening credit card protections, 10 a.m., SD-538.
Committee on the Budget: February 10, to hold hearings to examine
issues and budget options for health reform, 10 a.m., SD-608.
February 11, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine policies
to address the crises in financial and housing markets, 10 a.m., SD-
608.
February 12, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine Senate
procedures for consideration of the budget resolution/
reconciliation, 10 a.m., SD-608.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: February 12,
organizational business meeting to consider an original resolution
authorizing expenditures for committee operations, and committee's
rules of procedure for the 111th Congress; followed by a hearing to
consider the nominations of Jane Lubchenco, of Oregon, to be Under
Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, and John P. Holdren, of
Massachusetts, to be Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, both of the Department of Commerce, 10 a.m., SR-
253.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: February 10, to hold
hearings to examine renewable electricity standards proposal, 10
a.m., SD-366.
February 11, Full Committee, organizational business meeting to
consider an original resolution authorizing expenditures for
committee operations, and subcommittee assignments for the 111th
Congress, 11:30 a.m., SD-366.
February 12, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the
Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program, authorized under Title
17 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and how the delivery of
services to support the deployment of clean energy technologies
might be improved, 10 a.m., SD-366.
Committee on Foreign Relations: February 10, to receive a closed
briefing on North Korea, 2:30 p.m., SVC-217.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: February
11, business meeting to consider S. 160, to provide the District of
Columbia a voting seat and the State of Utah an additional seat in
the House of Representatives, S. 303, to reauthorize and improve the
Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999, S.
69, to establish a fact-finding Commission to extend the study of a
prior Commission to investigate and determine facts and
circumstances surrounding the relocation, internment, and
deportation to Axis countries of Latin Americans of Japanese descent
from December 1941 through February 1948, and the impact of those
actions by the United States, and to recommend appropriate remedies,
and S. 234, to designate the facility of
[[Page D122]]
the United States Postal Service located at 2105 East Cook Street in
Springfield, Illinois, as the ``Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr. Post
Office Building'', an original resolution authorizing expenditures
for committee operations, and committee's rules of procedure for the
111th Congress, 10 a.m., SD-342.
February 12, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine
structuring national security and homeland security at the White
House, 10 a.m., SD-342.
Committee on Indian Affairs: February 12, to hold an oversight
hearing to examine matters relating to Indian affairs, 9:30 a.m.,
SD-628.
Committee on the Judiciary: February 10, to hold hearings to
examine the nominations of Elena Kagan, of Massachusetts, to be
Solicitor General of the United States, and Thomas John Perrelli, of
Virginia, to be Associate Attorney General, both of the Department
of Justice, 10 a.m., SD-226.
February 11, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the need
for increased fraud enforcement in the wake of the economic
downturn, 10 a.m., SD-226.
Committee on Rules and Administration: February 11, organizational
business meeting to consider committee's funding resolution for the
111th Congress, and other pending business, 10:30 a.m., SR-301.
February 11, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine Senate
Committee budget requests, 10:45 a.m., SR-301.
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: February 12,
organizational business meeting to consider an original resolution
authorizing expenditures for committee operations, and committee's
rules of procedure for the 111th Congress, 9:30 a.m., SR-428A.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: February 11, to hold hearings to
examine veterans' disability compensation, focusing on the appeals
process, 9:30 a.m., SR-418.
Select Committee on Intelligence: February 10, to hold closed
hearings to consider certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-
219.
February 11, Full Committee, closed business meeting to consider
pending intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219.
February 12, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the world
threat, 2:30 p.m., SH-216.
House Committees
Committee on Appropriations, February 11, Subcommittee on Defense,
executive, hearing on Air Force Nuclear Enterprise, 10 a.m., and a
hearing on Contract Services and Acquisition Management, 1:30 p.m.,
H-140 Capitol.
February 12, Subcommittee on Defense, hearing on Army Contracting,
10 a.m., H-140 Capitol.
Committee on Armed Services, February 12, hearing on addressing
U.S. Strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan: Balancing Interests and
Resources, 10:30 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.
February 12, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and
Capabilities, hearing on Strategies for Countering Violent Extremist
Ideologies, 1 p.m., 2118 Rayburn.
Committee on the Budget, February 12, hearing on Building a
Foundation for Families: Fighting Hunger, Investing in Children, 10
a.m., 210 Cannon.
Committee on Education and Labor, February 11, to mark up the Stop
Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009; and to
consider the Committee Oversight Plan for the 111th Congress, 10
a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
February 12, hearing on Examining Workers' Rights and Violence
Against Labor Union Leaders in Colombia, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
February 12, Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning
and Competitiveness, hearing on New Innovations and Best Practices,
Under the Workforce Investment Act, 2:30 p.m., 2175 Rayburn.
Committee on Energy and Commerce, February 10, to meet for
organizational purposes, and to consider the Committee's Oversight
Plan for the 111th Congress, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
February 12, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, hearing on
The Climate Challenge: National Security Threats and Economic
Opportunities, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
Committee on Financial Services, February 10, hearing entitled
``An Examination of the Extraordinary Efforts by the Federal Reserve
Bank to Provide Liquidity in the Current Financial Crisis,'' 1 p.m.,
2128 Rayburn.
February 11, hearing entitled ``TARP Accountability: Use of
Federal Assistance by the First TARP Recipients,'' 10 a.m., 2128
Rayburn.
Committee on Foreign Affairs, February 12, Subcommittee on Asia,
the Pacific, and the Global Environment, hearing on Smart Power:
Remaking U.S. Foreign Policy in North Korea, 1 p.m., 2172 Rayburn.
February 12, Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia,
hearing on Gaza After the War: What Can Be Built on the Wreckage?
9:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
Committee on House Administration, February 11, to consider
Committee Funding for the 111th Congress, 10 a.m., 1310 Longworth.
Committee on the Judiciary, February 11, Subcommittee on Crime,
Terrorism, and Homeland Security, hearing on Youth Violence: Trends,
Myths and Solutions, 2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.
February 12. Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law,
hearing on Libel Tourism, 11 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
Committee on Natural Resources, February 11, oversight hearing
entitled, ``Offshore Drilling: Environmental and Commercial
Perspectives,'' 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
February 12, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, hearing
on H.R. 493, Coal Ash Reclamation, Environment, and Safety Act of
2009, 10 a.m.,1324 Longworth.
Committee on Rules, February 10, to consider S. 22, Omnibus Public
Land Management Act of 2009, 4:30 p.m., H-313 Capitol.
Committee on Science and Technology, February 11, hearing on
Electronic Waste: Investing in Research and Innovation to Reuse,
Reduce, and Recycle, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.
[[Page D123]]
February 12, Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, hearing on
an Overview of Transportation R&D: Priorities for Reauthorization,
10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.
Committee on Small Business, February 11, hearing entitled ``The
State of SBA's Entrepreneurial Development Programs and Their Role
in Promoting an Economic Recovery,'' 1 p.m., 2360 Rayburn.
February 11, Subcommittee on Rural Development, Entrepreneurship
and Trade, hearing entitled ``The Impact of Competitive Bidding on
Small Businesses in the Durable Medical Equipment Community,'' 10
a.m., 2360 Rayburn.
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, February 11,
Subcommittee on Aviation, hearing on the FAA Reauthorization Act of
2009, 2 p.m., 2167 Rayburn.
February 12, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public
Buildings, and Emergency Management, hearing on GSA's Economic
Recovery Role: Job Creation, Repair, and Energy Efficiency in
Federal Buildings and Accountability, 2 p.m., 2167 Rayburn.
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, February 12,
executive, to meet for organizational purposes, 10 a.m., 304 HVC.
February 13, executive, briefing on Hot-Spots, 9 a.m.; and
executive, briefing on Counter Intelligence, 10 a.m., 304 HVC.
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[[Page D124]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Next Meeting of the SENATE
12 p.m., Saturday, February 7
Senate Chamber
Program for Saturday: Senate will continue consideration of H.R. 1,
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2 p.m., Monday, February 9
House Chamber
Program for Monday: To be announced.