ON THE SENATE FLOOR

Friday, September 21, 2012

Mr. Richard Blumenthal, from the State of Connecticut, called the Senate to order at 12 noon, the Chaplain offered a prayer, and Mr. Blumenthal led the Senate in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

The Journal

Pursuant to the order of yesterday, the Journal of the proceedings of the Senate was deemed approved to date.

Certain Procedures Dispensed With

Pursuant to the order of yesterday, the morning hour being deemed expired, and the times for the recognition of the two leaders being reserved.

Transaction of Morning Business

Pursuant to the order of yesterday, the Senate proceeded to a period for the transaction of morning business.

Legislative Business (Friday, September 21)

H.R. 915 (Rep. Cuellar): To establish a Border Enforcement Security Task Force program to enhance border security by fostering coordinated efforts among Federal, State, and local border and law enforcement officials to protect United States border cities and communities from trans-national crime, including violence associated with drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international borders of the United States, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

H.R. 1272 (Rep. Peterson): To provide for the use and distribution of the funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, et al, by the United States Court of Federal Claims in Docket Numbers 19 and 188, and for other purposes .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 1791 (Rep. Rooney): To designate the United States courthouse under construction at 101 South United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the "Alto Lee Adams, Sr., United States Courthouse".

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 2139 (Rep. Roskam): To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of the establishment of Lions Clubs International.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 2240 (Rep. Tsongas): To authorize the exchange of land or interest in land between Lowell National Historical Park and the city of Lowell in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 2453 (Rep. Luetkemeyer): To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Mark Twain.

-- Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2865 (Sen. Blumenthal): To improve the bill.

-- Amendment SA 2865 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Blumenthal.

-- Amendment SA 2865 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 2606 (Rep. Grimm): To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Gateway National Recreation Area, and for other purposes .

-- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2869 (Sen. Bingaman): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2869 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Bingaman.

-- Amendment SA 2869 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 2706 (Rep. Miller): To prohibit the sale of billfish .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

H.R. 2838 (Rep. LoBiondo): An Act to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2013 through 2014, and for other purposes .

-- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2867 (Sen. Rockefeller): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2867 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Rockefeller.

-- Amendment SA 2867 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2868 (Sen. Rockefeller): To amend the title.

-- Amendment SA 2868 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Rockefeller.

-- Amendment SA 2868 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3556 (Rep. Higgins): To designate the new United States courthouse in Buffalo, New York, as the "Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse" .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4158 (Rep. Hall): To confirm full ownership rights for certain United States astronauts to artifacts from the astronauts' space missions .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4223 (Rep. Sensenbrenner): To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit theft of medical products, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4347 (Rep. Young): To designate the United States courthouse located at 709 West 9th Street in Juneau, Alaska, as the "Robert Boochever United States Courthouse".

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4850 (Rep. Aderholt): To allow for innovations and alternative technologies that meet or exceed desired energy efficiency goals .

-- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2861 (Sen. Bingaman): To improve the bill.

-- Amendment SA 2861 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Bingaman.

-- Amendment SA 2861 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2862 (Sen. Shaheen): To improve the bill.

-- Amendment SA 2862 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Shaheen.

-- Amendment SA 2862 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5512 (Rep. Thompson): To amend title 28, United States Code, to realign divisions within two judicial districts.

-- Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6189 (Rep. Conyers): To eliminate unnecessary reporting requirements for unfunded programs under the Office of Justice Programs.

-- Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6215 (Rep. Smith): To amend the Trademark Act of 1946 to correct an error in the provisions relating to remedies for dilution .

-- Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

H.R. 6375 (Rep. Miller): To authorize certain Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects, to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6431 (Rep. Royce): To provide flexibility with respect to United States support for assistance provided by international financial institutions for Burma, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6433 (Rep. Upton): To make corrections with respect to Food and Drug Administration user fees.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.J.Res. 117 (Rep. Rogers): A joint resolution making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2013, and for other purposes.

-- Cloture on the joint resolution invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 62 - 30. Record Vote Number: 198

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Motion by Senator Reid to commit to Senate Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report back forthwith with amendment SA 2846 withdrawn in Senate.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 62 - 30. Record Vote Number: 199

S.Amdt. 2844 (Sen. Reid): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Proposed amendment SA 2844 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2845 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Proposed amendment SA 2845 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2846 (Sen. Reid): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Proposed amendment SA 2846 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2847 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Proposed amendment SA 2847 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2848 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Proposed amendment SA 2848 withdrawn in Senate.

S. 300 (Sen. Grassley): To prevent abuse of Government charge cards .

-- Senate agreed to the House amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 710 (Sen. Thune): To amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a hazardous waste electronic manifest system.

-- Senate agreed to the House amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1956 (Sen. Thune): To prohibit operators of civil aircraft of the United States from participating in the European Union's emissions trading scheme, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2859 (Sen. Cardin): To prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to pay taxes and penalties imposed on United States air carriers pursuant to the European Union emissions trading scheme.

-- Amendment SA 2859 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Cardin.

-- Amendment SA 2859 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2860 (Sen. Merkley): To provide for the reassessment by the Secretary of Transportation of a determination that it is in the public interest to prohibit operators of civil aircraft of the United States from participating in the European Union's emissions trading scheme .

-- Amendment SA 2860 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Merkley.

-- Amendment SA 2860 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3193 (Sen. Feinstein): To make technical corrections to the legal description of certain land to be held in trust for the Barona Band of Mission Indians, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2864 (Sen. Akaka): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2864 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Akaka.

-- Amendment SA 2864 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3311 (Sen. Baucus): To designate the United States courthouse located at 2601 2nd Avenue North, Billings, Montana, as the "James F. Battin United States Courthouse".

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3315 (Sen. Carper): To repeal or modify certain mandates of the Government Accountability Office.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee reported amendment was agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2866 (Sen. Lieberman): To improve the bill.

-- Amendment SA 2866 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Lieberman.

-- Amendment SA 2866 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3341 (Sen. Kerry): To require a quadrennial diplomacy and development review, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3486 (Sen. Leahy): To implement the provisions of the Hague Agreement and the Patent Law Treaty.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3525 (Sen. Tester): To protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting, and for other purposes .

-- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.

-- Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 7. Record Vote Number: 200

S. 3576 (Sen. Paul): To provide limitations on United States assistance, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Under the order of 9/21/2012, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, failed of passage in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 10 - 81. Record Vote Number: 196

-- Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 530.

S. 3624 (Sen. Snowe): To amend section 31311 of title 49, United States Code, to permit States to issue commercial driver's licenses to members of the Armed Forces whose duty station is located in the State .

-- Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3625 (Sen. Lieberman): To change the effective date for the internet publication of certain information to prevent harm to the national security or endangering the military officers and civilian employees to whom the publication requirement applies, and for other purposes.

-- Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.J.Res. 41 (Sen. Graham): A joint resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding the nuclear program of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 1 . Record Vote Number: 197

S.Res. 448 (Sen. Boxer): A resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc .

-- Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 466 (Sen. Inhofe): A resolution calling for the release from prison of former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2863 (Sen. Durbin): To improve the resolution.

-- Amendment SA 2863 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Durbin.

-- Amendment SA 2863 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 472 (Sen. Enzi): A resolution designating October 7, 2012, as "Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans Day".

-- Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2870 (Sen. Enzi): To update the number of patriots in the United States Armed Forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Afghanistan.

-- Amendment SA 2870 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Enzi.

-- Amendment SA 2870 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 555 (Sen. Conrad): A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of "National Save for Retirement Week", including raising public awareness of the various tax-preferred retirement vehicles and increasing personal financial literacy.

-- Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 558 (Sen. Reid): A resolution congratulating the athletes from the State of Nevada and throughout the United States who participated in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as members of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

-- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 561 (Sen. Akaka): A resolution recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of Native Americans to the United States .

-- Senate Committee on Indian Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 576 (Sen. Cochran): A resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the signing of Public Law 87-788, an Act commonly known as the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act.

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 577 (Sen. Baucus): A resolution honoring the First Special Service Force, in recognition of its superior service during World War II .

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 578 (Sen. Murkowski): A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week, 2012.

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 579 (Sen. Graham): A resolution designating the week of September 24 through September 28, 2012, as "National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week".

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 580 (Sen. Coons): A resolution designating the week beginning on October 14, 2012, as "National Wildlife Refuge Week".

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 581 (Sen. Hoeven): A resolution designating October 26, 2012, as "Day of the Deployed".

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 582 (Sen. Menendez): A resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and the immense contributions of Latinos to the United States .

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 583 (Sen. Lieberman): A resolution designating September 2012 as "National Preparedness Month".

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 584 (Sen. Murray): A resolution designating October 4, 2012, as "Jumpstart's Read for the Record Day".

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 585 (Sen. Bingaman): A resolution recognizing the extraordinary history and heritage of the State of New Mexico, and honoring and commending the State of New Mexico and its people on its centennial anniversary .

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 586 (Sen. Cardin): A resolution expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month, 2012 .

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 587 (Sen. Boxer): A resolution supporting "Lights on Afterschool", a national celebration of afterschool programs.

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 588 (Sen. Lugar): A resolution commending the 4 American public servants who died in Benghazi, Libya, United States Ambassador to Libya John Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty, for their tireless efforts on behalf of the American people, and condemning the violent attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi .

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 589 (Sen. Snowe): A resolution designating November 24, 2012, as "Small Business Saturday" and supporting efforts to increase awareness of the value of locally owned small businesses.

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Con.Res. 50 (Sen. Rubio): A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to preserve and advance the multistakeholder governance model under which the Internet has thrived.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.