ON THE SENATE FLOOR

Monday, December 3, 2012

Mr. Christopher A. Coons, from the State of Delaware, called the Senate to order at 2 p.m., the Chaplain offered a prayer, and Mr. Coons 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 Friday, November 30, 2012, the Journal of the proceedings of the Senate was deemed approved to date.

Certain Procedures Dispensed With

Pursuant to the order of Friday, November 30, 2012, 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 Friday, November 30, 2012, the Senate proceeded to a period for the transaction of morning business.

Legislative Business (Monday, December 3)

S. 3254 (Sen. Levin): An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Cloture on the bill invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 93 - 0. Record Vote Number: 218

S.Amdt. 2923 (Sen. Coats): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2923 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Coats.

-- Amendment SA 2923 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2943 (Sen. Webb): To make Department of Defense law enforcement officers eligible under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act .

-- Amendment SA 2943 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Webb.

-- Amendment SA 2943 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2954 (Sen. Begich): To authorize space-available travel on Department of Defense aircraft of certain unremarried spouses of members and former members of the Armed Forces.

-- Amendment SA 2954 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Begich.

-- Amendment SA 2954 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2978 (Sen. Inhofe): To require the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to Congress a plan to increase the number of contractors eligible to be awarded contracts under the Air Force's Network-Centric Solutions-2 (NETCENTS-2) indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract .

-- Amendment SA 2978 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Inhofe.

-- Amendment SA 2978 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2996 (Sen. Rockefeller): To authorize certain maritime programs of the Department of Transportation, and for other purposes.

-- Amendment SA 2996 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Rockefeller.

-- Amendment SA 2996 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2997 (Sen. Casey): To authorize the Transition Assistance Advisor program of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes .

-- Amendment SA 2997 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Casey.

-- Amendment SA 2997 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3015 (Sen. Blumenthal): To extend the stolen goods offense to cover all veterans' memorials.

-- Amendment SA 3015 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Blumenthal.

-- Amendment SA 3015 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3022 (Sen. Cardin): To express the sense of the Senate concerning the conflict-induced Afghan refugee situation.

-- Amendment SA 3022 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Cardin.

-- Amendment SA 3022 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3023 (Sen. Cardin): To include the Coast Guard in the requirements relating to hazing in the Armed Forces.

-- Amendment SA 3023 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Cardin.

-- Amendment SA 3023 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3024 (Sen. Cardin): To include the Coast Guard in the requirements for the achievement of diversity in the Armed Forces.

-- Amendment SA 3024 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Cardin.

-- Amendment SA 3024 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3028 (Sen. Tester): To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transport individuals to and from facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with rehabilitation, counseling, examination, treatment, and care.

-- Amendment SA 3028 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Tester.

-- Amendment SA 3028 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3042 (Sen. Collins): To require a report on insider attacks in Afghanistan and their effect on the United States transition strategy for Afghanistan.

-- Amendment SA 3042 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Collins.

-- Amendment SA 3042 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3047 (Sen. Reid): To clarify the computation of combat-related special compensation for disability retirees from the Armed Forces .

-- Amendment SA 3047 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Reid.

-- Amendment SA 3047 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3054 (Sen. McCain): Relative to notice to Congress for the review of proposals to name naval vessels.

-- Amendment SA 3054 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator McCain.

-- Amendment SA 3054 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3066 (Sen. Toomey): To require and independent study and report on simulated tactical flight training in a sustained gravity environment .

-- Amendment SA 3066 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Toomey.

-- Amendment SA 3066 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3091 (Sen. McCain): To authorize additional amounts for new programs identified and requested by the Department of Defense as unforeseen, urgent , and high priority requirements, and to provide an offset .

-- Amendment SA 3091 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator McCain.

-- Amendment SA 3091 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3119 (Sen. Paul): To provide for the more accurate and complete enumeration of members of the Armed Forces in any tabulation of total population by the Secretary of Commerce.

-- Amendment SA 3119 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Paul.

-- Amendment SA 3119 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3121 (Sen. Wicker): To exempt the high performance computing modernization program from certain requirements relating to funding for data servers and centers.

-- Amendment SA 3121 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Wicker.

-- Amendment SA 3121 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3123 (Sen. Kyl): To require briefings on dialogue between the United States and the Russian Federation on nuclear arms, missile defense, and long-range conventional strike systems.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3124 (Sen. Blumenthal): To prevent human trafficking in government contracting.

-- Amendment SA 3124, previously agreed to, was further modified by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3142 (Sen. Portman): To require a report on Department of Defense support for United States diplomatic security.

-- Amendment SA 3142 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Portman.

-- Amendment SA 3142 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3144 (Sen. Webb): To amend section 704 of title 18, United States Code.

-- Amendment SA 3144 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Webb.

-- Amendment SA 3144 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3160 (Sen. Brown, of MA): To improve the authorities relating to rates of basic allowance for housing for National Guard members on full-time National Guard duty.

-- Amendment SA 3160 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Brown MA.

-- Amendment SA 3160 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3164 (Sen. Levin): To authorize the transfer of defense articles and the provision of defense services to the military and security forces of Afghanistan and certain other countries.

-- Amendment SA 3164 proposed by Senator Levin.

-- Amendment SA 3164 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3165 (Sen. Reed): To establish a pilot program to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit organizations to rehabilitate and modify homes of disabled and low-income veterans.

-- Amendment SA 3165 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Reed.

-- Amendment SA 3165 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3172 (Sen. Corker): To require the President to report to Congress on issues related to Syria.

-- Amendment SA 3172 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Corker.

-- Amendment SA 3172 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3176 (Sen. Rubio): To require a report on the reorganization of Air Force Materiel command organizations.

-- Amendment SA 3176 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Rubio.

-- Amendment SA 3176 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3188 (Sen. Warner): To express the sense of Congress on the Joint Warfighting Analysis Center.

-- Amendment SA 3188 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Warner.

-- Amendment SA 3188 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3208 (Sen. Bingaman): To promote the production of molybdenum-99 in the United States for medical isotope production, and to condition and phase out the export of highly enriched uranium for the production of medical isotopes.

-- Amendment SA 3208 proposed by Senator Bingaman.

-- Amendment SA 3208 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3218 (Sen. Snowe): To remove the limit on the anticipated award price for contracts awarded under the procurement program for women-owned small business concerns.

-- Amendment SA 3218 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Snowe.

-- Amendment SA 3218 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3227 (Sen. Conrad): To require the Director of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to carry out a national public awareness and participation campaign for the Veterans' History Project of the American Folklife Center.

-- Amendment SA 3227 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Conrad.

-- Amendment SA 3227 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3268 (Sen. Hatch): To modify the age and retirement treatment under the Federal Employees Retirement System for certain retirees of the Armed Forces.

-- Amendment SA 3268 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Hatch.

-- Amendment SA 3268 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3276 (Sen. Lieberman): To authorize National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor free persons and slaves who fought for independence, liberty, and justice for all during the American Revolution.

-- Amendment SA 3276 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Lieberman.

-- Amendment SA 3276 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3278 (Sen. Blunt): To provide for the modernization of the Department of Defense's mail delivery system to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of absentee ballots.

-- Amendment SA 3278 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Blunt.

-- Amendment SA 3278 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3282 (Sen. Collins): To provide for a prescription drug take-back program for members of the Armed Forces and their dependents .

-- Amendment SA 3282 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Collins.

-- Amendment SA 3282 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3289 (Sen. Coons): To make technical amendments relating to the termination of the Armed Forces Institute of Patho0logy under defense base closure and realignment.

-- Amendment SA 3289 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Coons.

-- Amendment SA 3289 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3291 (Sen. Pryor): To require, as a condition on the receipt by a State of certain funds for veterans employment and training, that the State ensures that training received by a veteran while on active duty is taken into consideration in granting certain State certifications or licenses .

-- Amendment SA 3291 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Pryor.

-- Amendment SA 3291 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3292 (Sen. Reed): To provide for the enforcement of protections on consumer credit for members of the Armed Forces and their dependents .

-- Amendment SA 3292 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Reed.

-- Amendment SA 3292 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3298 (Sen. Lautenberg): To express the sense of Congress on health care for retired members of the uniformed services.

-- Amendment SA 3298 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Lautenberg.

-- Amendment SA 3298 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.