Senate Floor Activity - Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Mrs. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, from the State of New York, called the Senate to order at 9:30 a.m., the Chaplain offered a prayer, and Mrs. Gillibrand 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 (Wednesday, May 23)

H.R. 4097 (Rep. Mica): To amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2343 (Sen. Reid): To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans, and for other purposes.

-- Motion by Senator Reid to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to the measure (Roll Call Vote No. 89) withdrawn in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2367 (Sen. Conrad): To strike the word "lunatic" from Federal law, and for other purposes.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3187 (Sen. Harkin): To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise and extend the user-fee programs for prescription drugs and medical devices, to establish user-fee programs for generic drugs and biosimilars, and for other purposes.

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

-- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by motion.

S.Amdt. 2108 (Sen. Murkowski): To prohibit approval by the Food and Drug Administration of genetically engineered fish unless the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration concurs with such approval .

-- Amendment SA 2108 proposed by Senator Murkowski.

S.Amdt. 2109 (Sen. Sanders): To revoke the exclusivity of certain entities that are responsible for violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the False Claims Act, and other certain laws.

-- Amendment SA 2109 proposed by Senator Sanders.

S.Amdt. 2121 (Sen. Grassley): To provide employee protections for the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service Act.

-- Amendment SA 2121 proposed by Senator Grassley.

-- Amendment SA 2121 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2122 (Sen. Harkin): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2122 proposed by Senator Harkin.

-- Amendment SA 2122 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2125 (Sen. Cardin): To ensure that adequate information is disseminated to health care providers and payors about the potential benefits and risks of medical products on all patient populations, particularly underrepresented subpopulations, including racial subgroups .

-- Amendment SA 2125 proposed by Senator Cardin.

-- Amendment SA 2125 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2126 (Sen. Reed): To make effective the proposed rule of the Food and Drug Administration relating to sunscreen drug products .

-- Amendment SA 2126 proposed by Senator Harkin for Senator Reed.

-- Amendment SA 2126 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2127 (Sen. Durbin): To require manufacturers of dietary supplements to register dietary supplement products with the Food and Drug Administration .

-- Amendment SA 2127 proposed by Senator Durbin.

S.Amdt. 2129 (Sen. Grassley): To provide deadlines for the issuance of certain regulations and to require a GAO report on the implementation of the clinical trial registration and reporting requirements under the Public Health Service Act.

-- Amendment SA 2129 proposed by Senator Grassley.

-- Amendment SA 2129 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2130 (Sen. Burr): To ensure transparency in Food and Drug Administration user fee agreement negotiations.

-- Amendment SA 2130 proposed by Senator Burr.

S.Amdt. 2131 (Sen. Coburn): To require an independent assessment of the Food and Drug Administration's review of drug applications.

-- Amendment SA 2131 proposed by Senator Coburn.

S.Amdt. 2132 (Sen. Coburn): To provide that a portion of the performance awards of each employee of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research be connected to an evaluation of the employee's contribution to goals under the user fee agreements.

-- Amendment SA 2132 proposed by Senator Coburn.

S.Amdt. 2141 (Sen. Cardin): To require the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to report to Congress on issues with respect to small businesses .

-- Amendment SA 2141 proposed by Senator Cardin.

-- Amendment SA 2141 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2143 (Sen. Paul): To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act concerning claims about the effects of foods and dietary supplements on health-related conditions and disease, to prohibit employees of the Food and Drug Administration from carrying firearms and making arrests without warrants, and to adjust the mens rea of certain prohibited acts under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to knowing and willful .

-- Amendment SA 2143 proposed by Senator Paul.

S.Amdt. 2151 (Sen. Manchin): To amend the Controlled Substances Act to make any substance containing hydrocodone as schedule II drug.

-- Amendment SA 2151 proposed by Senator Manchin.

-- Amendment SA 2151 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. Harry Reid, at 6:39 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.