Senate Floor Activity - Friday, November 30, 2012

Mr. Christopher A. Coons, from the State of Delaware, called the Senate to order at 9:15 a.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 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, November 30)

S. 2170 (Sen. Akaka): To amend the provisions of title 5, United States Code, which are commonly referred to as the 'Hatch Act', to scale back the provision forbidding certain State and local employees from seeking elective office, clarify the application of certain provisions to the District of Columbia, and modify the penalties which may be imposed for certain violations under subchapter III of chapter 73 of that title .

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

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 motion on the bill presented in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2959 (Sen. Wyden): To require reports on the use of indemnification agreements in Department of Defense contracts.

-- Amendment SA 2959 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Wyden.

-- Amendment SA 2959 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2984 (Sen. Bingaman): To provide for national security benefits for White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss.

-- Amendment SA 2984 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Bingaman.

-- Amendment SA 2984 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3009 (Sen. Sessions): To provide for congressional review of any bilateral security agreement with Afghanistan.

-- Amendment SA 3009 proposed by Senator Sessions.

-- Amendment SA 3009 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3025 (Sen. Cardin): To ensure sufficient sizing of the civilian and contract services workforces of the Department of Defense .

-- Amendment SA 3025 proposed by Senator Cardin.

-- Amendment SA 3025 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 41 - 53. Record Vote Number: 214

S.Amdt. 3052 (Sen. McCain): To provide a military resource plan to meet the United States Force Posture Strategy in the Asia Pacific Region .

-- Amendment SA 3052 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator McCain.

-- Amendment SA 3052 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3073 (Sen. Nelson, of FL): To repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation.

-- Amendment SA 3073 proposed by Senator Nelson FL.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 302(f) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 3073.

-- Motion to waive section 302(f) of the CBA with respect to amendment SA 3073 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 58 - 34. Record Vote Number: 216

-- Amendment SA 3073 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 3075 (Sen. Whitehouse): To express the sense of the Senate on the continuing progress of the Department of Defense in implementing its Item Unique Identification Initiative.

-- Amendment SA 3075 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Whitehouse.

-- Amendment SA 3075 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3079 (Sen. Grassley): To permit Federal officers to remove cases involving crimes of violence to Federal court.

-- Amendment SA 3079 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Grassley.

-- Amendment SA 3079 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3082 (Sen. Barrasso): To require a report on the issuance by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner of death certificates for members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty abroad.

-- Amendment SA 3082 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Barrasso.

-- Amendment SA 3082 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3087 (Sen. Vitter): To require a report on Department of the Navy plans to implement efficiency initiatives to reduce overhead costs at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR).

-- Amendment SA 3087 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Vitter.

-- Amendment SA 3087 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3102 (Sen. Klobuchar): To provide for the retention of certain forms in connection with Restricted Reports on sexual assault involving members of the Armed Forces.

-- Amendment SA 3102 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Klobuchar.

-- Amendment SA 3102 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3105 (Sen. Klobuchar): Relating to the prevention and response to sexual harassment in the Armed Forces.

-- Amendment SA 3105 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Klobuchar.

-- Amendment SA 3105 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. 3133 (Sen. Snowe): To terminate the Federal authorization of the National Veterans Business Development Corporation.

-- Amendment SA 3133 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Snowe.

-- Amendment SA 3133 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3135 (Sen. Murkowski): To extend the deadline for submission of a report on the findings and conclusions of the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force.

-- Amendment SA 3135 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Murkowski.

-- Amendment SA 3135 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3145 (Sen. Warner): To require a study on the ability of national air and ground test and evaluation infrastructure facilities to support defense hypersonic test and evaluation activities.

-- Amendment SA 3145 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Warner.

-- Amendment SA 3145 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3182 (Sen. Sanders): To require an annual report on Federal contracting fraud.

-- Amendment SA 3182 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Sanders.

-- Amendment SA 3182 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3183 (Sen. Sanders): To require public availability of the database of senior Department officials seeking employment with defense contractors .

-- Amendment SA 3183 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Sanders.

-- Amendment SA 3183 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3196 (Sen. Collins): To require a research study on resilience in members of the Army.

-- Amendment SA 3196 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Collins.

-- Amendment SA 3196 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3198 (Sen. Barrasso): To renew expired prohibition on return of veterans memorial objects without specific authorization in law.

-- Amendment SA 3198 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Barrasso.

-- Amendment SA 3198 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3232 (Sen. Menendez): To enhance sanctions imposed with respect to Iran .

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Amendment SA 3232 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 0. Record Vote Number: 215

S.Amdt. 3233 (Sen. Warner): To promote a more efficient, responsive, and effective bilateral defense trade relationship between the United States and India.

-- Amendment SA 3233 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Warner.

-- Amendment SA 3233 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3234 (Sen. Klobuchar): To enhance the annual reports regarding sexual assaults involving members of the Armed Forces.

-- Amendment SA 3234 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Klobuchar.

-- Amendment SA 3234 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3236 (Sen. Coburn): To ensure that the Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense obtains information from the military departments and Defense Agencies necessary to conduct defense business system investment reviews.

-- Amendment SA 3236 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Coburn.

-- Amendment SA 3236 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3244 (Sen. Reid): To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for transporting minors in foreign commerce for the purposes of female genital mutilation.

-- Amendment SA 3244 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Reid.

-- Amendment SA 3244 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3247 (Sen. McCain): Relating to the transfer of excess aircraft .

-- Amendment SA 3247 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator McCain.

-- Amendment SA 3247 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3248 (Sen. Sanders): To amend the Federal renewable energy purchase requirement to include geothermal heat pumps.

-- Amendment SA 3248 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Sanders.

-- Amendment SA 3248 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3258 (Sen. Alexander): To modify the authority to carry out a fiscal year 2011 military construction project at Nashville International Airport .

-- Amendment SA 3258 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Alexander.

-- Amendment SA 3258 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3280 (Sen. Levin): To require reports to the Department of Defense on penetrations of networks and information systems of certain contractors .

-- Amendment SA 3280 proposed by Senator Levin.

-- Amendment SA 3280 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3283 (Sen. Rubio): To require a report on implementation by the Government of Bahrain of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry.

-- Amendment SA 3283 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Rubio.

-- Amendment SA 3283 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3290 (Sen. Begich): To modify notice requirements in advance of permanent reductions of sizeable numbers of members of the Armed Forces at military installations.

-- Amendment SA 3290 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Begich.

-- Amendment SA 3290 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 518 (Sen. Landrieu): A resolution congratulating the Southern Baptist Convention for electing Reverend Fred Luter, Jr., as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, acknowledging Reverend Luter's unique role as the first African-American leader of the Southern Baptist Convention, and honoring the commitment of the Southern Baptist Convention to an inclusive faith-based community and society.

-- 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. 605 (Sen. Conrad): A resolution designating the week beginning November 26, 2012, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week" .

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

S.Res. 606 (Sen. Cardin): A resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, on December 1, 1812 .

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

S.Res. 607 (Sen. Johnson, of SD): A resolution relative to the death of the Honorable George McGovern, former United States Senator and Congressman from the State of South Dakota.

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

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. Levin, at 4:38 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 2 p.m. on Monday, December 3, 2012.