Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, May 24, 2012

Mr. Tom Udall, from the State of New Mexico, called the Senate to order at 9:30 a.m., the Chaplain offered a prayer, and Mr. Udall 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 (Thursday, May 24)

H.R. 2947 (Rep. Cravaack): To provide for the release of the reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the establishment of an airport in Cook County, Minnesota .

-- Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3992 (Rep. Berman): To allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E-2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5740 (Rep. Biggert): To extend the National Flood Insurance Program, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 2154 (Sen. Johnson, of SD): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2154 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Johnson SD.

-- Amendment SA 2154 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 414 (Sen. Durbin): To protect girls in developing countries through the prevention of child marriage, and for other purposes .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

S. 739 (Sen. Levin): To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to establish battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Senate at no net cost to the Federal Government.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2155 (Sen. Levin): To improve oversight over the program and ensure no subsidy is received by Senators and employees.

-- Amendment SA 2155 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Levin.

-- Amendment SA 2155 agreed to in Senate 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 to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Under the order of 5/23/12, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative , failed of passage in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 43. Record Vote Number: 113

-- Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 365.

S.Amdt. 2153 (Sen. Alexander): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2153 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Alexander.

-- Amendment SA 2153 under the order of 5/23/12, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 34 - 62. Record Vote Number: 112

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.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 96 - 1. Record Vote Number: 111

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 2107 (Sen. McCain): To allow the importation by individuals of safe and affordable drugs from Canada.

-- Amendment SA 2107 proposed by Senator McCain.

-- Amendment SA 2107, under the order of 5/23/12, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 43 - 54. Record Vote Number: 108

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 pending in Senate.

-- Amendment SA 2108, under the order of 5/23/12, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 50. Record Vote Number: 106

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 pending in Senate.

-- Amendment SA 2109, under the order of 5/23/12, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 9 - 88. Record Vote Number: 109

S.Amdt. 2111 (Sen. Bingaman): To provide substantial savings in health care costs to the Federal government and consumers by fostering competition among generic pharmaceutical manufacturers and ensuring that anti-competitive "pay-for-delay" settlements between brand-name and generic pharmaceutical manufacturers do not block generic drugs from entering the market.

-- Amendment SA 2111 proposed by Senator Bingaman.

-- Amendment SA 2111, under the order of 5/23/12, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 28 - 67. Record Vote Number: 105

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

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Motion to table amendment SA 2127 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 20. Record Vote Number: 110

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

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Proposed amendment SA 2130 withdrawn in Senate.

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

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Amendment SA 2131 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

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 pending in Senate.

-- Proposed amendment SA 2132 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2142 (Sen. Leahy): To modify and limit certain exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act.

-- Amendment SA 2142 proposed by Senator Harkin for Senator Leahy.

-- Amendment SA 2142 as modified 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 pending in Senate.

-- Motion to table amendment SA 2143 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 78 - 15. Record Vote Number: 107

S.Amdt. 2145 (Sen. Portman): To facilitate the development of recommendations on interoperability standards to inform and facilitate the exchange of prescription information across State lines.

-- Amendment SA 2145 proposed by Senator Harkin for Senator Portman.

-- Amendment SA 2145 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2146 (Sen. Portman): To amend the Controlled Substances Act to place synthetic drugs in Schedule I.

-- Amendment SA 2146 proposed by Senator Harkin for Senator Portman.

-- Amendment SA 2146 as modified agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S. 3220 (Sen. Mikulski): To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes.

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

-- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.

S.Res. 455 (Sen. Conrad): A resolution designating June 27, 2012, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day".

-- 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. 475 (Sen. Thune): A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable E. James Abdnor, 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.

Executive Business (Thursday, May 24)

PN131: Matthew Francis McCabe, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring October 6, 2013