Senate Floor Activity - Wednesday, December 19, 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, December 19)

H.R. 1 (Rep. Rogers): Making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Motion by Senator Reid to commit to Senate Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3400) made in Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the bill presented in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3338 (Sen. Inouye): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Proposed amendment SA 3338 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3339 (Sen. Inouye): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 3339 fell when SA 3338 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 3344 (Sen. Bingaman): To provide for the approval of an agreement between the United States and the Republic of Palau in response to Super Typhoon Bopha.

-- Amendment SA 3344 proposed by Senator Bingaman to Amendment SA 3338.

-- SA 3344 fell when SA 3338 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 3350 (Sen. Tester): To provide additional funds for wildland fire management.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 3350 fell when SA 3338 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 3355 (Sen. McCain): To strike funding for the emergency forest restoration.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 3355 fell when SA 3338 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 3367 (Sen. Merkley): To extend certain supplemental agriculture disaster assistance programs.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 3367 fell when SA 3338 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 3371 (Sen. Coburn): To ensure that Federal disaster assistance is available for the most severe disasters, and for other purposes .

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Amendment SA 3371 was divided into Divisions I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX by Unanimous Consent.

-- SA 3371 (Divisions, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX) fell when SA 3338 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 3395 (Sen. Reid): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3395 proposed by Senator Reid.

-- Cloture motion on Amendment SA 3395 presented in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3396 (Sen. Reid): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 3396 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3395.

S.Amdt. 3397 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3397 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3396.

S.Amdt. 3398 (Sen. Reid): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 3398 proposed by Senator Reid to language proposed to be stricken by amendment no. 3395.

S.Amdt. 3399 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3399 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3398.

S.Amdt. 3400 (Sen. Reid): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 3400 proposed by Senator Reid.

S.Amdt. 3401 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3401 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3400 (the instructions of the motion to commit).

S.Amdt. 3402 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3402 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3401.

H.R. 3477 (Rep. Poe): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 133 Hare Road in Crosby, Texas, as the Army First Sergeant David McNerney Post Office Building.

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3870 (Rep. Griffin): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud, Arkansas, as the "Nicky 'Nick' Daniel Bacon Post Office".

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3912 (Rep. Bishop): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 110 Mastic Road in Mastic Beach, New York, as the "Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull Post Office Building" .

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4057 (Rep. Bilirakis): To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive policy to improve outreach and transparency to veterans and members of the Armed Forces through the provision of information on institutions of higher learning, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3405 (Sen. Murray): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3405 proposed by Senator Merkley for Senator Murray.

-- Amendment SA 3405 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5738 (Rep. Miller): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15285 Samohin Drive in Macomb, Michigan, as the "Lance Cpl. Anthony A. DiLisio Clinton-Macomb Carrier Annex" .

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5837 (Rep. Buerkle): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 26 East Genesee Street in Baldwinsville, New York, as the "Corporal Kyle Schneider Post Office Building".

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5954 (Rep. Altmire): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 320 7th Street in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the "Sergeant Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. Post Office Building".

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6029 (Rep. Smith): To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for increased penalties for foreign and economic espionage, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3406 (Sen. Kohl): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3406 proposed by Senator Merkley for Senator Kohl.

-- Amendment SA 3406 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1440 (Sen. Alexander): To reduce preterm labor and delivery and the risk of pregnancy-related deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and to reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity.

-- Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.

S. 2318 (Sen. Kerry): To authorize the Secretary of State to pay a reward to combat transnational organized crime and for information concerning foreign nationals wanted by international criminal tribunals, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

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

-- Message received in the Senate: Returned to the Senate pursuant to the provisions of S.Con.Res. 63.

S. 3202 (Sen. Murray): To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that deceased veterans with no known next of kin can receive a dignified burial, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3407 (Sen. Murray): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3407 proposed by Senator Merkley for Senator Murray.

-- Amendment SA 3407 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3630 (Sen. Johnson, of WI): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 218 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, Wisconsin , as the "Captain Rhett W. Schiller Post Office".

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3662 (Sen. Brown, of MA): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6 Nichols Street in Westminster, Massachusetts, as the "Lieutenant Ryan Patrick Jones Post Office Building" .

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3698 (Sen. Collins): To amend title 40, United States Code, to improve veterans service organizations access to Federal surplus personal property .

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

S.Res. 618 (Sen. Levin): A resolution observing the 100th birthday of civil rights icon Rosa Parks and commemorating her legacy.

-- 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. 625 (Sen. Landrieu): A resolution recognizing the January 12, 2013, opening of the United States Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, and supporting plans for other educational pavilions and initiatives.

-- 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. Merkley, at 10:21 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 11 a.m. tomorrow.