Thursday, March 29, 2012 Daily Digest

HIGHLIGHTS Senate passed H.R. 4281, Surface Transportation Extension Act. Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 38, Adjournment Resolution. Senate state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority Chamber Action and its continued violation of the International Cov- Routine Proceedings, pages S2187–S2285 enants on Human Rights, after agreeing to the fol- Measures Introduced: Thirty-four bills and eight lowing amendment proposed thereto: Page S2276 resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. Reid (for Paul) Amendment No. 1999, of a per- 2250–2283, S. Res. 411–417, and S. Con. Res. 37. fecting nature. Page S2276 Pages S2242–43 People of Tibet: Senate agreed to S. Res. 356, ex- Measures Reported: pressing support for the people of Tibet. H.R. 2297, to promote the development of the Pages S2276–78 Southwest waterfront in the District of Columbia. (S. Journalists and Freedom of the Press in Syria: Rept. No. 112–154) Senate agreed to S. Res. 391, condemning violence S. 2159, to extend the authorization of the Drug- by the Government of Syria against journalists, and Free Communities Support Program through fiscal expressing the sense of the Senate on freedom of the year 2017, with an amendment in the nature of a press in Syria. Page S2278 substitute. Page S2242 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit: Measures Passed: Senate agreed to S. Res. 395, expressing the sense of Surface Transportation Extension Act: Senate the Senate in support of the North Atlantic Treaty passed H.R. 4281, to provide an extension of Fed- Organization and the NATO summit to be held in eral-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safe- Chicago, Illinois, from May 20 through 21, 2012. ty, transit, and other programs funded out of the Pages S2279–80 Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such programs. Promoting Peace in Sudan: Senate agreed to S. Pages S2209–12 Res. 397, promoting peace and stability in Sudan, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the Adjournment Resolution: Senate agreed to S. nature of a substitute. Pages S2280–82 Con. Res. 38, providing for a conditional adjourn- ment or recess of the Senate and an adjournment of University of North Carolina at Pembroke the House of Representatives. Page S2275 125th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 414, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Uni- Southwest Waterfront in the District of Colum- versity of North Carolina at Pembroke. Page S2282 bia: Senate passed H.R. 2297, to promote the devel- opment of the Southwest waterfront in the District National Association of Junior Auxiliaries Day: of Columbia, after agreeing to the following amend- Senate agreed to S. Res. 415, designating April 4, ment proposed thereto: Pages S2275–76 2012, as ‘‘National Association of Junior Auxiliaries Reid (for Lieberman) Amendment No. 1998, to Day’’. Page S2282 deauthorize a portion of the project for navigation of Parkinson’s Awareness Month: Senate agreed to the Corps of Engineers at Potomac River, Wash- S. Res. 416, supporting the designation of April as ington Channel, District of Columbia. Pages S2275–76 Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Page S2282 Baha’i Minority in Iran: Senate agreed to S. Res. 80, condemning the Government of Iran for its D331

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:56 Mar 30, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D29MR2.REC D29MRPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with DIGEST D332 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST March 29, 2012 Measures Considered: Authorizing Leadership to Make Appoint- Paying a Fair Share Act—Agreement: Senate con- ments—Agreement: A unanimous-consent agree- tinued consideration of the motion to proceed to ment was reached providing that, notwithstanding consideration of S. 2230, to reduce the deficit by the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, imposing a minimum effective tax rate for high-in- the President of the Senate, the President Pro Tem- come taxpayers. Pages S2188–99, S2223–24 pore, and the Majority and Minority Leaders be au- A motion was entered to close further debate on thorized to make appointments to commissions, the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamen- and, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII tary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent ac- of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and pursuant to tion of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate. the unanimous-consent agreement of Thursday, Page S2282 March 29, 2012, a vote on cloture will occur on Pro Forma Sessions—Agreement: A unanimous- Monday, April 16, 2012, when the Senate resumes consent agreement was reached providing that when legislative session immediately following the vote on the Senate adjourns on Thursday, March 29, 2012, the confirmation of the nomination of Stephanie it convene for pro forma sessions only with no busi- Dawn Thacker, of West Virginia, to be United ness conducted on the following dates and times and States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit. that following each pro forma session, the Senate ad- Pages S2223–24 journ until the next pro forma session: Monday, A unanimous-consent agreement was reached pro- April 2, 2012 at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 5, 2012 viding that Senate resume consideration of the mo- at 11 a.m., Monday, April 9, 2012 at 10 a.m., tion to proceed to consideration of the bill at ap- Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 2 p.m.; and that the proximately 2 p.m., on Monday, April 16, 2012. Senate adjourn on Thursday, April 12, 2012 until 2 Page S2283 p.m., on Monday, April 16, 2012, unless the Senate Oil Tax Subsidies: Senate resumed consideration of has received a message from the House of Represent- S. 2204, to eliminate unnecessary tax subsidies and atives that it has adopted S. Con. Res. 38, and if the promote renewable energy and energy conservation, Senate has received such a message, the Senate stand after agreeing to the motion to proceed, and taking adjourned until 2 p.m. on Monday, April 16, 2012, action on the following amendments and motions under the provisions of S. Con. Res. 38. Page S2283 proposed thereto: Page S2199 Pending: Thacker Nomination—Agreement: A unanimous- consent-time agreement was reached providing that Reid Amendment No. 1968, to change the enact- at 4:30 p.m., on Monday, April 16, 2012, Senate ment date. Page S2199 begin consideration of the nomination of Stephanie Reid Amendment No. 1969 (to Amendment No. Dawn Thacker, of West Virginia, to be United 1968), of a perfecting nature. Page S2199 States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; that Reid motion to commit the bill to the Committee there be 60 minutes for debate equally divided in on Finance with instructions, Reid Amendment No. the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back 1970, to change the enactment date. Page S2199 of time, Senate vote without intervening action or Reid Amendment No. 1971 (to (the instructions) Amendment No. 1970), of a perfecting nature. debate, on confirmation of the nomination; and that no further motions be in order. Page S2275 Page S2199 Reid Amendment No. 1972 (to Amendment No. Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the fol- 1971), of a perfecting nature. Page S2199 lowing nominations: During consideration of this measure today, Senate Phyllis Nichamoff Segal, of Massachusetts, to be also took the following action: a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corpora- By 51 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 63), three-fifths tion for National and Community Service for a term of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having expiring October 6, 2013. voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion Lisa M. Quiroz, of New York, to be a Member of to close further debate on the bill. Page S2199 the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Na- Signing Authority—Agreement: A unanimous- tional and Community Service for a term expiring consent agreement was reached providing that from February 8, 2014. Thursday, March 29, 2012 through Monday, April Marguerite W. Kondracke, of Tennessee, to be a 16, 2012, the Majority Leader, Senator Webb and Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation Senator Rockefeller be authorized to sign duly en- for National and Community Service for a term ex- rolled bills or joint resolutions. Page S2282 piring June 10, 2014.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:56 Mar 30, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D29MR2.REC D29MRPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with DIGEST March 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST D333 Richard Christman, of Kentucky, to be a Member Maureen K. Ohlhausen, of Virginia, to be a Fed- of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Na- eral Trade Commissioner for a term of seven years tional and Community Service for the remainder of from September 26, 2011. the term expiring October 6, 2012. David T. Danielson, of California, to be an Assist- Thomas M. Harrigan, of New York, to be Deputy ant Secretary of Energy (Energy Efficiency and Re- Administrator of Drug Enforcement. newable Energy). Jon D. Leibowitz, of Maryland, to be a Federal LaDoris Guess Harris, of Georgia, to be Director Trade Commissioner for a term of seven years from of the Office of Minority Economic Impact, Depart- September 26, 2010. ment of Energy. Deepa Gupta, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Michael E. Horowitz, of Maryland, to be Inspector National Council on the Arts for a term expiring General, Department of Justice. September 3, 2016. Gregory Howard Woods, of New York, to be Anuj Chang Desai, of Wisconsin, to be a Member General Counsel of the Department of Energy. of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the Eduardo Arriola, of Florida, to be a Member of United States for the term expiring September 30, the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foun- 2011. dation for a term expiring October 6, 2016. Anuj Chang Desai, of Wisconsin, to be a Member J. Kelly Ryan, of Maryland, to be a Member of of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foun- United States for the term expiring September 30, dation for the remainder of the term expiring Sep- 2014. tember 20, 2012. Dennis J. Erby, of Mississippi, to be United States James R. Hannah, of Arkansas, to be a Member Marshal for the Northern District of Mississippi for of the Board of Directors of the State Justice Insti- the term of four years. tute for a term expiring September 17, 2013. Kathleen Kerrigan, of Massachusetts, to be a Daniel J. Becker, of Utah, to be a Member of the Judge of the United States Tax Court for the term Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute for of fifteen years. a term expiring September 17, 2013. Christopher Merrill, of Iowa, to be a Member of Catherine Allgor, of California, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term the Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memo- expiring January 26, 2016. rial Fellowship Foundation for a term expiring Sep- Martin J. Gruenberg, of Maryland, to be a Mem- tember 27, 2014. ber of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit David J. McMillan, of Minnesota, to be a Member Insurance Corporation for a term expiring December of the Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway 27, 2018. Development Corporation. Gregory K. Davis, of Mississippi, to be United Wenona Singel, of Michigan, to be a Member of States Attorney for the Southern District of Mis- the Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway sissippi for the term of four years. Development Corporation. Thomas J. Curry, of Massachusetts, to be Comp- Michael James Warren, of the District of Colum- troller of the Currency for a term of five years. bia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Mary John Miller, of Maryland, to be an Under Overseas Private Investment Corporation for a term Secretary of the Treasury. expiring December 17, 2014. Charles DeWitt McConnell, of Ohio, to be an As- Kathryn Keneally, of New York, to be an Assist- sistant Secretary of Energy (Fossil Energy). ant Attorney General. Michael A. Hammer, of the District of Columbia, Alastair M. Fitzpayne, of Maryland, to be a Dep- to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Public Affairs). uty Under Secretary of the Treasury. Stephanie Orlando, of New York, to be a Member Maurice A. Jones, of Virginia, to be Deputy Sec- of the National Council on Disability for the re- retary of Housing and Urban Development. mainder of the term expiring September 17, 2011. Gary Blumenthal, of Massachusetts, to be a Mem- Stephanie Orlando, of New York, to be a Member ber of the National Council on Disability for a term of the National Council on Disability for a term ex- expiring September 17, 2013. piring September 17, 2014. Earl W. Gast, of California, to be an Assistant Bruce J. Sherrick, of Illinois, to be a Member of Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter- the Board of Directors of the Federal Agricultural national Development. Mortgage Corporation. Roberta S. Jacobson, of Maryland, to be an Assist- Chester John Culver, of Iowa, to be a Member of ant Secretary of State (Western Hemisphere Affairs). the Board of Directors of the Federal Agricultural Elizabeth M. Cousens, of Washington, to be Rep- Mortgage Corporation. resentative of the United States of America on the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:56 Mar 30, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D29MR2.REC D29MRPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with DIGEST D334 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST March 29, 2012 Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, John Christopher Stevens, of California, to be Am- with the rank of Ambassador. bassador to Libya. Elizabeth M. Cousens, of Washington, to be an Tracey Ann Jacobson, of the District of Columbia, Alternate Representative of the United States of to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo. America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of Christy L. Romero, of Virginia, to be Special In- the United Nations, during her tenure of service as spector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Pro- Representative of the United States of America on gram. (Prior to this action, Committee on Homeland the Economic and Social Council of the United Na- Security and Governmental Affairs was discharged tions. from further consideration.) Wendy M. Spencer, of Florida, to be Chief Execu- Jeremiah O’Hear Norton, of Virginia, to be a tive Officer of the Corporation for National and Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal De- Community Service. posit Insurance Corporation for the remainder of the Gina K. Abercrombie-Winstanley, of Ohio, to be term expiring July 15, 2013. Ambassador to the Republic of Malta. Kenneth Merten, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to Julissa Reynoso, of New York, to be Ambassador the Republic of Croatia. to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. Mark A. Pekala, of Maryland, to be Ambassador Robert E. Whitehead, of Florida, to be Ambas- to the Republic of Latvia. sador to the Togolese Republic. Richard B. Norland, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to Thomas Hoenig, of Missouri, to be a Member of Georgia. the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insur- Jeffrey D. Levine, of California, to be Ambassador ance Corporation for a term of six years. to the Republic of Estonia. 4 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admi- Rebecca M. Blank, of Maryland, to be Deputy ral. (Prior to this action, Committee on Commerce, Secretary of Commerce. Science, and Transportation was discharged from fur- Larry Leon Palmer, of Georgia, to be Ambassador ther consideration.) to Barbados, and to serve concurrently and without Routine lists in the Coast Guard. (Prior to this ac- additional compensation as Ambassador to St. Kitts tion, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans- and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, the portation was discharged from further consideration.) Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Routine lists in the Foreign Service. Vincent and the Grenadines. Pages S2272–74, S2283–85 Anne Claire Richard, of New York, to be an As- sistant Secretary of State (Population, Refugees, and Nominations Received: Senate received the fol- Migration). lowing nominations: Tara D. Sonenshine, of Maryland, to be Under Patrick A. Miles, Jr., of Michigan, to be United Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy. States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Margaret Ann Sherry, of Virginia, to be Chief Fi- for the term of four years. nancial Officer, Department of Homeland Security. Danny Chappelle Williams, Sr., of Oklahoma, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District Frederick D. Barton, of Maine, to be an Assistant of Oklahoma for the term of four years. Secretary of State (Conflict and Stabilization Oper- Patrick J. Wilkerson, of Oklahoma, to be United ations). States Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma Frederick D. Barton, of Maine, to be Coordinator for the term of four years. for Reconstruction and Stabilization. Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, of California, to be a Jonathan Don Farrar, of California, to be Ambas- Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term sador to the Republic of Panama. of five years. Phyllis Marie Powers, of Virginia, to be Ambas- Patricia K. Falcone, of California, to be an Asso- sador to the Republic of Nicaragua. ciate Director of the Office of Science and Tech- William E. Todd, of Virginia, to be Ambassador nology Policy. to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Douglas M. Griffiths, of Texas, to be Ambassador Jacob Walles, of Delaware, to be Ambassador to to the Republic of Mozambique. the Tunisian Republic. Maria Rosario Jackson, of California, to be a Nancy J. Powell, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to Member of the National Council on the Arts for a India. term expiring September 3, 2016. Page S2283 Linda Thomas-Greenfield, of Louisiana, to be Di- Messages from the House: Pages S2238–39 rector General of the Foreign Service. Pamela A. White, of Maine, to be Ambassador to Measures Referred: Page S2239 the Republic of Haiti. Measures Read the First Time: Page S2239

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:56 Mar 30, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D29MR2.REC D29MRPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with DIGEST March 29, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST D335

Executive Communications: Pages S2239–41 of Defense, after the nominees testified and answered Petitions and Memorials: Page S2241 questions in their own behalf. Executive Reports of Committees: Page S2242 BUSINESS MEETING Additional Cosponsors: Pages S2243–46 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomina- Pages S2246–71 tions of Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, and Jeremy Additional Statements: Pages S2235–38 C. Stein, of Massachusetts, both to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Sys- Amendments Submitted: Page S2272 tem, Jeremiah O’Hear Norton, of Virginia, to be a Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S2272 Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal De- Privileges of the Floor: Page S2272 posit Insurance Corporation, and Richard B. Berner, Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. of Massachusetts, to be Director, Office of Financial (Total—63) Page S2199 Research, and Christy L. Romero, of Virginia, to be Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Re- Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and lief Program, both of the Department of the Treas- adjourned, pursuant to the provisions of S. Con. Res. ury. 38, at 6:26 p.m., until 2 p.m. on Monday, April 2, 2012 (Unless the Senate has received a message from the House of Representatives that the House has SAFE AND EFFICIENT MOBILE PAYMENTS adopted S. Con. Res. 38, Adjournment Resolution. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: And if the Senate has received such a message, the Committee concluded a hearing to examine devel- Senate stand adjourned until 2 p.m., on Monday, oping the framework for safe and efficient mobile April 16, 2012.) (For Senate’s program, see the re- payments, after receiving testimony from Sandra F. marks of the Majority Leader in today’s Record on Braunstein, Director, Division of Consumer and page S2283.) Community Affairs, Board of Governors of the Fed- eral Reserve System; and Kenneth C. Montgomery, First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Committee Meetings Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. (Committees not listed did not meet) FUEL PRICE TRENDS APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee AGRICULTURE concluded a hearing to examine current and near- Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agri- term future price expectations and trends for motor culture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Admin- gasoline and other refined petroleum fuels, after re- istration, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing ceiving testimony from Howard Gruenspecht, Act- to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year ing Administrator, U.S. Energy Information Admin- 2013 for the Department of Agriculture, after receiv- istration, Department of Energy; Daniel Yergin, IHS ing testimony from Thomas Vilsack, Secretary of Cambridge Energy Research Associates, and Frank Agriculture. A. Verrastro, Center for Strategic and International NOMINATIONS Studies (CSIS), both of Washington, D.C.; and Paul Horsnell, Barclays, London, United Kingdom. Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Frank Ken- NIGERIA dall III, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for Ac- quisition, Technology, and Logistics, and James N. Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Afri- Miller, Jr., of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for can Affairs concluded a hearing to examine Nigeria, Policy, who were both introduced by Senator Reed, focusing on security, governance, and trade, after re- Erin C. Conaton, of the District of Columbia, to be ceiving testimony from Johnnie Carson, Assistant Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, who Secretary of State for African Affairs; Sharon Cromer, was introduced by Representative Hoyer, Jessica Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa, Lynn Wright, of Pennsylvania, and Katharina G. U.S. Agency for International Development; and McFarland, of Virginia, both to be an Assistant Sec- Paul Marin, Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, retary, and Heidi Shyu, of California, to be an As- U.S. Trade and Development Agency. sistant Secretary of the Army, all of the Department

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:56 Mar 30, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D29MR2.REC D29MRPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with DIGEST