Senate votes for bill aimed to reduce child deaths from abuse or neglect

The Senate passed a bill on the last day of the 112th Congress that would create a commission to recommend ways to reduce the number of children who die as a result of abuse or neglect.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) introduced the Protect Our Kids Act, H.R. 6655, which establishes a commission to make recommendations on how to reduce fatalities from cases of child abuse and neglect. The Senate approved the measure by voice-vote Wednesday. The House voted 330-77 for the bill last month. The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk for his signature.

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) introduced H.R. 4606, which authorizes the secretary of the Interior to issue right-of-way permits for natural-gas pipelines that are within the boundary of Glacier National Park in Montana. That bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent Wednesday and passed on a 286-10 vote in the House last month. This bill will also head to the president’s desk.

The Senate passed S. 3716 by unanimous consent to amend language to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include vaccines against seasonal influenza in the definition of taxable vaccines. No further information on the bill was available immediately after the vote.

The Senate also confirmed a handful of presidential nominations for labor and foreign affairs positions.

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