Senate Floor Activity - Friday, December 20, 2024

Mr. Alex Padilla, from the State of California, called the Senate to order at 10 a.m., the Mr. Lankford offered a prayer, and Mr. Padilla 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

The following transactions of morning business occurred on today .

Legislative Business (Friday, December 20)

H.R. 82 (Rep. Graves): A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator Schumer to commit to Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3357) made in Senate.

-- Point of order that the measure violates section 311(a)(3) of the Congressional Budget Act raised in Senate.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to the measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 66 - 30. Record Vote Number: 337

-- Motion by Senator Schumer to commit to Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3357) withdrawn in Senate.

-- Passed Senate, under the order of 12/20/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 76 - 20. Record Vote Number: 338

-- Cloture motion on the measure rendered moot in Senate.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 3331 (Sen. Crapo): To delay the repeal of the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions until additional changes are made to offset any negative impacts on the actuarial balance of the Social Security Trust Funds.

-- Amendment SA 3331 proposed by Senator Crapo.

-- Amendment SA 3331, under the order of 12/20/2024, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 34 - 62. Record Vote Number:

S.Amdt. 3346 (Sen. Paul): To adjust the normal and early retirement ages for Social Security benefits and increase the maximum age for delayed retirement credits.

-- Amendment SA 3346 proposed by Senator Paul.

-- Amendment SA 3346, under the order of 12/20/2024, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 3 - 93. Record Vote Number:

S.Amdt. 3352 (Sen. Paul): To provide for automatic continuing resolutions.

-- Amendment SA 3352 proposed by Senator Paul.

-- Amendment SA 3352, under the order of 12/20/2024, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 28 - 67. Record Vote Number:

S.Amdt. 3355 (Sen. Schumer): To add an effective date.

-- Amendment SA 3355 proposed by Senator Schumer.

-- Proposed amendment SA 3355 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3356 (Sen. Schumer): To add an effective date.

-- Amendment SA 3356 proposed by Senator Schumer to Amendment SA 3355.

-- SA 3356 fell when SA SA 3355 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 3357 (Sen. Schumer): To add an effective date.

-- Amendment SA 3357 proposed by Senator Schumer.

-- Proposed amendment SA 3357 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3358 (Sen. Schumer): To add an effective date.

-- Amendment SA 3358 proposed by Senator Schumer to Amendment SA 3357 (the instructions of the motion to commit).

-- SA 3358 fell when SA SA 3357 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 3359 (Sen. Schumer): To add an effective date.

-- Amendment SA 3359 proposed by Senator Schumer to Amendment SA 3358.

-- SA 3359 fell when SA SA 3358 fell.

S.Amdt. 3360 (Sen. Cruz): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3360 proposed by Senator Cruz.

-- Amendment SA 3360, under the order of 12/20/2024, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 32 - 64. Record Vote Number:

H.R. 1318 (Rep. Neguse): A bill to authorize the location of a monument on the National Mall to commemorate and honor the women's suffrage movement and the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

H.R. 2997 (Rep. Boebert): A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to Mesa County, Colorado, certain Federal land in Colorado, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3391 (Rep. Wexton): A bill to extend the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

H.R. 6395 (Rep. Curtis): A bill to amend the Energy Act of 2020 to require the Secretary of the Interior to include the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultations regarding designations of critical minerals, elements, substances, and materials.

-- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6852 (Rep. Espaillat): A bill to designate Holcombe Rucker Park, in Harlem, New York, as a National Commemorative Site, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 8012 (Rep. Waltz): A bill to establish the Jackie Robinson Ballpark National Commemorative Site in the State of Florida, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1348 (Sen. Barrasso): A bill to redesignate land within certain wilderness study areas in the State of Wyoming, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

S. 1553 (Sen. Barrasso): A bill to amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to improve the management of grazing permits and leases, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1723 (Sen. Warren): A bill to establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3351 (Sen. Schatz): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3351 proposed by Senator Schatz.

-- Amendment SA 3351 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1890 (Sen. Wyden): A bill to provide for the establishment of a land health management program on Federal land in Malheur County, Oregon, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote

S. 3195 (Sen. Kaine): A bill to designate the General George C. Marshall House, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 5639 (Sen. Peters): A bill to extend the authority for the protection of certain facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft.

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

Legislative Business (Saturday, December 21)

H.R. 82 (Rep. Graves): A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator Schumer to commit to Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3357) made in Senate.

-- Point of order that the measure violates section 311(a)(3) of the Congressional Budget Act raised in Senate.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to the measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 66 - 30. Record Vote Number: 337

-- Motion by Senator Schumer to commit to Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3357) withdrawn in Senate.

-- Passed Senate, under the order of 12/20/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 76 - 20. Record Vote Number: 338

-- Cloture motion on the measure rendered moot in Senate.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 3355 (Sen. Schumer): To add an effective date.

-- Amendment SA 3355 proposed by Senator Schumer.

-- Proposed amendment SA 3355 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3356 (Sen. Schumer): To add an effective date.

-- Amendment SA 3356 proposed by Senator Schumer to Amendment SA 3355.

-- SA 3356 fell when SA SA 3355 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 3357 (Sen. Schumer): To add an effective date.

-- Amendment SA 3357 proposed by Senator Schumer.

-- Proposed amendment SA 3357 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3358 (Sen. Schumer): To add an effective date.

-- Amendment SA 3358 proposed by Senator Schumer to Amendment SA 3357 (the instructions of the motion to commit).

-- SA 3358 fell when SA SA 3357 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 3359 (Sen. Schumer): To add an effective date.

-- Amendment SA 3359 proposed by Senator Schumer to Amendment SA 3358.

-- SA 3359 fell when SA SA 3358 fell.

H.R. 670 (Rep. Molinaro): A bill to amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a clearinghouse on intellectual disabilities, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4136 (Rep. Self): A bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Plano, Texas, as the "U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson Memorial VA Clinic".

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4955 (Rep. Lee): A bill to name the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, as the "Henry Parham VA Clinic".

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4984 (Rep. Comer): A bill to amend the District of Columbia Stadium Act of 1957 to provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus to the Administrator of General Services and the leasing of the Campus to the District of Columbia for purposes which include commercial and residential development, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

H.R. 5103 (Rep. Donalds): A bill to require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to approve or deny spend plans within a certain amount of time, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5887 (Rep. Khanna): A bill to amend chapter 3 of title 5, United States Code, to improve Government service delivery, and build related capacity for the Federal Government, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 8667 (Rep. Moolenaar): A bill to rename the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Cadillac, Michigan, as the "Duane E. Dewey VA Clinic".

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 9076 (Rep. LaHood): A bill to reauthorize and modernize part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to strengthen child welfare services, expand the availability of prevention services to better meet the needs of vulnerable families, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 9124 (Rep. Kiley): A bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Auburn, California, as the "Louis A. Conter VA Clinic".

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 10545 (Rep. Cole): A bill making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes.

-- Received in the Senate, read twice.

-- Passed Senate, under the order of 12/20/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 85 - 11. Record Vote Number: 339

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S. 2181 (Sen. Peters): An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the entitlement to memorial headstones and markers for commemoration of veterans and certain individuals and to extend authority to bury remains of certain spouses and children in national cemeteries, and for other purposes.

-- Senate agreed to the House amendment and amendment to the title to S. 2181 by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3658 (Sen. Cornyn): A bill to promote space situational awareness and space traffic coordination and to modify the functions and leadership of the Office of Space Commerce, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3362 (Sen. Cornyn): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3362 proposed by Senator Schumer for Senator Cornyn.

-- Amendment SA 3362 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 5098 (Sen. Lankford): A bill to require certain agencies to develop plans for internal control in the event of an emergency or crisis, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 5649 (Sen. Sullivan): A bill to amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Foundation, and for other purposes.

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

Executive Business (Friday, December 20)

PN10: David Michael Capozzi, of Maryland, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion rendered moot in Senate.

PN1693: Elaine Marie Clegg, of Idaho, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion rendered moot in Senate.

PN2244: Benjamin J. Cheeks, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California

-- Considered by Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

-- Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 47. Record Vote Number: 329

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 47. Record Vote Number: 330

PN2245: Serena Raquel Murillo, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

-- Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 47. Record Vote Number: 331

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 47. Record Vote Number: 332

Executive Business (Saturday, December 21)

PN10: David Michael Capozzi, of Maryland, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion rendered moot in Senate.

PN794: 30 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with George A. Ayache and ending with Matthew T. Westerberg

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN795: 5 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Santiago Davila and ending with Irwin Roberts

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN796-1: 61 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Alula Abera and ending with Vanessa Wilks

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN898-1: 60 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Kyle L. Abbattista and ending with Michael T. Weaver

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1535: 66 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Cori A. Alston and ending with James T. Suor

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1536: 9 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Careylou S. Arun and ending with Daniel T. Pint

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1537-1: 4 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Stephen L. Green and ending with Michele Renee Smith

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1538: 21 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Stephanie Riche Boles and ending with Elisabeth Ann Urfer

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1539-1: 2 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Stephanie A. Funk and ending with Clinton David White

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1540-1: 49 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Elizabeth Arleva Chambers and ending with David J. Thompson

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1692: Ronald L. Batory, of New Mexico, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1693: Elaine Marie Clegg, of Idaho, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion rendered moot in Senate.

PN1975: Apryl Ann Pagliaro, in the Foreign Service

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1978: 7 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Alexandra Baych and ending with Erik Syngle

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2004: 169 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Andray Abrahamian and ending with William P. Ferrari

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2031: 122 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Didier Jordan Ahimera and ending with Michelle Marie Yerkin

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2032: Lanhee J. Chen, of California, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2146: 97 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Georgina Rita Benjamin and ending with Jennifer L. Davis

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2147: 9 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Valerie Brown and ending with Kelly Stange

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2148: Robert Hanson, in the Foreign Service

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2233: 62 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Christina J. Agor and ending with Kevin L. Wagganer

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2234: 6 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Julie J. Chung and ending with William W. Popp

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2235: 148 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Ory S. Abramowicz and ending with Michael B. Wofford

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. Schumer, at 1:23 a.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 9:30 a.m. on Monday, December 23, 2024.