Senate Floor Activity - Wednesday, September 17, 2014

The President pro tempore called the Senate to order at 10 a .m., the Reverend Canon Andrew White, St. George's Church, Baghdad, Iraq offered a prayer, and the President pro tempore 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, September 17)

H.R. 4751 (Rep. Kilmer): To make technical corrections to Public Law 110-229 to reflect the renaming of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4809 (Rep. Campbell): To reauthorize the Defense Production Act, to improve the Defense Production Act Committee, and for other purposes .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2141 (Sen. Reed): To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide an alternative process for review of safety and effectiveness of nonprescription sunscreen active ingredients and for other purposes .

-- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Harkin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

-- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 568.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2651 (Sen. Coburn): To repeal certain mandates of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 543 (Sen. Enzi): A resolution designating November 1, 2014, as National Bison 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. 545 (Sen. Menendez): A resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and the immense contributions of Latinos to the United States .

-- 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. 552 (Sen. Boxer): A resolution supporting Lights on Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs held on October 23, 2014 .

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 553 (Sen. Murphy): A resolution recognizing the 250th anniversary of the Hartford Courant newspaper.

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 554 (Sen. Franken): A resolution recognizing the month of October 2014 as "National Principals Month".

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 555 (Sen. Stabenow): A resolution designating the week of September 15 through September 19, 2014, as "National Health Information Technology Week" to recognize the value of health information technology in transforming and improving the health care system for all individuals in the United States .

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 556 (Sen. Coons): A resolution designating the week beginning on October 12, 2014, as National Wildlife Refuge Week.

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 557 (Sen. Grassley): A resolution designating the week beginning October 19, 2014, as "National Character Counts Week".

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 558 (Sen. Murray): A resolution designating the week of September 22 through 28, 2014, as "National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week" .

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 559 (Sen. Coons): A resolution designating the week beginning on October 19, 2014, as "National Chemistry Week".

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 560 (Sen. Blumenthal): A resolution designating September 2014 as "School Bus Safety Month".

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

Executive Business (Wednesday, September 17)

PN1128: Eric T. Schultz, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Zambia

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1144: Thomas Frederick Daughton, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1465: Maj. Gen. Gustave F. Perna, in the Army, to be Lieutenant General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1521: Bradford Raymond Huther, of Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1540: Capt. Kathleen M. Creighton, in the Navy, to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1545: Capt. Todd J. Squire, in the Navy, to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1590: 3 nominations in the Navy beginning with Rear Adm. (lh) Brian B. Brown and ending with Rear Adm. (lh) Brett C. Heimbigner

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1604: 417 nominations in the Army beginning with Stephen R. Abrams and ending with G010257

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1605: 420 nominations in the Army beginning with Isaiah C . Abbott and ending with D012187

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1606: 862 nominations in the Army beginning with Jason K. Abbott and ending with D012084

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1641: Debra S. Wada, of Hawaii, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1735: Laura S. Wertheimer, of the District of Columbia, to be Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1738: John R. Bass, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 98 - 0. Record Vote Number: 267

PN1772: David Pressman, of New York, to be Alternate Representative of the United States of America for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1773: David Pressman, of New York, to be an Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, during his tenure of service as Alternate Representative of the United States of America for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1943: Maj. Gen. Steven L. Kwast, in the Air Force, to be Lieutenant General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1944: Maj. Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, in the Air Force, to be Lieutenant General