Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, September 18, 2014

The President pro tempore called the Senate to order at 9:30 a.m., the Chaplain 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 (Thursday, September 18)

H.R. 83 (Rep. Christensen): To require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes .

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3928 (Sen. Murkowski): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3928 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Murkowski.

-- Amendment SA 3928 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 594 (Rep. Burgess): To amend the Public Health Service Act relating to Federal research on muscular dystrophy, and for other purposes .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 2600 (Rep. Maloney): To amend the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act to clarify how the Act applies to condominiums.

-- Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3043 (Rep. Nunes): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify the treatment of general welfare benefits provided by Indian tribes .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3716 (Rep. Amodei): To ratify a water settlement agreement affecting the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4323 (Rep. Goodlatte): To reauthorize programs authorized under the Debbie Smith Act of 2004, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.R. 4980 (Rep. Camp): To prevent and address sex trafficking of children in foster care, to extend and improve adoption incentives, and to improve international child support recovery.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4994 (Rep. Camp): To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for standardized post-acute care assessment data for quality, payment, and discharge planning, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5062 (Rep. Perlmutter): To amend the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to specify that privilege and confidentiality are maintained when information is shared by certain nondepository covered persons with Federal and State financial regulators, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5404 (Rep. Denham): To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.J.Res. 124 (Rep. Rogers): A joint resolution making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2015, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Motion by Senator Reid to commit to Senate Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3853) made in Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate.

-- Cloture on the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 73 - 27. Record Vote Number: 269

-- Motion by Senator Reid to commit to Senate Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3853) fell when cloture was invoked on the measure in Senate.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 78 - 22. Record Vote Number: 270

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 3851 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3851 proposed by Senator Reid.

-- Proposed amendment SA 3851 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3852 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3852 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3851.

-- Motion to table amendment SA 3852 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 268

-- Proposed amendment SA 3852 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3853 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3853 proposed by Senator Reid.

-- SA 3853 fell when cloture invoked on the measure.

S.Amdt. 3854 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3854 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3853 (instructions of the motion to commit).

-- SA 3854 fell when SA 3853 fell.

S.Amdt. 3855 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3855 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3854.

-- SA 3855 fell when SA 3854 fell.

S. 1086 (Sen. Mikulski): To reauthorize and improve the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, and for other purposes .

-- Motion to agree to the House amendment to the Senate bill made in Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the motion to agree to the House amendment to Senate bill presented in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator Reid to concur in the House amendment to the Senate bill with an amendment (SA 3923) made in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator Reid to refer to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions the House message to accompany the bill (S. 1086) with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3925) made in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3923 (Sen. Reid): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 3923 proposed by Senator Reid.

S.Amdt. 3924 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3924 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3923.

S.Amdt. 3925 (Sen. Reid): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 3925 proposed by Senator Reid.

S.Amdt. 3926 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3926 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3925 (instructions of the motion to refer).

S.Amdt. 3927 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3927 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3926.

S. 1360 (Sen. Carper): To amend the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012, including making changes to the Do Not Pay initiative, for improved detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments to deceased individuals, and for other purposes .

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3934 (Sen. Carper): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3934 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Carper.

-- Amendment SA 3934 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1611 (Sen. Bennet): To require certain agencies to conduct assessments of data centers and develop data center consolidation and optimization plans .

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3929 (Sen. Carper): To modify the provision relating to waiver of requirements.

-- Amendment SA 3929 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Carper.

-- Amendment SA 3929 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3930 (Sen. Bennet): To clarify reporting requirements for the Department of Defense.

-- Amendment SA 3930 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Bennet.

-- Amendment SA 3930 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1691 (Sen. Tester): To amend title 5, United States Code, to improve the security of the United States border and to provide for reforms and rates of pay for border patrol agents.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3931 (Sen. Carper): To improve the bill.

-- Amendment SA 3931 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Carper.

-- Amendment SA 3931 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2040 (Sen. Crapo): To exchange trust and fee land to resolve land disputes created by the realignment of the Blackfoot River along the boundary of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, and for other purposes .

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3932 (Sen. Crapo): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3932 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Crapo.

-- Amendment SA 3932 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2061 (Sen. Tester): To prevent conflicts of interest relating to contractors providing background investigation fieldwork services and investigative support services.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

S. 2432 (Sen. Warren): To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans, and for other purposes.

-- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.

S. 2583 (Sen. Fischer): To promote the non-exclusive use of electronic labeling for devices licensed by the Federal Communications Commission .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2673 (Sen. Boxer): To enhance the strategic partnership between the United States and Israel.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3933 (Sen. Boxer): To designate Israel as a program country under the Visa Waiver Program if Israel complies with the generally applicable requirements.

-- Amendment SA 3933 proposed by Senator Pryor for Senator Boxer.

-- Amendment SA 3933 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2778 (Sen. Rubio): To require the Secretary of State to offer rewards totaling up to $10,000,000 for information on the kidnapping and murder of James Foley and Steven Sotloff.

-- Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez without amendment. Without written report.

-- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 574.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2793 (Sen. Schumer): To authorize the award of the Medal of Honor to Henry Johnson.

-- Senate Committee on Armed Services discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2912 (Sen. Ayotte): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude certain compensation received by public safety officers and their dependents from gross income.

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

S.Res. 420 (Sen. Mikulski): A resolution designating the week of October 6 through October 12, 2014, as "Naturopathic Medicine Week" to recognize the value of naturopathic medicine in providing safe, effective, and affordable health care.

-- 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. 479 (Sen. Kaine): A resolution recognizing Veterans Day 2014 as a special "Welcome Home Commemoration" for all who have served in the military since September 14, 2001.

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

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3935 (Sen. Pryor): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 3935 proposed by Senator Burr for Senator Pryor.

-- Amendment SA 3935 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 529 (Sen. Toomey): A resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and commending its members for their courage and sacrifice in service 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. 530 (Sen. Portman): A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate on the current situation in Iraq and the urgent need to protect religious minorities from persecution from the terrorist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

-- Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title and with an amended preamble. Without written report.

-- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 575.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 541 (Sen. Coons): A resolution recognizing the severe threat that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa poses to populations, governments, and economies across Africa and, if not properly contained, to regions across the globe, and expressing support for those affected by this epidemic .

-- Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez without amendment and with an amended preamble. Without written report.

-- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 572.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 566 (Sen. Thune): A resolution celebrating the 125th anniversary of the State of South Dakota.

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

S.Res. 571 (Sen. Warner): A resolution designating September 30, 2014, as "United States and India Partnership Day".

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

S.Res. 572 (Sen. Cantwell): A resolution congratulating the Sailors of the United States Submarine Force upon the completion of 4,000 ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) deterrent patrols.

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

S.Res. 573 (Sen. Wyden): A resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.

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

S.Res. 574 (Sen. Whitehouse): A resolution designating the week of September 20 through September 27, 2014, as "National Estuaries Week" .

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

S.Res. 575 (Sen. Sessions): A resolution designating September 2014 as "National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month".

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

S.Con.Res. 44 (Sen. Reid): A concurrent resolution providing for a conditional adjournment or recess of the Senate and an adjournment of the House of Representatives.

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Voice Vote.

Executive Business (Thursday, September 18)

PN1107: Bathsheba Nell Crocker, of the District of Columbia , to be an Assistant Secretary of State (International Organization Affairs)

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1112: Adam M. Scheinman, of Virginia, to be Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation, with the rank of Ambassador

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1230: Leigh Martin May, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia

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

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

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

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/12/2014.

PN1290: Eric Rosenbach, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1455: D. Nathan Sheets, of Maryland, to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1493: Robert W. Holleyman II, of Louisiana, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1534: Alfonso E. Lenhardt, of New York, to be Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 9/18/2014.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1552: Randolph D. Moss, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia

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

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

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

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/12/2014.

PN1645: Mark William Lippert, of Ohio, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Korea

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1754: Kevin F. O'Malley, of Missouri, to be Ambassador to Ireland

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1844: Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, of California, to be Deputy Secretary of Energy

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1917: Charles H. Fulghum, of North Carolina, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Homeland Security

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1934: Thomas Frieden, of New York, to be Representative of the United States on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization

-- Reported by Senator Menendez, Committee on Foreign Relations, without printed report.

-- Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar No. 1053. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to requests to appear and testify before any duly constituted committee of the Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 9/18/2014.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. Pryor, at 10:31 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.