Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, November 20, 2014

Mr. John E. Walsh, from the State of Montana, called the Senate to order at 9:30 a.m., the Chaplain offered a prayer, and Mr. Walsh 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, November 20)

H.R. 669 (Rep. Pallone): To improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life .

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

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3957 (Sen. Harkin): To amend the title.

-- Amendment SA 3957 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Harkin.

-- Amendment SA 3957 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 3958 (Sen. Harkin): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 3958 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Harkin.

-- Amendment SA 3958 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4067 (Rep. Jenkins): To provide for the extension of the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals through 2014 .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5441 (Rep. Miller): To amend the Federal charter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to reflect the service of women in the Armed Forces of the United States.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5728 (Rep. Upton): To amend the Communications Act of 1934 and title 17, United States Code, to extend expiring provisions relating to the retransmission of signals of television broadcast stations, and for other purposes.

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

H.J.Res. 129 (Rep. McCarthy): A joint resolution appointing the day for the convening of the first session of the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.Con.Res. 119:

-- Received in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 580 (Sen. Inhofe): A resolution expressing support for the goals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and the children awaiting families, celebrating children and families involved in adoption, and encouraging the people of the United States to secure safety, permanency, and well-being for all children.

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

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 583 (Sen. Isakson): A resolution designating November 30, 2014, as "Drive Safer Sunday".

-- 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. 588 (Sen. Moran): A resolution recognizing that access to hospitals and other health care providers for patients in rural areas of the United States is essential to the survival and success of communities in the United States.

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

S.Res. 589 (Sen. Warren): A resolution honoring the life of Thomas S. Menino, Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, from 1993 to 2014.

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

S.Res. 590 (Sen. Tester): A resolution recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of Native Americans to the United States .

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

Executive Business (Thursday, November 20)

PN1087: Tamara Wenda Ashford, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1090: L. Paige Marvel, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1131: Luis G. Moreno, of Texas, to be Ambassador to Jamaica

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1133: Noah Bryson Mamet, of California, to be Ambassador to the Argentine Republic

-- 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 mandatory quorum under Rule XXII waived.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 12/1/2014.

PN1134: Donald Lu, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Albania

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1150: Colleen Bradley Bell, of California, to be Ambassador to Hungary

-- 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 mandatory quorum under Rule XXII waived.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 12/1/2014.

PN1320-2: Brigadier General Jon K. Kelk, in the Air Force, to be Major General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1381-3: 2 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Leslie Meredith Tsou and ending with Lon C. Fairchild

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1461: Col. Nathaniel S. Reddicks, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1462: Brig. Gen. James C. Witham, in the Air Force, to be Major General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1503: Nani A. Coloretti, of California, to be Deputy Secretary of Department of Housing and Urban Development

-- 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 mandatory quorum under Rule XXII waived.

PN1559: Robert M. Speer, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/20/2014.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1560: Ramin Toloui, of Iowa, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1613: Pamela Pepper, of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 95 - 0. Record Vote Number: 288

PN1644: George Albert Krol, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1697: Brenda K. Sannes, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 96 - 0. Record Vote Number: 289

PN1702: Lisa Afua Serwah Mensah, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1705: Robert S. Adler, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2014

-- 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 mandatory quorum under Rule XXII waived.

PN1734: James D. Pettit, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1751: 2 nominations in the Coast Guard beginning with Angela R. Holbrook and ending with Martha A. Rodriguez

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1761: Cary Douglas Pugh, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1769: Brent Robert Hartley, of Oregon, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1774: Wendy Beetlestone, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1775: Victor Allen Bolden, of Connecticut, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 46. Record Vote Number: 290

PN1812: Madeline Cox Arleo, of New Jersey, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1936: Pamela Leora Spratlen, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1978: P. David Lopez, of Arizona, to be General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term of four 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 mandatory quorum under Rule XXII waived.

PN2028: Charlotte A. Burrows, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2019

-- 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 mandatory quorum under Rule XXII waived.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. Harry Reid, at 7:22 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 2 p.m. on Monday, December 1, 2014.