Senate Floor Activity - Tuesday, March 24, 2015

The President pro tempore called the Senate to order at 10 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 (Tuesday, March 24)

S. 301 (Sen. Fischer): To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of Boys Town, and for other purposes.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 72 (Sen. Johnson): A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the January 24, 2015, attacks carried out by Russian-backed rebels on the civilian propulation in Mariupol, Ukraine, and the provision of lethal and non-lethal military assitance to Ukraine.

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

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title and with a preamble by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 598 (Sen. Lee): To urge the President to prioritize and expedite the provision of lethal and non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine, consistent with United States national interests and policies .

-- Amendment SA 598 proposed by Senator Capito for Senator Lee.

-- Amendment SA 598 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 599 (Sen. Leahy): To amend the title.

-- Amendment SA 599 proposed by Senator Capito for Senator Leahy.

-- Amendment SA 599 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 110 (Sen. Fischer): A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate about a strategy for the Internet of Things to promote economic growth and consumer empowerment.

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

S.Con.Res. 11 (Sen. Enzi): An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025.

-- Considered by Senate.

S.Amdt. 323 (Sen. Sanders): To create millions of middle class jobs by investing in our nation's infrastructure paid for by raising revenue through closing loopholes in the corporate and international tax system .

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Amendment SA 323 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 45 - 52. Record Vote Number: 78

S.Amdt. 349 (Sen. Portman): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to improve health outcomes and lower the costs of caring for medically complex children in Medicaid.

-- Amendment SA 349 proposed by Senator Portman.

-- Amendment SA 349 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 96 - 0. Record Vote Number: 80

S.Amdt. 357 (Sen. Cornyn): To raise taxes and spending by enacting President Obama's fiscal year 2016 budget.

-- Amendment SA 357 proposed by Senator Cornyn.

-- Amendment SA 357 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 1 - 98. Record Vote Number: 85

S.Amdt. 362 (Sen. Mikulski): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to amending the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to allow for punitive damages, limit the any factor "other than sex" exception, and prohibit retaliation against employees who share salary information .

-- Amendment SA 362 proposed by Senator Mikulski.

-- Amendment SA 362 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 45 - 54. Record Vote Number: 82

S.Amdt. 386 (Sen. Sanders): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to protect Medicaid beneficiaries from benefit cuts.

-- Amendment SA 386 proposed by Senator Sanders.

-- Amendment SA 386 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 3. Record Vote Number: 79

S.Amdt. 388 (Sen. Daines): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to the designation of national monuments.

-- Amendment SA 388 proposed by Senator Daines.

S.Amdt. 389 (Sen. Daines): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to holding Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives accountable for failing to pass a balanced budget.

-- Amendment SA 389 proposed by Senator Daines.

S.Amdt. 400 (Sen. Ayotte): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to maintain and enhance access, choice, and accountability in veterans care through the Veterans Choice Card program under section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014.

-- Amendment SA 400 proposed by Senator Ayotte.

-- Amendment SA 400 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 409 (Sen. Fischer): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to promoting equal pay, which may include preventing discrimination on the basis of sex and preventing retaliation against employees for seeking or discussing wage information.

-- Amendment SA 409 proposed by Senator Fischer.

-- Amendment SA 409 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 56 - 43. Record Vote Number: 81

S.Amdt. 412 (Sen. Rounds): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from engaging in closed-door settlement agreements that ignore impacted States and counties.

-- Amendment SA 412 proposed by Senator Rounds.

S.Amdt. 423 (Sen. Rubio): To increase new budget authority fiscal years 2016 and 2017 and modify outlays for fiscal years 2016 through 2022 for National Defense (budget function 050).

-- Amendment SA 423 proposed by Senator Rubio.

S.Amdt. 471 (Sen. Wyden): To create a point of order against legislation that would cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or privatize social security.

-- Amendment SA 471 proposed by Senator Whitehouse for Senator Wyden.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 305 of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 471.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 471 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 48. Record Vote Number: 84

-- Amendment SA 471 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 474 (Sen. Sanders): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to protect and strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs, hire more health care professionals for the Department, and ensure quality and timely access to health care for all veterans.

-- Amendment SA 474 proposed by Senator Sanders.

-- Amendment SA 474 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 481 (Sen. Cotton): To establish a deficit-neutral fund relating to supporting Israel.

-- Amendment SA 481 proposed by Senator Cotton.

S.Amdt. 498 (Sen. Hatch): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to legislation submitted to Congress by President Obama to protect and strengthen Social Security.

-- Amendment SA 498 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Hatch.

-- Amendment SA 498 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 75 - 24. Record Vote Number: 83

S.Amdt. 545 (Sen. Kirk): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to reimposing waived sanctions and imposing new sanctions against Iran for violations of the Joint Plan of Action or a comprehensive nuclear agreement.

-- Amendment SA 545 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Kirk.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mrs. Capito, at 7:51 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.