Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, June 18, 2015

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, June 18)

H.R. 1295 (Rep. Holding): To extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Generalized System of Preferences, the preferential duty treatment program for Haiti, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 2065) made in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith with amendment SA 2067 made in Senate

-- Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 2065) presented in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2065 (Sen. McConnell): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2065 proposed by Senator McConnell.

S.Amdt. 2066 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 2066 proposed by Senator McConnell to Amendment SA 2065.

S.Amdt. 2067 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 2067 proposed by Senator McConnell.

S.Amdt. 2068 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 2068 proposed by Senator McConnell to Amendment SA 2067 (the instructions of the motion to refer).

S.Amdt. 2069 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 2069 proposed by Senator McConnell to Amendment SA 2068.

H.R. 1735 (Rep. Thornberry): To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 - 25. Record Vote Number: 215

-- Senate ordered measure printed as passed.

S.Amdt. 1463 (Sen. McCain): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXII and the adoption of Amendment SA 1463, the substitute amendment was amended by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1472 (Sen. Vitter): To exclude AbilityOne goods from the authority to acquire goods and services manufactured in Afghanistan, central Asian states, and Djibouti.

-- Amendment SA 1472 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Vitter to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1472 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1474 (Sen. Coons): To improve section 1204, relating to the National Guard State Partnership Program.

-- Amendment SA 1474 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Coons to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1474 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

-- Amendment SA 1474, previously agreed to, was modified by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1563 (Sen. Blumenthal): To require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly submit to Congress a report on the implementation of new or updated electronic health records in certain environments.

-- Amendment SA 1563 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Blumenthal to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1563 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1678 (Sen. Paul): To provide for the more accurate and complete enumeration of members of the Armed Forces in any tabulation of total population by the Secretary of Commerce.

-- Amendment SA 1678 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Paul to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1678 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1703 (Sen. Durbin): To authorize the provision of post-traumatic stress disorder training to military and security forces of the Government of Ukraine.

-- Amendment SA 1703 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Durbin to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1703 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1705 (Sen. Coats): To provide for military exchanges between senior officers and officials of the United States and Taiwan.

-- Amendment SA 1705 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Coats to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1705 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1708 (Sen. Gardner): To require a strategy to promote United States interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

-- Amendment SA 1708 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Gardner to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1708 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1720 (Sen. Flake): To authorize transportation to transfer ceremonies for the family and next of kin of members of the Armed Forces who die overseas during humanitarian operations.

-- Amendment SA 1720 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Flake to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1720 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1747 (Sen. Casey): To require the Department of Defense to support the security of Afghan women and girls during and after 2015 .

-- Amendment SA 1747 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Casey to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1747 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1811 (Sen. Hatch): To provide for sustainment enhancement .

-- Amendment SA 1811 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Hatch to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1811 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1825 (Sen. Fischer): To authorize appropriations for national security aspects of the Merchant Marine for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and for other purposes.

-- Amendment SA 1825 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Fischer to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1825 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1890 (Sen. Daines): To modify the immediate applicability of basic allowance for housing for married members assigned for duty within normal commuting distance.

-- Amendment SA 1890 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Daines to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1890 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1901 (Sen. Murphy): To require the reporting on foreign procurements .

-- Amendment SA 1901 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Murphy to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1901 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1902 (Sen. Warren): To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on problem gambling among members of the Armed Forces.

-- Amendment SA 1902 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Warren to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1902 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1908 (Sen. Enzi): To provide for a small business procurement ombudsman.

-- Amendment SA 1908 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Enzi to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1908 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1916 (Sen. Bennet): To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate a construction agent for certain construction projects by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

-- Amendment SA 1916 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Bennet to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1916 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1931 (Sen. Leahy): To improve the annual reports of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau on the ability of the National Guard to meet its missions.

-- Amendment SA 1931 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Leahy to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1931 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1944 (Sen. Tester): To reform and improve personnel security, insider threat detection and prevention, and physical security.

-- Amendment SA 1944 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Tester to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1944 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1974 (Sen. McCain): To express the sense of Congress on the security and protection of Iranian dissidents living in Camp Liberty, Iraq .

-- Amendment SA 1974 proposed by Senator McCain to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 1974 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2006 (Sen. Schatz): Relating to the policies of the Department of Defense on the travel of next of kin to participate in the dignified transfer of remains of members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense who die overseas.

-- Amendment SA 2006 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Schatz to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 2006 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2011 (Sen. Ayotte): To provide for cooperation between the United States and Israel on anti-tunnel capabilities.

-- Amendment SA 2011 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Ayotte to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 2011 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2020 (Sen. King): To demonstrate the effects of a method to facilitate the disposal of excess Army property and management of underutilized and unutilized property by providing an exemption from certain requirements for off-site use and off-site removal only of non-mobile properties.

-- Amendment SA 2020 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator King to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 2020 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2030 (Sen. Murkowski): To express the sense of Congress on the coordination of hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities on military land.

-- Amendment SA 2030 proposed by Senator McCain for Senator Murkowski to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 2030 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2050 (Sen. Menendez): To require a report on the security relationship between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus.

-- Amendment SA 2050 proposed by Senator Reed for Senator Menendez to Amendment SA 1463.

-- Amendment SA 2050 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 2146 (Rep. Reichert): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, and air traffic controllers to make penalty-free withdrawals from governmental plans after age 50, and for other purposes.

-- Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment made in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 2060) made in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith with amendment SA 2062 made in Senate

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

S.Amdt. 2060 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 2060 proposed by Senator McConnell.

S.Amdt. 2061 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 2061 proposed by Senator McConnell to Amendment SA 2060.

S.Amdt. 2062 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 2062 proposed by Senator McConnell.

S.Amdt. 2063 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 2063 proposed by Senator McConnell to Amendment SA 2062 (the instructions of the motion to refer).

S.Amdt. 2064 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 2064 proposed by Senator McConnell to Amendment SA 2063.

H.R. 2685 (Rep. Frelinghuysen): Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes .

-- Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 45. Record Vote Number: 216

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed tot he measure was not invoked (Roll Call Vote No. 216) entered in Senate.

S. 808 (Sen. Thune): To establish the Surface Transportation Board as an independent establishment, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 205 (Sen. Durbin): A resolution congratulating the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the 2015 Stanley Cup.

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

S.Res. 206 (Sen. Boxer): A resolution congratulating the Golden State Warriors for winning the 2015 National Basketball Association Championship .

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

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. McConnell, at 7:02 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 3 p.m. on Monday, June 22, 2015.