Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, November 19, 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 (Thursday, November 19)

H.R. 2577 (Rep. Diaz-Balart): Making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes .

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the measure withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2812 (Sen. Collins): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Cloture motion amendment SA 2812 withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2813 (Sen. Collins): To make a technical amendment.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

H.R. 3996 (Rep. Shuster): To provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.Con.Res. 95:

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

S. 599 (Sen. Cardin): To extend and expand the Medicaid emergency psychiatric demonstration project.

-- Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1550 (Sen. Ernst): To amend title 31, United States Code, to establish entities tasked with improving program and project management in certain Federal agencies, and for other purposes.

-- 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. 2873 (Sen. Ernst): To improve the bill.

-- Amendment SA 2873 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Ernst.

-- Amendment SA 2873 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2328 (Sen. Wicker): To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.

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

S.Res. 314 (Sen. Moran): A resolution expressing support for designation of the third Tuesday in November as "National Entrepreneurs' Day" .

-- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

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

S.Res. 319 (Sen. Isakson): A resolution designating November 29, 2015, as "Drive Safer Sunday".

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

Executive Business (Thursday, November 19)

PN27: Diane Helen Rodriguez, of California, to be a Member of the National Council on the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2018

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN294: Francine Berman, of New York, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2020

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN296: Shelly Colleen Lowe, of Arizona, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2018

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN419: Patricia Nelson Limerick, of Colorado, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2018

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN422: Steven M. Wellner, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN423: William Ward Nooter, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN470: Ann Calvaresi Barr, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, United States Agency for International Development

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN474: Juan Carlos Iturregui, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation for a term expiring June 26, 2020

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN509: Luis A. Viada, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation for a term expiring September 20, 2018

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN629: Peter William Bodde, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to Libya

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/19/2015.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 95 - 0. Record Vote Number: 309

PN633: Elisabeth I. Millard, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Tajikistan

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/19/2015.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN671: Marc Jonathan Sievers, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/19/2015.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN716: Rear Adm. Kurt B. Hinrichs, in the Coast Guard, to be Rear Admiral

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN742: Derek Tai-Ching Kan, of California, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN746: Victoria A. Lipnic, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2020

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN747: Michael Herman Michaud, of Maine, to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN843: Deborah R. Malac, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/19/2015.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN845: Lisa J. Peterson, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Swaziland

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/19/2015.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN846: H. Dean Pittman, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/19/2015.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN884: Capt. Andrew S. McKinley, in the Coast Guard, to be Rear Admiral (Lower Half)

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN885: 6 nominations in the Coast Guard beginning with Captain Matthew T. Bell and ending with Captain Anthony J. Vogt

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN919: 56 nominations in the Coast Guard beginning with Ladonn A. Allen and ending with Jeffrey V. Yarosh

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN920: 13 nominations in the Coast Guard beginning with Sharif A. Abdrabbo and ending with Wilbur A. Velarde

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. McConnell, at 6:34 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 3 p.m. on Monday, November 30, 2015.