Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, December 3, 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, December 3)

H.R. 22 (Rep. Davis): To authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes .

-- Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.

-- Conference report considered in Senate.

-- Point of order that section 32205 of the conference report violates the scope of conference under Rule XXVIII raised in Senate.

-- Motion to waive Rule XXVIII relative to section 32205 with respect to the conference report agreed to by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 330

-- Senate agreed to conference report, under the order of 12/3/2015, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, by Yea-Nay Vote. 83 - 16. Record Vote Number: 331

H.R. 3762 (Rep. Price): To provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 2002 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2016 .

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 329

S.Amdt. 2874 (Sen. McConnell): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Amendment SA 2874 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 2875 (Sen. Johnson): To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to ensure that individuals can keep their health insurance coverage.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Amendment SA 2875, under the order of 12/3/15, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 56 - 44. Record Vote Number: 312

S.Amdt. 2876 (Sen. Murray): To ensure that this Act does not increase the number of uninsured women or increase the number of unintended pregnancies by establishing a women's health care and clinic security and safety fund .

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Motion to table amendment SA 2876 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 46. Record Vote Number: 311

S.Amdt. 2882 (Sen. Heller): To strike the reinstatement of the tax on employee health insurance premiums and health plan benefits.

-- Amendment SA 2882 proposed by Senator Heller to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Amendment SA 2882 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 10. Record Vote Number: 316

S.Amdt. 2883 (Sen. Brown): To maintain the 100 percent FMAP for the Medicaid expansion population.

-- Amendment SA 2883 proposed by Senator Brown to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 302(f) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2883.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2883 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 45 - 55. Record Vote Number: 313

-- Amendment SA 2883 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 2884 (Sen. McCain): To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow for the personal importation of safe and affordable drugs from approved pharmacies in Canada.

-- Amendment SA 2884 proposed by Senator McCain to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Proposed amendment SA 2884 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2885 (Sen. Collins): To improve the bill.

-- Amendment SA 2885 proposed by Senator Collins to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Amendment SA 2885 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 52. Record Vote Number: 314

S.Amdt. 2888 (Sen. Coats): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the special rule for seniors relating to the income level for deduction of medical care expenses, and for other purposes .

-- Amendment SA 2888 proposed by Senator Coats to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Amendment SA 2888 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 60 - 39. Record Vote Number: 324

S.Amdt. 2892 (Sen. Shaheen): To improve mental health and substance use prevention and treatment.

-- Amendment SA 2892 proposed by Senator Shaheen to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 302(f) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2892.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2892 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 52. Record Vote Number: 317

-- Amendment SA 2892 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 2893 (Sen. Casey): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a credit for married couples who are both employed and have young children, and for other purposes.

-- Amendment SA 2893 proposed by Senator Casey to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 302(f) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2893.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2893 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 54. Record Vote Number: 315

-- Amendment SA 2893 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 2899 (Sen. Paul): To prevent the entry of extremists into the United States under the refugee program, and for other purposes .

-- Amendment SA 2899 proposed by Senator Paul to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 313(b)(1)(c) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2899.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 313(b)(1)(c) of the CBA withdrawn in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2899.

-- Amendment SA 2899, under the order of 12/3/15, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 10 - 89. Record Vote Number: 323

S.Amdt. 2907 (Sen. Bennet): To provide additional amounts to the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the access of veterans to care and improve the physical infrastructure of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to impose a fair share tax on high-income taxpayers.

-- Amendment SA 2907 proposed by Senator Bennet to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 302(f) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2907.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2907 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 52. Record Vote Number: 322

-- Amendment SA 2907 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 2908 (Sen. Manchin): To protect Second Amendment rights, ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and provide a responsible and consistent background check process.

-- Amendment SA 2908 proposed by Senator Manchin to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 313(b)(1)(c) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2908.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2908 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 50. Record Vote Number: 321

-- Amendment SA 2908 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 2910 (Sen. Feinstein): To increase public safety by permitting the Attorney General to deny the transfer of firearms or the issuance of firearms and explosives licenses to known or suspected dangerous terrorists .

-- Amendment SA 2910 proposed by Senator Feinstein to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 313(b)(1)(c) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2910.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2910 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 45 - 54. Record Vote Number: 319

-- Amendment SA 2910 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 2912 (Sen. Cornyn): Relating to the Protect America Act of 2015 .

-- Amendment SA 2912 proposed by Senator Cornyn to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 313(b)(1)(c) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2912.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2912 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 55 - 44. Record Vote Number: 318

-- Amendment SA 2912 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 2913 (Sen. Cardin): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the special rule for seniors relating to the income level for deduction of medical care expenses and to require high-income taxpayers to pay a fair share of taxes.

-- Amendment SA 2913 proposed by Senator Cardin to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Amendment SA 2913 not agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 2914 (Sen. Grassley): To address gun violence, improve the availability of records to the National Instant Criminal background Check System, address mental illness in the criminal justice system, and end straw purchases and trafficking of illegal firearms, and for other purposes .

-- Amendment SA 2914 proposed by Senator Grassley to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 313(b)(1)(c) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2914.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2914 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 - 46. Record Vote Number: 320

-- Amendment SA 2914 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 2915 (Sen. Paul): To restore Second Amendment rights in the District of Columbia.

-- Amendment SA 2915 proposed by Senator Paul to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Amendment SA 2915, under the order of 12/3/15, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 45. Record Vote Number: 325

S.Amdt. 2916 (Sen. McConnell): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2916 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator McConnell to Amendment SA 2874.

-- Point of order that section 105(b) of the amendment violates section 313(b)(1)(d) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2916.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2916 (section 105(b) within the amendment) rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 326

-- Section 105(b) within the amendment was stricken.

-- Amendment SA 2916 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 2917 (Sen. Reid): To strike the reinstatement of the tax on employee health insurance premiums and health plan benefits.

-- Amendment SA 2917 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 2916.

-- Amendment SA 2917 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 2918 (Sen. Murphy): To protect victims of violence or disease, veterans, workers who have lost their health insurance and their jobs, and other vulnerable populations from the repeal of the advanced premium tax credit.

-- Amendment SA 2918 proposed by Senator Murphy to Amendment SA 2916.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 302(f) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2918.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2918 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 53. Record Vote Number: 328

-- Amendment SA 2918 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 2919 (Sen. Baldwin): To ensure that individuals can keep their health insurance coverage.

-- Amendment SA 2919 proposed by Senator Baldwin to Amendment SA 2916.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 302(f) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 2919.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to amendment SA 2919 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 45 - 54. Record Vote Number: 327

-- Amendment SA 2919 ruled out of order by the chair.

S. 1177 (Sen. Alexander): An original bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure that every child achieves .

-- Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.

-- Conference report considered in Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the conference report to accompany S. 1177 presented in Senate.

S. 2032 (Sen. Hoeven): To adopt the bison as the national mammal of the United States.

-- Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. McConnell, at 9:53 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 2 p.m. on Monday, December 7, 2015.