Senate Floor Activity - Wednesday, December 16, 2015

The President pro tempore called the Senate to order at 11:01 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 (Wednesday, December 16)

H.R. 3594 (Rep. Bishop): To extend temporarily the Federal Perkins Loan program, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 2929 (Sen. Alexander): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2929 proposed by Senator Alexander.

-- Amendment SA 2929 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3831 (Rep. Brady): To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend the annual comment period for payment rates under Medicare Advantage .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.J.Res. 78:

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

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.Con.Res. 91: A concurrent resolution providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives.

-- Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 238 (Sen. Toomey): To amend title 18, United States Code, to authorize the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to issue oleoresin capsicum spray to officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S. 1616 (Sen. Carper): To provide for the identification and prevention of improper payments and the identification of strategic sourcing opportunities by reviewing and analyzing the use of Federal agency charge cards .

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2930 (Sen. Carper): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2930 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Carper.

-- Amendment SA 2930 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 189 (Sen. Whitehouse): A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 25th anniversary of democracy in Mongolia.

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

S.Res. 310 (Sen. Johnson): A resolution condemning the ongoing sexual violence against women and children from Yezidi, Christian, Shabak, Turkmen, and other religious communities by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants and urging the prosecution of the perpetrators and those complicit in these crimes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2931 (Sen. Lankford): To define "complicit" for purposes of the resolution.

-- Amendment SA 2931 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Lankford.

-- Amendment SA 2931 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 320 (Sen. McCain): A resolution congratulating the people of Burma on their commitment to peaceful elections.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 326 (Sen. Johnson): A resolution celebrating the 135th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Romania .

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.