Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, December 17, 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, December 17)

H.R. 515 (Rep. Smith): To protect children and others from sexual abuse and exploitation, including sex trafficking and sex tourism, by providing advance notice of intended travel by registered sex offenders outside the United States to the government of the country of destination, requesting foreign governments to notify the United States when a known sex offender is seeking to enter the United States, and for other purposes .

-- The committee substitute agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2936 (Sen. Corker): To modify the authorization of appropriations .

-- Amendment SA 2936 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Corker.

-- Amendment SA 2936 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 2576 (Rep. Shimkus): To modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 2932 (Sen. Inhofe): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2932 proposed by Senator Inhofe.

-- Amendment SA 2932 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 4246 (Rep. Cohen): To exempt for an additional 4-year period, from the application of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7, qualifying members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for not less than 90 days .

-- Received in the Senate, read twice.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.J.Res. 76 (Rep. McCarthy): A joint resolution appointing the day for convening of the second session of the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.Con.Res. 102 (Rep. McCarthy): A concurrent resolution providing for a joint session of Congress to receive a message from the President .

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 227 (Sen. Alexander): To strengthen the Federal education research system to make research and evaluations more timely and relevant to State and local needs in order to increase student achievement.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2933 (Sen. Alexander): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2933 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Alexander.

-- Amendment SA 2933 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 284 (Sen. Cardin): To impose sanctions with respect to foreign persons responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2937 (Sen. Cardin): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2937 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Cardin.

-- Amendment SA 2937 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2261 (Sen. Thune): To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the way beneficiaries are assigned under the Medicare shared savings program by also basing such assignment on services furnished by Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.

-- Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 148 (Sen. Kirk): A resolution condemning the Government of Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights .

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

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

S.Amdt. 2934 (Sen. Kirk): To make a technical correction .

-- Amendment SA 2934 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Kirk.

-- Amendment SA 2934 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2935 (Sen. Kirk): To make technical corrections.

-- Amendment SA 2935 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Kirk.

-- Amendment SA 2935 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Executive Business (Thursday, December 17)

PN424: Robert A. Salerno, 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

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN645: Darlene Michele Soltys, 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

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. McConnell, at 7:17 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.