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Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, April 28, 2016


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, April 28)

H.R. 2028 (Rep. Simpson): Making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes.
-- Considered by Senate.
S.Amdt. 3801 (Sen. Alexander): In the nature of a substitute.
-- Amendment pending in Senate.
-- Motion to proceed to consideration of motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion to invoke cloture on amendment SA 3801 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 64) agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
-- Motion by Senator McConnell to reconsider the vote by which the motion to invoke cloture on amendment SA 3801 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 64) agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
-- Upon reconsideration, cloture on amendment SA 3801 not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 43. Record Vote Number: 65
-- Second cloture motion on amendment SA 3801 presented in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3804 (Sen. Alexander): To modify provisions relating to Nuclear Regulatory Commission fees.
-- Amendment pending in Senate.


H.R. 2908 (Rep. Clay): To adopt the bison as the national mammal of the United States.
-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1635 (Sen. Corker): An original bill to authorize the Department of State for fiscal year 2016, and for other purposes.
-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
-- Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
S.Amdt. 3886 (Sen. Corker): To remove language relating to Iran hostages compensation, to provide that the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom shall have primary responsibility for religious freedom training, and to make other technical amendments.
-- Amendment SA 3886 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Corker.
-- Amendment SA 3886 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.


S. 1875 (Sen. Menendez): To support enhanced accountability for United States assistance to Afghanistan, and for other purposes .
-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
-- The committee amendment withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
S.Amdt. 3885 (Sen. Menendez): In the nature of a substitute.
-- Amendment SA 3885 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Menendez.
-- Amendment SA 3885 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.


S. 2845 (Sen. Rubio): To extend the termination of sanctions with respect to Venezuela under the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014.
-- Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment. Without written report.
-- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 445.
-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 435 (Sen. Wyden): A resolution designating May 21, 2016, as "Kids to Parks Day".
-- Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 448 (Sen. Collins): A resolution recognizing the roles and contributions of the teachers of the United States in building and enhancing the civic, cultural, and economic well-being of the United States .
-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 449 (Sen. Alexander): A resolution congratulating the students, parents, teachers, and leaders of charter schools across the United States for making ongoing contributions to education, and supporting the ideals and goals of the 17th annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 1 through May 7, 2016.
-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 450 (Sen. Vitter): A resolution honoring May 1 through May 7, 2016, as "National Small Business Week" and celebrating the contributions of small businesses and entrepreneurs in every community in the United States .
-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 451 (Sen. Klobuchar): A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Travel and Tourism Week and honoring the valuable contributions of travel and tourism to the United States.
-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 452 (Sen. Grassley): A resolution recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month .
-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 453 (Sen. Menendez): A resolution designating April 30, 2016, as "Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans".
-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 454 (Sen. Capito): A resolution recognizing the Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response program on its 30th anniversary .
-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 455 (Sen. Bennet): A resolution recognizing the cultural and historic significance of the Cinco de Mayo holiday.
-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

Executive Business (Thursday, April 28)

PN526: Roberta S. Jacobson, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the United Mexican States
-- Considered by Senate.
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1056: Col. Mark A. Baird, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1061: Col. Thomas F. Spencer, in the Army, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1126: John A. Yukica, in the Marine Corps, to be Major
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1129: 3 nominations in the Marine Corps beginning with Matrix W. Elias and ending with Nicholas J. Tazza
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1201: Brian D. Hennessy, in the Navy, to be Captain
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1204: Brig. Gen. Gregory S. Champagne, in the Air Force, to be Major General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1205: Lt. Gen. Marshall B. Webb, in the Air Force, to be Lieutenant General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1207: Col. Daniel J. Swain, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1208: Col. James J. Keefe, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1209: Col. Andrea D. Tullos, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1210: Col. Bradley C. Saltzman, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1211: Col. Andrew E. Salas, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1212: Col. Craig D. Wills, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1213: Col. Tamhra L. Hutchins-Frye, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1214: Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, in the Army, to be General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1217: Col. William J. Prendergast IV, in the Army, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1218: 14 nominations in the Army beginning with Brig. Gen . William P. Barriage and ending with Col. Stephen E. Strand
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1219: Martin T. Mitchell, in the Air Force, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1220: 3 nominations in the Army beginning with Larss G. Celtnieks and ending with Paulette V. Burton
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1221: Eric Danko, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1222: 2 nominations in the Army beginning with Steven N. Carozza and ending with Noah C. Cloud
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1223: Ramit Ring, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1224: Donald C. King, in the Navy, to be Captain
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1234: Rear Adm. (lh) Paul J. Verrastro, in the Navy, to be Rear Admiral
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1237: Rear Adm. (lh) Timothy J. White, in the Navy, to be Rear Admiral
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1239: 12 nominations in the Navy beginning with Rear Adm. (lh) Kyle J. Cozad and ending with Rear Adm. (lh) Timothy G. Szymanski
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1269: 23 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Laura S. Barchick and ending with Kevin J. Wilkinson
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1270: 28 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Michelle D. Aastrom and ending with Cynthia J. Weidman
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1271: 446 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Laird S. Abbott and ending with Christopher J. Zuhlke
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1272: Geoffrey E. Anderson, in the Army, to be Major
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1274: Bruce H. Robinson, in the Army, to be Major
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1275: 2 nominations in the Army beginning with Matthew B. Booth and ending with Donald W. Moyer
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1276: Robert L. Cronyn, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1277: Darrell W. Collins, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1279: Stephanie M. Simoni, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1280: Jennifer L. Shafer, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1281: 3 nominations in the Navy beginning with Justin K. Conroy and ending with Rebecca L. Young
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1282: Brice A. Goodwin, in the Navy, to be Captain
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1283: Brian J. Hamer, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1284: Scott F. Gruwell, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1285: Shannon D. Lorimer, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1289: Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, in the Army, to be General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1292: Lt. Gen. Bradley A. Heithold, in the Air Force, to be Lieutenant General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1293: Maj. Gen. Leon S. Rice, in the Air Force, to be Lieutenant General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1299: Devon D. Nudelman, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1300: Calvin C. Thomas, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1301: 2 nominations in the Army beginning with Stephen G. Cruys and ending with Gregory J. Long
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1302: 2 nominations in the Army beginning with Edward S. Barnett and ending with Lynn J. Wilson
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1303: 5 nominations in the Army beginning with Timothy G. Bonner and ending with James S. Welch, Jr.
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1304: 7 nominations in the Army beginning with Krystal D. Bean and ending with Justin R. Schlanser
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1305: 19 nominations in the Army beginning with George A. Barbee and ending with D013078
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1306: 80 nominations in the Army beginning with Gabrielle M. Andreanifabroni and ending with Young J. Yauger
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1307: 84 nominations in the Army beginning with Terryl L. Aitken and ending with D010908
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1308: 11 nominations in the Navy beginning with Danielle M. Barnes and ending with Mark R. Thomas
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1309: William A. Hlavin, in the Navy, to be Commander
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1312: Phillip G. Cyr, in the Navy, to be Captain
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1318: Albert E. White, in the Air Force, to be Major
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1319: Travis H. Owen, in the Army, to be Major
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1320: 54 nominations in the Army beginning with Joshua T. Ade and ending with D012875
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1322: Timothy R. Teague, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1323: Eric E. Halstrom, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1324: 4 nominations in the Army beginning with Brian D. Bobo and ending with Anthony D. Fournier
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1325: Dennis N. Snelling, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1326: Gen. Lori J. Robinson, in the Air Force, to be General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1328: Maj. Gen. Stephen M. Twitty, in the Army, to be Lieutenant General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1329: Maj. Gen. John G. Rossi, in the Army, to be Lieutenant General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1330: Lt. Gen. Robert B. Brown, in the Army, to be General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1333: Jonathan M. Letsinger, in the Air Force, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1334: 42 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Lloyd Travis A. Arnold and ending with Konstantina Zuber
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1335: Kristie L. Partin, in the Air Force, to be Major
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1336: Aimee D. Safford, in the Air Force, to be Major
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1337: Tracey A. Gosser, in the Air Force, to be Lieutenant Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1338: Todd R. Howell, in the Air Force, to be Lieutenant Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1340: Kodjo S. Knoxlimbacker, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1341: Lori R. Schanhals, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1342: Drew R. Conover, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1343: Bradley D. Osterman, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1344: Francisco J. Lopez, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1346: 4 nominations in the Army beginning with Timothy D. Aiken and ending with James R. Weakley
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1347: George A. Rollins, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1348: McArthur Walker, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1349: 4 nominations in the Army beginning with Timothy D. Covington and ending with Eric A. Kennedy
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1350: Donald E. Speights, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1366: Luis A. Bencomo, in the Navy, to be Commander
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1376: Brig. Gen. Kenneth D. Jones, in the Army, to be Major General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1377: Brig. Gen. Arlan M. DeBlieck, in the Army, to be Major General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1378: Col. Rodney L. Faulk, in the Army, to be Brigadier General
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1379: Nilson Orozcooviedo, in the Army, to be Major
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1380: Pierre E. Saintfleur, in the Army, to be Colonel
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. McConnell, at 7:52 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 2 p.m. on Monday, May 2, 2016.