Senate Floor Activity - Wednesday, May 18, 2016

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 (Wednesday, May 18)

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.

S.Amdt. 3896 (Sen. Collins): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3897 (Sen. Lee): To prohibit the use of funds to carry out a rule and notice of the Department of Housing and Urban Development .

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3898 (Sen. Nelson): Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika virus.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3899 (Sen. Cornyn): Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes .

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3900 (Sen. Blunt): Zika response and preparedness .

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3910 (Sen. Klobuchar): To authorize the use of amounts for Medical Services to be used to furnish rehabilitative equipment and human-powered vehicles to certain disabled veterans.

-- Amendment SA 3910 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Klobuchar to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3910 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3920 (Sen. Brown): To extend the requirement of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report on the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans.

-- Amendment SA 3920 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Brown to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3920 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3933 (Sen. Perdue): To require a report on modernizing and replacing hangers of the Army's Combat Aviation Brigade.

-- Amendment SA 3933 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Perdue to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3933 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3935 (Sen. Boxer): To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to treat certain marriage and family therapists as qualified to serve as marriage and family therapists in the Department of Veterans Affairs .

-- Amendment SA 3935 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Boxer to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3935 as modified agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3944 (Sen. Feinstein): To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out certain major medical facility projects for which appropriations are being made for fiscal year 2016.

-- Amendment SA 3944 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Feinstein to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3944 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3946 (Sen. Blunt): To require the periodic submission of spending plan updates to the Committee on Appropriations.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

S.Amdt. 3967 (Sen. Paul): To provide for the identification of certain high priority corridors on the National Highway System and to include and designate certain route segments on the Interstate System .

-- Amendment SA 3967 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Paul to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3967 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3969 (Sen. Inhofe): To require that amounts be made available to Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks to assess, evaluate, and improve the health care delivery by and business operations of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

-- Amendment SA 3969 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Inhofe to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3969 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3980 (Sen. Flake): To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a plan on modernizing the system of the Veterans Health Administration for processing claims by non-Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers for reimbursement for health care provided to veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary.

-- Amendment SA 3980 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Flake to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3980 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3992 (Sen. Johnson): To ensure timely access for Inspectors General to records, documents, and other materials.

-- Amendment SA 3992 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Johnson to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3992 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3993 (Sen. Johnson): To ensure timely access for Inspectors General to records, documents, and other materials.

-- Amendment SA 3993 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Johnson to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3993 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3997 (Sen. Kirk): To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the inspection of medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

-- Amendment SA 3997 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Kirk to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3997 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 3998 (Sen. Tester): To provide for coverage under the beneficiary travel program of the Department of Veterans Affairs of certain disabled veterans for travel in connection with certain special disabilities rehabilitation.

-- Amendment SA 3998 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Tester to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 3998 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4005 (Sen. Heller): To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on the progress of the Department of Veterans Affairs in completing the Rural Veterans Burial Initiative .

-- Amendment SA 4005 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Heller to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 4005 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4008 (Sen. Daines): To require a report on the use of defense access road funding to build alternate routes for military equipment traveling to missile launch facilities.

-- Amendment SA 4008 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Daines to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 4008 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4011 (Sen. Nelson): To ensure the safety of properties covered under a housing assistance payment contract.

-- Amendment SA 4011 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Nelson to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 4011 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4023 (Sen. Sasse): To protect congressional oversight of the executive branch by ensuring individuals may speak with Congress .

-- Amendment SA 4023 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Sasse to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 4023 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4024 (Sen. Isakson): To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue a final rule requiring the use of speed limiting devices on heavy trucks not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act .

-- Amendment SA 4024 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Isakson to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 4024 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4029 (Sen. Durbin): To make funds available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire Medical Center Directors and employees for other management and clinical positions with vacancies.

-- Amendment SA 4029 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Durbin to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 4029 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4030 (Sen. Mikulski): To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide access to therapeutic listening devices to veterans struggling with mental health related problems, substance abuse, or traumatic brain injury .

-- Amendment SA 4030 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Mikulski to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 4030 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4038 (Sen. Flake): To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct by the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs of an inspection or audit of the use of a grant to renovate a veteran's cemetery in Guam.

-- Amendment SA 4038 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Flake to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 4038 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4039 (Sen. McCain): To extend and expand eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish consistent criteria and standards relating to the use of amounts under the Medical Community Care account of the Department of Veterans Affairs .

-- Amendment SA 4039 proposed by Senator McCain to Amendment SA 3896.

S.Amdt. 4042 (Sen. Warner): To provide additional funds for the National Park Service for certain projects.

-- Amendment SA 4042 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Warner to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 4042 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4043 (Sen. Manchin): To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use amounts appropriated under this Act for the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve the veteran-to-staff ratio for each program of rehabilitation conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code .

-- Amendment SA 4043 proposed by Senator Collins for Senator Manchin to Amendment SA 3896.

-- Amendment SA 4043 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

H.R. 2814 (Rep. Roe): To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Sevierville, Tennessee, the Dannie A. Carr Veterans Outpatient Clinic.

-- Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2840 (Sen. Cornyn): To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize COPS grantees to use grant funds for active shooter training, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Res. 471 (Sen. Inhofe): A resolution designating the week of May 15 through May 21, 2016, as "National Public Works Week".

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