Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, September 15, 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 (Thursday, September 15)

H.R. 2494 (Rep. Royce): To support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the capacity of partner countries to counter wildlife trafficking, designate major wildlife trafficking countries, and for other purposes .

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 5078 (Sen. Coons): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 5078 proposed by Senator Coons.

-- Amendment SA 5078 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 5325 (Rep. Graves): Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes .

-- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.

S. 2754 (Sen. Cassidy): To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the "Tom Stagg Federal Building and United States Courthouse" .

-- Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2848 (Sen. Inhofe): To provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, and for other purposes.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 95 - 3. Record Vote Number: 141

S.Amdt. 4979 (Sen. Inhofe): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Notwithstanding the adoption of amendment SA 4979, the substitute amendment was amended by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 5063 (Sen. Sanders): To provide for rehabilitation of certain dams .

-- Amendment SA 5063 proposed by Senator Inhofe for Senator Sanders to Amendment SA 4979.

-- Amendment SA 5063 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 5066 (Sen. Sasse): To require a GAO review and report on certain projects.

-- Amendment SA 5066 proposed by Senator Inhofe for Senator Sasse to Amendment SA 4979.

-- Amendment SA 5066 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 5068 (Sen. Paul): To ensure that the Secretary does not charge a fee for certain surplus water.

-- Amendment SA 5068 proposed by Senator Inhofe for Senator Paul to Amendment SA 4979.

-- Amendment SA 5068 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 5069 (Sen. Cardin): To require an annual survey of sea grasses in the Chesapeake Bay.

-- Amendment SA 5069 proposed by Senator Inhofe for Senator Cardin to Amendment SA 4979.

-- Amendment SA 5069 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 5074 (Sen. Hoeven): To limit the permit fees for cabins and trailers on land administered by the Dakotas Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation and to allow trailer area permittees at Heart Butte Dam and Reservoir (Lake Tschida) to continue using trailer homes on their permitted lots.

-- Amendment SA 5074 proposed by Senator Inhofe for Senator Hoeven to Amendment SA 4979.

-- Amendment SA 5074 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 5075 (Sen. Isakson): To deauthorize the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam , Georgia and South Carolina.

-- Amendment SA 5075 proposed by Senator Inhofe for Senator Isakson to Amendment SA 4979.

-- Amendment SA 5075 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 5076 (Sen. Cochran): To make technical corrections.

-- Amendment SA 5076 proposed by Senator Inhofe for Senator Cochran to Amendment SA 4979.

-- Amendment SA 5076 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 5077 (Sen. Tester): To achieve a fair, equitable, and final settlement of claims to water rights in the State of Montana for the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and the United States, for the benefit of the Tribe and allottees, and for other purposes.

-- Amendment SA 5077 proposed by Senator Inhofe for Senator Tester to Amendment SA 4979.

-- Amendment SA 5077 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 565 (Sen. Menendez): A resolution designating the week beginning September 12, 2016, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week" .

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

S.Res. 566 (Sen. Grassley): A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, commending domestic violence victim advocates, domestic violence victim service providers, crisis hotline staff, and first responders serving victims of domestic violence for their compassionate support of victims of domestic violence, and expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should continue to support efforts to end domestic violence and hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable .

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

S.Res. 567 (Sen. Grassley): A resolution designating the week beginning October 16, 2016, as "National Character Counts Week".

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

S.Res. 568 (Sen. Corker): A resolution recognizing the invaluable contributions of the towing and recovery industry in the United States, the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum, towing associations around the world, and the members of those towing associations and designating the week of September 9 through 15, 2016, as "National Towing Industry Awareness Week".

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

S.Res. 569 (Sen. Vitter): A resolution recognizing November 26, 2016, as "Small Business Saturday" and supporting the efforts of the Small Business Administration to increase awareness of the value of locally owned small businesses.

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

Executive Business (Thursday, September 15)

PN1375: Susan S. Gibson, of Virginia, to be Inspector General of the National Reconnaissance Office

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 9/15/2016.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 93 - 0. Record Vote Number: 142

PN1552: 1186 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Nathan J. Abel and ending with Bai Lan Zhu