Senate Floor Activity - Wednesday, December 7, 2016

The President pro tempore called the Senate to order at 9:30 a.m., the Elder D. Todd Christofferson, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Utah 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 7)

H.R. 34 (Rep. Bonamici): To authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, research, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

-- Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered).

-- Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 34 by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 5. Record Vote Number: 157

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 5117 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Motion to table the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 34 with an amendment (SA 5117) agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 5118 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 5118 fell when the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 34 with an amendment (SA 5117) tabled.

S. 2943 (Sen. McCain): An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.

-- Cloture on the conference report invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 7. Record Vote Number: 158

-- Conference report considered in Senate.

Executive Business (Wednesday, December 7)

PN1206: Brig. Gen. Robert N. Polumbo, in the Air Force, to be Major General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1553: 15 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Daniel J. Bessmer and ending with Christie Barton Walton

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1557: Brian C. Garver, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1617: Maj. Gen. Jerry D. Harris, Jr., in the Air Force, to be Lieutenant General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1633: Suzanne L. Hopkins, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1664: Lt. Gen. James M. Holmes, in the Air Force, to be General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1671: Rear Adm. William K. Lescher, in the Navy, to be Vice Admiral

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1689: Clifford D. Johnston, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1692: Reinaldo Gonzalez II, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1712: Graham F. Inman, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1767: Capt. Kelly A. Aeschbach, in the Navy, to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1804: Vice Adm. Dixon R. Smith, in the Navy, to be Vice Admiral

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1808: 2 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Marva Michelle Butler and ending with Adonis Mariano Matos de Mello

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1811: 6 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Col. Joel E. DeGroot and ending with Col. David D. Zwart

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1812: 13 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Brig . Gen. David P. Baczewski and ending with Brig. Gen. Roger E. Williams, Jr .

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1813: Brig. Gen. Jesse T. Simmons, Jr., in the Air Force, to be Major General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1814: 2 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Brig. Gen. David M. McMinn and ending with Brig. Gen. Ronald E. Paul

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1815: Col. William E. Dickens, Jr., in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1817: 12 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Col. Brian K. Borgen and ending with Col. Constance M. Von Hoffman

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1818: Brig. Gen. Randolph J. Staudenraus, in the Air Force, to be Major General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1819: 6 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Brig. Gen. Craig L. LaFave and ending with Brig. Gen. Patrick M. Wade

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1820: Col. Stephen C. Melton, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1821: Maj. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, in the Army, to be Lieutenant General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1822: Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, in the Army, to be Lieutenant General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1823: Maj. Gen. James H. Dickinson, in the Army, to be Lieutenant General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1824: Brig. Gen. Patrick M. Hamilton, in the Army, to be Major General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1826: 18 nominations in the Army beginning with Brig. Gen . Benjamin F. Adams III and ending with Brig. Gen. Michael R. Zerbonia

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1827: Col. Mark A. Piterski, in the Army, to be Brigadier General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1828: Col. Ellis F. Hopkins III, in the Army, to be Brigadier General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1829: 70 nominations in the Army beginning with Col. Michael A. Abell and ending with Col. Louis W. Wilham

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1830: Rear Adm. (lh) Mary M. Jackson, in the Navy, to be Vice Admiral

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1832: 28 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Kip T. Averett and ending with Daniel S. Walker

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1833: 2 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Shawn M. Garcia and ending with Morgan H. Laird

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1834: 1903 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Daniel C. Abell and ending with Peter Zwart

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1835: Gary A. Fairchild, in the Air Force, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1836: Megan M. Luka, in the Air Force, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1837: 2 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Brandon D. Clint and ending with Edmund J. Rutherford

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1838: 90 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Isamettin A. Aral and ending with Leslie Ann Zyzda-Martin

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1839: Eileen K. Jenkins, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1840: Jeffrey M. Farris, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1841: Matthew T. Bell, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1842: Melissa B. Reister, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1843: Charles M. Causey, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1844: 2 nominations in the Army beginning with Stephen A. Labate and ending with Raymond J. Orr

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1845: Roxanne E. Wallace, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1846: Eric A. Mitchell, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1847: Jonathan J. Vannatta, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1848: Dennis D. Calloway, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1849: 3 nominations in the Army beginning with Kenneth L. Alford and ending with Bruce T. Sidebotham

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1850: Henry Spring, Jr., in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1851: Craig A. Yunker, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1852: Cornelius J. Pope, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1853: Anthony K. McConnell, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1854: Jennifer L. Cummings, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1855: 2 nominations in the Army beginning with Donald J. Erpenbach and ending with Timothy A. Fanter

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1857: Carl I. Shaia, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1858: Lisa M. Barden, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1859: Roger D. Lyles, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1860: Clara A. Bieganek, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1861: Isaiah M. Garfias, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1862: Louis E. Herrera, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1863: Schnicka L. Singleton, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1864: John R. Burchfield, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1865: Elizabeth S. Eatonferenzi, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1866: Richard D. Mina, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1867: 44 nominations in the Army beginning with Temidayo L. Anderson and ending with D0127914

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1869: Richard A. Gautier, Jr., in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1870: Joseph A. Papenfus, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1871: 9 nominations in the Army beginning with Stuart G. Baker and ending with Walter D. Venneman

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1872: David S. Yuen, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1873: Donta A. White, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1874: Tony A. Hampton, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1875: 18 nominations in the Army beginning with Charles C . Anderson and ending with James D. Willson

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1876: David A. Yasenchock, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1877: Aaron C. Ramiro, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1878: Richard M. Strong, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1879: Brendon S. Baker, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1880: 19 nominations in the Army beginning with Lanny J. Acosta, Jr. and ending with Lance B. Turlington

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1881: 46 nominations in the Navy beginning with Jafar A. Ali and ending with Anthony K. Wolverton

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1882: Meryl A. Severson III, in the Navy, to be Captain

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1883: Ashley R. Bjorklund, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1884: Adeleke O. Mowobi, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1885: 2 nominations in the Navy beginning with Mary K. Arbuthnot and ending with John K. Werner, Jr.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1886: Stephen W. Hedrick, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1887: Vincent M. J. Ambrosino, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1888: Neal P. Ridge, in the Navy, to be Captain

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1891: Abdeslam Bousalham, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1892: Scott M. Morey, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1893: Christian R. Foschi, in the Navy, to be Lieutenant Commander

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1900: Andrew J. Wade, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1902: Christopher S. Besser, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1903: Chad C. Black, in the Army, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1904: Thomas D. Starkey, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1905: Joshua D. Fitzgarrald, in the Marine Corps, to be Major

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1906: Anthony C. Lyons, in the Marine Corps, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1907: 2 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Stephen Donald Mull and ending with Victoria Jane Nuland

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1908: 181 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Robert L. Adams and ending with Laura Ann Griesmer

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1909: 5 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Robert Stephen Beecroft and ending with Marie L. Yovanovitch

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1910: 42 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Tristan J. Allen and ending with William F. Zeman

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1911: 180 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Anthony Abba and ending with Michael David Zgoda

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. Tillis, at 8:24 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.