Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, October 19, 2017

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, October 19)

H.R. 2266 (Rep. Conyers): To amend title 28 of the United States Code to authorize the appointment of additional bankruptcy judges; and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment made in Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment presented in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 1568) made in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Appropriations the House message to accompany H.R. 2266 with instructions to report back forthwith with amendment SA 1570 made in Senate.

S.Amdt. 1568 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 1568 proposed by Senator McConnell.

S.Amdt. 1569 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 1569 proposed by Senator McConnell to Amendment SA 1568.

S.Amdt. 1570 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 1570 proposed by Senator McConnell.

S.Amdt. 1571 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 1571 proposed by Senator McConnell to Amendment SA 1570 (the instructions of the motion to refer).

S.Amdt. 1572 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 1572 proposed by Senator McConnell to Amendment SA 1571.

H.Con.Res. 71 (Rep. Black): A concurrent resolution establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 49. Record Vote Number: 245

S.Amdt. 1116 (Sen. Enzi): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Amendment SA 1116 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 1138 (Sen. Warner): To strike the Senate pay-as-you-go exemption for tax cut reconciliation legislation and the exception to rules preventing any legislation from increasing the deficit over the short-term .

-- Amendment SA 1138 proposed by Senator Warner to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1138 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 51. Record Vote Number: 228

S.Amdt. 1139 (Sen. Baldwin): To prohibit reconciliation legislation that would increase the deficit or reduce a surplus.

-- Amendment SA 1139 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Baldwin to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1139 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 51. Record Vote Number: 230

S.Amdt. 1141 (Sen. Cantwell): To create a point of order against legislation that would raise taxes on middle class families by double-taxing income already taxed at the state or local level.

-- Amendment SA 1141 proposed by Senator Cantwell to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 305(b)(2) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 1141.

-- Motion to waive section 305(b)(2) of the CBA with respect to amendment SA 1141 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 52. Record Vote Number: 227

-- Amendment SA 1141 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 1167 (Sen. Perdue): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to significantly improving the budget process.

-- Amendment SA 1167 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Perdue to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1167 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 1178 (Sen. Flake): To make the American tax system simpler and fairer .

-- Amendment SA 1178 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Flake to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1178 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 98 - 0. Record Vote Number: 229

S.Amdt. 1205 (Sen. Rubio): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to tax cuts for working American families.

-- Amendment SA 1205 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Rubio to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1205 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 1228 (Sen. Heitkamp): To create a point of order against legislation that would increase taxes on taxpayers whose annual income is below $250 ,000.

-- Amendment SA 1228 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Heitkamp to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 305(b)(2) of the CBA raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 1228.

-- Motion to waive section 305(b)(2) of the CBA with respect to amendment SA 1228 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 51. Record Vote Number: 231

-- Amendment SA 1228 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 1234 (Sen. Donnelly): To create a point of order against legislation that allows companies that have outsourced jobs to foreign countries to benefit from any tax breaks.

-- Amendment SA 1234 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Donnelly to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1234 as modified agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 1249 (Sen. Kaine): To modify section 4111 to reinstate and strengthen a prohibition on voting on legislation without a Congressional Budget Office score.

-- Amendment SA 1249 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Kaine to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1249 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 51. Record Vote Number: 235

S.Amdt. 1277 (Sen. Paul): To provide for reconciliation instructions to the relevant committees for the purpose of repealing and replacing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

-- Amendment SA 1277 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Paul to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1277 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 33 - 66. Record Vote Number: 238

S.Amdt. 1296 (Sen. Paul): To modify reconciliation instructions to reduce the deficit.

-- Amendment SA 1296 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Paul to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1296 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 4 - 94. Record Vote Number: 233

S.Amdt. 1298 (Sen. Paul): To reduce discretionary spending by $43,000,000 ,000.

-- Amendment SA 1298 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Paul to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1298 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 5 - 95. Record Vote Number: 236

S.Amdt. 1301 (Sen. Cantwell): To strike the reconciliation instructions for the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate to prevent oil and gas development within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge .

-- Amendment SA 1301 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Cantwell to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1301 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 52. Record Vote Number: 243

S.Amdt. 1302 (Sen. Wyden): To strike the reconciliation instructions relating to tax reform.

-- Amendment SA 1302 proposed by Senator Wyden to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1302 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 52. Record Vote Number: 225

S.Amdt. 1375 (Sen. Cardin): To create a point of order against legislation that includes deficit-financed tax cuts.

-- Amendment SA 1375 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Cardin to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Point of order that the amendment violates section 305(b)(2) raised in Senate with respect to amendment SA 1375.

-- Motion to waive section 305(b)(2) of the CBA with respect to amendment SA 1375 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 52. Record Vote Number: 234

-- Amendment SA 1375 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt. 1378 (Sen. Brown): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to providing tax benefits to patriot employers that invest in American jobs and provide fair pay and benefits to workers .

-- Amendment SA 1378 proposed by Senator Brown to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1378 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 51. Record Vote Number: 232

S.Amdt. 1393 (Sen. Capito): To help provide tax relief to middle-class Americans by reducing deductibility, for Federal tax purposes, of federal deductions, such as the state and local tax deduction which disproportionally favors high-income individuals.

-- Amendment SA 1393 proposed by Senator Capito to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1393 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 226

S.Amdt. 1404 (Sen. Paul): To ensure that all Americans receive a tax cut, keeping more of their hard earned money, and enjoy the benefit of tax reform.

-- Amendment SA 1404 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Paul to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1404 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 7 - 93. Record Vote Number: 241

S.Amdt. 1422 (Sen. Portman): To provide for an international tax system that provides or enhances incentives for businesses to invest in America, generate American jobs, retain American jobs, and return jobs to America .

-- Amendment SA 1422 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Portman to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1422 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 1428 (Sen. Lee): To modify a deficit neutral reserve fund relating to public land and the environment to address making payments under the payments in lieu of taxes program equivalent to the property tax revenue that would be due to a State or local government if the State or local government owned the land.

-- Amendment SA 1428 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Lee to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1428 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 240

S.Amdt. 1429 (Sen. Lee): To establish a spending-neutral reserve fund relating to prohibiting Federal regulation of entirely intrastate species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

-- Amendment SA 1429 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Lee to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1429 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 51. Record Vote Number: 242

S.Amdt. 1430 (Sen. Lee): To expand the deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to the repeal of provisions of title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

-- Amendment SA 1430 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Lee to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1430 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 32 - 67. Record Vote Number: 237

S.Amdt. 1552 (Sen. Fischer): To provide tax relief to American workers, families, and job creators in a manner which maintains the progressivity of the tax system by maintaining or raising the share of taxes paid by high income taxpayers.

-- Amendment SA 1552 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Fischer to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1552 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 1553 (Sen. Udall): To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to the provision of full, permanent, and mandatory funding for the payment in lieu of taxes program.

-- Amendment SA 1553 proposed by Senator Enzi for Senator Udall to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1553 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 58 - 41. Record Vote Number: 239

S.Amdt. 1561 (Sen. Enzi): To provide other enforcement provisions related to the House of Representatives.

-- Amendment SA 1561 proposed by Senator Enzi to Amendment SA 1116.

-- Amendment SA 1561 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 48. Record Vote Number: 244

S.Res. 298 (Sen. King): A resolution supporting the designation of September 2017 as "National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month" .

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

S.Res. 299 (Sen. Casey): A resolution expressing support for the designation of October 20, 2017, as the "National Day on Writing".

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

S.Res. 300 (Sen. Cardin): A resolution recognizing the 150th anniversary of McDaniel College.

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

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. Portman, at 10:23 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 3 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2017.