Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, November 9, 2017

Mr. Dean Heller, from the State of Nevada, called the Senate to order at 9:30 a.m., the Chaplain offered a prayer, and Mr. Heller 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, November 9)

H.R. 2810 (Rep. Thornberry): To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018 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.

-- Conference papers: Senate report and manager's statement held at the desk in Senate.

S. 324 (Sen. Hatch): To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of adult day health care services for veterans .

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

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1581 (Sen. Hatch): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1581 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Hatch.

-- Amendment SA 1581 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 886 (Sen. Daines): To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an Acquisition Review Board in the Department of Homeland Security , and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1582 (Sen. Daines): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1582 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Daines.

-- Amendment SA 1582 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 906 (Sen. McCaskill): To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for congressional notification regarding major acquisition program breaches, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee amendment withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1583 (Sen. McCaskill): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1583 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator McCaskill.

-- Amendment SA 1583 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1153 (Sen. Baldwin): To prohibit or suspend certain health care providers from providing non-Department of Veterans Affairs health care services to veterans, and for other purposes.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1266 (Sen. Inhofe): To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 328 (Sen. Risch): A resolution recognizing November 25, 2017, 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.

S.Res. 329 (Sen. Warren): A resolution expressing support for the designation of October 2017 as "National Audiology Awareness Month".

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

S.Res. 330 (Sen. Klobuchar): A resolution mandating anti-harassment training for Senators and officers, employees, and interns of, and detailees to the Senate.

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

Executive Business (Thursday, November 9)

PN458: Derek Kan, of California, to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy

-- Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 9. Record Vote Number: 269

-- Considered by Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/13/2017.

PN556: Joseph Otting, of Nevada, to be Comptroller of the Currency for a term of five years

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

PN558: Steven Gill Bradbury, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Transportation

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 11/13/2017.

PN587: Dabney Langhorne Friedrich, of California, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

PN831: Peter Hoekstra, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN837: Mark A. Klaassen, of Wyoming, to be United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN839: Bryan D. Schroder, of Alaska, to be United States Attorney for the District of Alaska for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN841: William C. Lamar, of Mississippi, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN873: Scott C. Blader, of Wisconsin, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN875: Donald C. Coggins, Jr., of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

PN877: Robert M. Duncan, Jr., of Kentucky, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN880: John R. Lausch, Jr., of Illinois, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN881: J. Douglas Overbey, of Tennessee, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN882: Charles E. Peeler, of Georgia, to be United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN919: David G. Zatezalo, of West Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

PN994: William L. Wehrum, of Delaware, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 47. Record Vote Number: 268

PN1014: John F. Bash, of Texas, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1016: R. Andrew Murray, of North Carolina, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1022: Matthew G. T. Martin, of North Carolina, to be United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1049: Erin Angela Nealy Cox, of Texas, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1054: Christina E. Nolan, of Vermont, to be United States Attorney for the District of Vermont for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. McConnell, at 5:48 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 4 p.m. on Monday, November 13, 2017.