Senate Floor Activity - Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Mr. Thom Tillis, from the State of North Carolina, called the Senate to order at 12 noon, the Chaplain offered a prayer, and Mr. Tillis 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, January 3)

S. 925 (Sen. Ernst): A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the ability of health care professionals to treat veterans through the use of telemedicine, and for other purposes.

-- 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. 1868 (Sen. Ernst): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1868 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Ernst.

-- Amendment SA 1868 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Executive Business (Wednesday, January 3)

PN295: Adam Lerrick, of Wyoming, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN354-2: Kenneth W. MacLean, in the Foreign Service

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN355-2: Tanya S. Urquieta, in the Foreign Service

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN357-2: David A. Ashford, in the Foreign Service

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN358-2: David Charles Miller, in the Foreign Service

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN375: Damien Michael Schiff, of California, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN376: David Ryan Stras, of Minnesota, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN409: Jay Patrick Murray, of Virginia, to be Alternate Representative of the United States of America for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN410: Jay Patrick Murray, of Virginia, to be an Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, during his tenure of service as Alternate Representative of the United States of America for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN462: Doug Manchester, of California, to be Ambassador to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN475: David P. Haworth, in the Air Force, to be Colonel

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN489: Kevin K. McAleenan, of Hawaii, to be Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN517: David S. Jonas, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN520: Brett Giroir, of Texas, to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to the qualifications therefor as provided by law and regulations, and to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN540: Dori M. Baker, in the Air Force, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN554: Charles Douglas Stimson, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of the Navy

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN564: Stephen Parente, of Minnesota, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN569: Brian Allen Benczkowski, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney General

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN584: Jeffrey Bossert Clark, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney General

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN590: Stephen S. Schwartz, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN605: Kathleen Troia McFarland, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Singapore

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN607: Eric M. Ueland, of Oregon, to be an Under Secretary of State (Management)

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN673: Scott Garrett, of New Jersey, to be President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for a term expiring January 20, 2021

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN677: Isabel Marie Keenan Patelunas, of Pennsylvania, to be Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, Department of the Treasury

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN682: Patrick Pizzella, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN729: Eric S. Dreiband, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN732: Brendan Carr, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years from July 1, 2018

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN735: Randal Quarles, of Colorado, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the term of fourteen years from February 1, 2018

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN738: Susan Combs, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN747: Michael Lawrence Brown, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia

-- 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.

PN748: William L. Campbell, Jr., of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee

-- 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.

PN749: Thomas Alvin Farr, of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN750: Charles Barnes Goodwin, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN751: Mark Saalfield Norris, Sr., of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN752: Thomas Lee Robinson Parker, of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee

-- 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.

PN753: William M. Ray II, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN754: Eli Jeremy Richardson, of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN765: Capt. Paul A. Stader, in the Navy, to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN784: Michael Dourson, of Ohio, to be Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances of the Environmental Protection Agency

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN789: Annemarie Carney Axon, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN790: Liles Clifton Burke, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN810: Samuel H. Clovis, Jr., of Iowa, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN824: Ann Marie Buerkle, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2018

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN825: Ann Marie Buerkle, of New York, to be Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN828: Samuel Dale Brownback, of Kansas, to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN858: Ryan Douglas Nelson, of Idaho, to be Solicitor of the Department of the Interior

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN874: Michael B. Brennan, of Wisconsin, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN879: Michael Joseph Juneau, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN885: Holly Lou Teeter, of Kansas, to be United States District Judge for the District of Kansas

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN892: Dean L. Winslow, of Delaware, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN896: James Bridenstine, of Oklahoma, to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN908: Richard Grenell, of California, to be Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN918: Cheryl Marie Stanton, of South Carolina, to be Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN981: 5 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Michael Ashkouri and ending with Omar Robles

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN986: Jeffrey Uhlman Beaverstock, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Alabama

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN987: Ryan Wesley Bounds, of Oregon, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN990: Terry Fitzgerald Moorer, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Alabama

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN993: Brett Joseph Talley, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN997: Elizabeth L. Branch, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN998: Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1000: Emily Coody Marks, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1001: Jeffrey Carl Mateer, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1010: Paul Trombino III, of Wisconsin, to be Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1015: Walter David Counts III, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas

-- 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 01/04/2018.

PN1017: Matthew Spencer Petersen, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1020: Brian D. Montgomery, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1024: James E. Trainor III, of Texas, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2023

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1031: Robert Hunter Kurtz, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1033: Dana Baiocco, of Ohio, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2017

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1041: James Randolph Evans, of Georgia, to be Ambassador to Luxembourg

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1043: James Blew, of California, to be Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development, Department of Education

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1048: Jesse Seroyer, Jr., of Alabama, to be United States Marshal for the Middle District of Alabama for the term of four years

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1056: Diana Furchtgott-Roth, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1060: Barry W. Ashe, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1061: Daniel Desmond Domenico, of Colorado, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1062: Stuart Kyle Duncan, of Louisiana, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1082: David J. Ryder, of New Jersey, to be Director of the Mint for a term of five years

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1083: Leon A. Westmoreland, of Georgia, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1084: Andrew Wheeler, of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1087: Mitchell Zais, of South Carolina, to be Deputy Secretary of Education

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1089: Kurt D. Engelhardt, of Louisiana, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1096: Alex A. Beehler, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1098: John C. Rood, of Arizona, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 81 - 7. Record Vote Number: 1

PN1099: Barry Lee Myers, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1101: Kathleen Hartnett White, of Texas, to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1103: Stephen Akard, of Indiana, to be Director General of the Foreign Service

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1105: Yleem D. S. Poblete, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Verification and Compliance)

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1178: William Beach, of Kansas, to be Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, for a term of four years

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1182: Steven Gardner, of Kentucky, to be Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1186: Kenneth L. Marcus, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Department of Education

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1193: Michael D. Griffin, of Alabama, to be a Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1197: Scott A. Mugno, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1201: Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of four years

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1213: Alex Michael Azar II, of Indiana, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1279: Marvin Goodfriend, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of fourteen years from February 1, 2016

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1283: Phyllis L. Bayer, of Mississippi, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1284: Thomas E. Workman, of New York, to be a Member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council for a term of six years

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1285: Jeffrey DeWit, of Arizona, to be Chief Financial Officer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1292: James Edwin Williams, of Utah, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Labor

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1305: Jelena McWilliams, of Ohio, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for a term of six years

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1306: Jelena McWilliams, of Ohio, to be Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for a term of five years

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1319: Joseph H. Hunt, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

PN1327: Susan A. Thornton, of Maine, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs)

-- Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. McConnell, at 6:35 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 11 a.m. tomorrow.