Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, October 11, 2018

The President pro tempore called the Senate to order at 10 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 11)

H.R. 390 (Rep. Smith): An Act to provide relief for victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes who are members of religious and ethnic minority groups in Iraq and Syria, for accountability for perpetrators of these crimes, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 4055 (Sen. Corker): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 4055 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Corker.

-- Amendment SA 4055 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 4056 (Sen. Corker): To amend the title.

-- Amendment SA 4056 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Corker.

-- Amendment SA 4056 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 1037 (Rep. Lynch): To authorize the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 2422 (Rep. Kelly): To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve essential oral health care for low-income and other underserved individuals by breaking down barriers to care, and for other purposes .

-- Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 4057 (Sen. Alexander): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 4057 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Alexander.

-- Amendment SA 4057 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 2615 (Rep. Palazzo): To authorize the exchange of certain land located in Gulf Islands National Seashore, Jackson County, Mississippi, between the National Park Service and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

H.R. 3342 (Rep. Gallagher): To impose sanctions with respect to foreign persons that are responsible for using civilians as human shields, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 4058 (Sen. Corker): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 4058 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Corker.

-- Amendment SA 4058 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 4059 (Sen. Corker): To amend the title.

-- Amendment SA 4059 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Corker.

-- Amendment SA 4059 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3834 (Rep. Crowley): To provide that members of public safety agencies who died of 9 11-related health conditions are eligible for the Presidential 9 11 Heroes Medal of Valor, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6758 (Rep. Chabot): To direct the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, in consultation with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, to study and provide recommendations to promote the participation of women, minorities, and veterans in entrepreneurship activities and the patent system, to extend by 8 years the Patent and Trademark Office's authority to set the amounts for the fees it charges, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6870 (Rep. Tonko): To rename the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 in honor of Representative Louise McIntosh Slaughter .

-- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6896 (Rep. Sensenbrenner): To provide for the continued performance of the functions of the United States Parole Commission, and for other purposes .

-- Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 140 (Sen. Flake): To amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to clarify the use of amounts in the WMAT Settlement Fund.

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

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation the House message to accompany S. 140 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 2234) withdrawn in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 140 with the following amendment (SA 2232) withdrawn in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 140 withdrawn in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 140 with the following amendment (SA 4054) made in Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 140 with the following amendment (SA 4054) presented in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2232 (Sen. Thune): In the nature of a substitute.

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

-- Proposed amendment SA 2232 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2233 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

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

-- SA 2233 fell when SA 2232 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 2234 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

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

-- Proposed amendment SA 2234 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 2235 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

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

-- SA 2235 fell when SA 2234 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 2236 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

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

-- SA 2236 fell when SA 2235 fell.

S.Amdt. 4054 (Sen. Thune): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 4054 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Thune.

S. 1595 (Sen. Rubio): To amend the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 to impose additional sanctions with respect to Hizballah, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1595 by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2465 (Sen. Scott): To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a sickle cell disease prevention and treatment demonstration program and to provide for sickle cell disease research, surveillance, prevention, and treatment.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

S. 2765 (Sen. Kennedy): To amend the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to exempt investment advisers who solely advise certain rural business investment companies, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 680 (Sen. Cassidy): A resolution calling on Congress, schools, and State and local educational agencies to recognize the significant educational implications of dyslexia that must be addressed, and designating October 2018 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month".

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

S.Res. 681 (Sen. Grassley): A resolution designating the week beginning October 21, 2018, as "National Character Counts Week".

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

S.Res. 682 (Sen. Alexander): A resolution designating October 30, 2018, as a national day of remembrance for nuclear weapons program workers .

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

S.Res. 683 (Sen. Durbin): A resolution recognizing and commemorating the bicentennial of the State of Illinois.

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

S.Res. 684 (Sen. Cardin): A resolution relative to the death of the Honorable Joseph D. "Joe" Tydings, former United States Senator for the State of Maryland.

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

Executive Business (Thursday, October 11)

PN929: Adam I. Klein, of the District of Columbia, to be Chairman and Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board for a term expiring January 29, 2024

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1335: Chad F. Kenney, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1406: Liles Clifton Burke, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 55 - 40. Record Vote Number: 235

PN1407: Jeffrey Bossert Clark, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney General

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 45. Record Vote Number: 228

PN1409: Eric S. Dreiband, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General

-- Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 47. Record Vote Number: 229

-- Considered by Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 47. Record Vote Number: 230

PN1415: Michael Joseph Juneau, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 41. Record Vote Number: 236

PN1419: Mark Saalfield Norris, Sr., of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 237

PN1420: William M. Ray II, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 41. Record Vote Number: 234

PN1421: Eli Jeremy Richardson, of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 43. Record Vote Number: 238

PN1442: James N. Stewart, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote.

-- Cloture motion withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1519: Jeremy D. Kernodle, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1524: Susan Brnovich, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1644: Thomas S. Kleeh, of West Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 65 - 30. Record Vote Number: 239

PN1646: Peter J. Phipps, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1708: Kimberly Breier, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Western Hemisphere Affairs)

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1709: Dallas L. Carlson, of North Dakota, to be United States Marshal for the District of North Dakota for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1751: Edward W. Felten, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board for the remainder of the term expiring January 29, 2019

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1752: Jane Nitze, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board for a term expiring January 29, 2023

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1810: Lance E. Walker, of Maine, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maine

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1831: James Patrick Hanlon, of Indiana, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1843: David James Porter, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 45. Record Vote Number: 231

PN1860: Michelle Bowman, of Kansas, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the unexpired term of fourteen years from February 1, 2006

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

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

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

PN1900: Richard J. Sullivan, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 79 - 16. Record Vote Number: 233

PN1964: Ryan Douglas Nelson, of Idaho, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 10/11/2018.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 232

PN2030: Denise Natali, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Conflict and Stabilization Operations)

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2158: 173 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Bruce A. Abbott and ending with Shirley B. Ziser

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2174: Peter Gaynor, of Rhode Island, to be Deputy Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2203: 14 nominations in the Army beginning with Gary W. Brock, Jr. and ending with John M. Wilson

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2211: Jason R. Dunn, of Colorado, to be United States Attorney for the District of Colorado for the term of four years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2224: Gen. Robert B. Abrams, in the Army, to be General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2236: John Cotton Richmond, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, with the rank of Ambassador at Large

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2239: Karen L. Williams, of Missouri, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2264: James Morhard, of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2267: Kevin K. Sullivan, of Ohio, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Nicaragua

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2278: Donald Y. Yamamoto, of Washington, to be Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2324: Earl Robert Miller, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the People's Republic of Bangladesh

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2347: Harold B. Parker, of New Hampshire, to be Federal Cochairperson of the Northern Border Regional Commission

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2375: Robert H. McMahon, of Georgia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2378: Vice Adm. Craig S. Faller, in the Navy, to be Admiral

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2386: Mary Elizabeth Taylor, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Legislative Affairs)

-- Committee requested information was received.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2474: 2 nominations in the Navy beginning with Capt. Marcus N. Fulton and ending with Capt. Frank D. Hutchison

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2533: Lt. Gen. Jerry D. Harris, Jr., in the Air Force, to be Lieutenant General

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2534: Vice Adm. Andrew L. Lewis, in the Navy, to be Vice Admiral

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2535: 4 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Patrick C. Degraaf and ending with Christopher L. Pridgen

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2536: John J. Kaikkonen, in the Army, to be Lieutenant Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2537: Marc A. Patterson, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2539: James B. Elledge, in the Army, to be Colonel

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2540: Tilford L. Clark, in the Navy, to be Commander

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2551: 11 nominations in the Army beginning with Micah B. Bell and ending with Tanya R. Trout

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. McConnell, at 9:39 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 12 noon tomorrow.