Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, December 19, 2019

Mr. Thom Tillis, from the State of North Carolina, called the Senate to order at 9:30 a.m., 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 (Thursday, December 19)

H.R. 550 (Rep. Garamendi): A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the United States Merchant Mariners of World War II, in recognition of their dedicated and vital service during World War II .

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

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1273 (Sen. Murkowski): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1273 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Murkowski.

-- Amendment SA 1273 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 1158 (Rep. McCaul): A bill to authorize cyber incident response teams at the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes .

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1158 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 16. Record Vote Number: 427

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Appropriations the House message to accompany H.R. 1158 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 1265) fell when cloture invoked on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H .R. 1158 in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1158 with an amendment (SA 1263) withdrawn in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

-- Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1185 by Yea-Nay Vote. 81 - 11. Record Vote Number: 428

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 1263 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Proposed amendment SA 1263 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 1264 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 1264 fell when SA 1263 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 1265 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 1265 (the instructions of the motion to refer) fell when cloture invoked on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1158.

S.Amdt. 1266 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 1266 fell when SA 1265 fell.

S.Amdt. 1267 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 1267 fell when SA 1266 fell.

H.R. 1424 (Rep. Gonzalez): A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure the Secretary of Veterans Affairs permits the display of Fallen Soldier Displays in national cemeteries.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 1865 (Rep. Pascrell): A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint a coin in commemoration of the opening of the National Law Enforcement Museum in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes .

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.1865 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 - 21. Record Vote Number: 413

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Appropriations the House message to accompany H.R. 1865 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 1260) fell when cloture invoked on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H .R. 1865 in Senate.

-- Point of order that the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 violates section 3101(b) of S.Con.Res. 11, 114th Congress, raised in Senate.

-- Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 with an amendment (SA 1258) withdrawn in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

-- Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to the measure (the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865) agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 - 30. Record Vote Number: 414

-- Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 - 23. Record Vote Number: 415

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 1258 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Proposed amendment SA 1258 withdrawn in Senate.

S.Amdt. 1259 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 1259 fell when SA 1258 withdrawn.

S.Amdt. 1260 (Sen. McConnell): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 1260 (the instructions of the motion to refer) fell when cloture invoked on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865.

S.Amdt. 1261 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 1261 fell when SA 1260 fell.

S.Amdt. 1262 (Sen. McConnell): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- SA 1262 fell when SA 1261 fell.

H.R. 2385 (Rep. Lamb): A bill to permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

H.R. 2476 (Rep. Thompson): A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide funding to secure nonprofit facilities from terrorist attacks, and for other purposes.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.Con.Res. 81: A concurrent resolution directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1158.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.Con.Res. 82: A concurrent resolution directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1865.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S. 151 (Sen. Thune): A bill to deter criminal robocall violations and improve enforcement of section 227(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 151 by Voice Vote.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S. 221 (Sen. Gardner): A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Under Secretary of Health to report major adverse personnel actions involving certain health care employees to the National Practitioner Data Bank and to applicable State licensing boards, 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. 1271 (Sen. Gardner): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1271 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Gardner.

-- Amendment SA 1271 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 439 (Sen. Braun): A bill to allow Members of Congress to opt out of the Federal Employees Retirement System, and allow Members who opt out of the Federal Employees Retirement System to continue to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1270 (Sen. Cardin): To improve the bill.

-- Amendment SA 1270 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Cardin.

-- Amendment SA 1270 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1029 (Sen. Cornyn): A bill to allow the use of certified facility dogs in criminal proceedings in Federal courts, and for other purposes .

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

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1274 (Sen. Cornyn): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1274 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Cornyn.

-- Amendment SA 1274 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1309 (Sen. Cardin): A bill to identify and combat corruption in countries, to establish a tiered system of countries with respect to levels of corruption by their governments and their efforts to combat such corruption, and to assess United States assistance to designated countries in order to advance anti-corruption efforts in those countries and better serve United States taxpayers.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1275 (Sen. Cardin): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1275 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Cardin.

-- Amendment SA 1275 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1434 (Sen. Portman): A bill to prohibit the use of reverse auctions for design and construction services procurements, and for other purposes .

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1269 (Sen. Portman): To modify the definition of reverse auction to cover the awarding of contracts and orders that are based solely on the price obtained through the auction process.

-- Amendment SA 1269 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Portman.

-- Amendment SA 1269 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1608 (Sen. Wicker): A bill to provide for the publication by the Secretary of Health and Human Services of physical activity recommendations for Americans.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

S. 1822 (Sen. Wicker): A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to issue rules relating to the collection of data with respect to the availability of broadband services, and for other purposes .

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 1268 (Sen. Wicker): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1268 proposed by Senator Wicker.

-- Amendment SA 1268 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2096 (Sen. Boozman): A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize States and tribal organizations that receive grants from the National Cemetery Administration for establishment, expansion, or improvement of a veterans' cemeteries to use amounts of such grants for State and tribal organization cemetery personnel to train at the training center of the National Cemetery Administration, 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 Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 1272 (Sen. Boozman): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1272 proposed by Senator McConnell for Senator Boozman.

-- Amendment SA 1272 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3147 (Sen. Manchin): A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress reports on patient safety and quality of care at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

-- Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 459 (Sen. McConnell): A resolution to constitute the majority party's membership on certain committees for the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, or until their successors are chosen.

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

S.Res. 460 (Sen. Cardin): A resolution congratulating the American Geophysical Union on the occasion of its centennial.

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

S.Res. 461 (Sen. Cantwell): A resolution congratulating Seattle Sounders FC on winning the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup.

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

S.Res. 462 (Sen. Feinstein): A resolution designating January 2020 as "National One Health Awareness Month" to promote awareness of organizations focused on public health, animal health, and environmental health collaboration throughout the United States and to recognize the critical contributions of those organizations to the future of the United States.

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

Executive Business (Thursday, December 19)

PN20: Michael Graham, of Kansas, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2020

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN121: David T. Fischer, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN450: Robert J. Colville, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 66 - 27. Record Vote Number: 424

PN511: Stephanie Dawkins Davis, of Michigan, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN614: Michelle A. Bekkering, of the District of Columbia , to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN617: Morse H. Tan, of Illinois, to be Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN703: Roxanne Cabral, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN726: Kea Whetzal Riggs, of New Mexico, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 0. Record Vote Number: 423

PN773: Gary Richard Brown, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN778: Lewis J. Liman, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 - 29. Record Vote Number: 425

PN784: Mary Kay Vyskocil, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 91 - 3. Record Vote Number: 422

PN793: LaJuana S. Wilcher, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN834: Kelley Eckels Currie, of Georgia, to be Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN886: Michael Graham, of Kansas, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2025

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN891: Leslie Meredith Tsou, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN900: Dana S. Deasy, of Virginia, to be Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN902: Yuri Kim, of Guam, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Albania

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN965: Carmen G. Cantor, of Puerto Rico, to be Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN970: Lisa W. Hershman, of Indiana, to be Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1036: Robert S. Gilchrist, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Lithuania

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1038: Alina L. Romanowski, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to the State of Kuwait

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1044: Robert John Sander, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of the Navy

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1046: Kelly C. Degnan, of California, to be Ambassador to Georgia

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1047: Peter M. Haymond, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Lao People's Democratic Republic

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1051: Jodi W. Dishman, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 75 - 17. Record Vote Number: 419

PN1053: Karen Spencer Marston, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 6. Record Vote Number: 417

PN1057: Anuraag Singhal, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 76 - 17. Record Vote Number: 416

PN1108: Daniel Mack Traynor, of North Dakota, to be United States District Judge for the District of North Dakota

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 41. Record Vote Number: 418

PN1158: Sean O'Donnell, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, Environmental Protection Agency

-- Considered by Senate. By Unanimous Consent.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1169: John M. Gallagher, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 83 - 9. Record Vote Number: 420

PN1228: Thomas B. Chapman, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2023

-- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1238: Bernard Maurice Jones II, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 91 - 3. Record Vote Number: 421

PN1266: Stephen E. Biegun, of Michigan, to be Deputy Secretary of State

-- Cloture motion withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, vote 12/19/2019.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 3. Record Vote Number: 426

PN1318: 41 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Shon Stephen Belcher and ending with David Mango

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

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1319: 154 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Kara Miriam Abramson and ending with Megan Elizabeth Zurowski

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

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1321: 119 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Jenny U. Abamu and ending with Hamda A. Yusuf

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

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1324: J. Brett Blanton, of Virginia, to be Architect of the Capitol for the term of ten years

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. McConnell, at 8:37 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 10 a.m. on Monday, December 23, 2019.