Senate Floor Activity - Wednesday, December 9, 2020

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

The following transactions of morning business occurred on today.

Legislative Business (Wednesday, December 9)

H.R. 6395 (Rep. Smith): To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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 report considered in Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the conference report to accompany H.R. 6395 presented in Senate.

H.R. 7105 (Rep. Levin): To provide flexibility for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in caring for homeless veterans during a covered public health emergency, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a retraining assistance program for unemployed veterans, 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. 2696 (Sen. Moran): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2696 proposed by Senator Inhofe for Senator Moran.

-- Amendment SA 2696 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 1811 (Sen. Barrasso): A bill to make technical corrections to the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, and for other purposes.

-- Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.

S. 2315 (Sen. Braun): A bill to amend section 4712 of title 41, United States Code, to clarify the inclusion of subcontractors and subgrantees for whistleblower protection.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3418 (Sen. Peters): A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide capitalization grants to States to establish revolving funds to provide hazard mitigation assistance to reduce risks from disasters and natural hazards, and other related environmental harm.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee amendments withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2697 (Sen. Peters): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2697 proposed by Senator Inhofe for Senator Peters.

-- Amendment SA 2697 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3451 (Sen. Scott, of SC): A bill to improve the health and safety of Americans living with food allergies and related disorders, including potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis, food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, and eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases, 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 Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2695 (Sen. Scott, of SC): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2695 proposed by Senator Thune for Senator Scott SC.

-- Amendment SA 2695 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 4996 (Sen. Graham): A bill to ensure funding of the United States trustees, extend temporary bankruptcy judgeships, and for other purposes.

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

Executive Business (Wednesday, December 9)

PN2237: Allen Dickerson, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30 , 2025

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 47. Record Vote Number: 258

PN2302: Shana M. Broussard, of Louisiana, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2023

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 4. Record Vote Number: 259

PN2303: Sean J. Cooksey, of Missouri, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2021

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 46. Record Vote Number: 260

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. Inhofe, at 7:02 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 10 a.m. tomorrow.