Senate Floor Activity - Monday, December 21, 2020

The President pro tempore called the Senate to order at 12 noon, 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 (Monday, December 21)

H.R. 133 (Rep. Cuellar): A bill to promote economic partnership and cooperation between the United States and Mexico.

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

-- Senate agreed, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 133 by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 6. Record Vote Number: 289

H.R. 1520 (Rep. Eshoo): A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the publication of a list of licensed biological products, and for other purposes.

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

-- Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1520 by Voice Vote.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.R. 3250 (Rep. Davis): A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the sites associated with the life and legacy of the noted American philanthropist and business executive Julius Rosenwald, with a special focus on the Rosenwald Schools, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.R. 5126 (Rep. Graves): A bill to require individuals fishing for Gulf reef fish to use certain descending devices, and for other purposes .

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.R. 5472 (Rep. Bishop): A bill to redesignate the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site as the "Jimmy Carter National Historical Park" .

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.Con.Res. 128 (Rep. Lowey): A concurrent resolution directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1520.

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

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S. 371 (Sen. Fischer): A bill to provide regulatory relief to charitable organizations that provide housing assistance, and for other purposes .

-- 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.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 2729 (Sen. Fischer): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2729 proposed by Senator Cornyn for Senator Fischer.

-- Amendment SA 2729 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2429 (Sen. Rubio): A bill to reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and to establish the United States Coral Reef Task Force, and for other purposes.

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

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 2730 (Sen. Rubio): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2730 proposed by Senator Cornyn for Senator Rubio.

-- Amendment SA 2730 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 625 (Sen. Scott, of FL): A resolution affirming the benefits of "Buying American".

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

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title and an amended preamble by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 2726 (Sen. Scott, of FL): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2726 proposed by Senator Scott FL.

-- Amendment SA 2726 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2727 (Sen. Scott, of FL): To amend the preamble.

-- Amendment SA 2727 proposed by Senator Scott FL.

-- Amendment SA 2727 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2728 (Sen. Scott, of FL): To amend the title.

-- Amendment SA 2728 proposed by Senator Scott FL.

-- Amendment SA 2728 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Legislative Business (Tuesday, December 22)

H.R. 1418 (Rep. DeFazio): A bill to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 1492 (Rep. Tipton): A bill to update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Yucca House National Monument.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

H.R. 2502 (Rep. Palmer): A bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to require certain prospectuses for public buildings to be made publicly available, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3153 (Rep. Wexton): A bill to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to support research on opioid addiction, and for other purposes.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

S.Amdt. 2732 (Sen. Wicker): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 2732 proposed by Senator Boozman for Senator Wicker.

-- Amendment SA 2732 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.Con.Res. 127 (Rep. Lowey): A concurrent resolution directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 133 .

-- Received in the Senate.

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

S.Res. 682 (Sen. Menendez): A resolution recognizing the devastating explosion that rocked the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, and expressing solidarity with the Lebanese people.

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

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

S.Res. 774 (Sen. Boozman): A resolution honoring the United Nations World Food Programme on the occasion of being awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize .

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

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2733 (Sen. Boozman): To amend the resolving clause.

-- Amendment SA 2733 proposed by Senator Boozman.

-- Amendment SA 2733 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 2734 (Sen. Boozman): To amend the preamble.

-- Amendment SA 2734 proposed by Senator Boozman.

-- Amendment SA 2734 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Executive Business (Monday, December 21)

PN2029: Eric J. Soskin, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Transportation

-- Motion to proceed to consideration of the motion to reconsider the vote (Record Vote No. 278), by which cloture was not invoked on the nomination, agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 46. Record Vote Number: 285

-- Upon reconsideration cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 44. Record Vote Number: 287

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 47. Record Vote Number: 288

Executive Business (Tuesday, December 22)

PN1938: C. Kevin Blackstone, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

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

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2024: Cynthia Kierscht, of Minnesota, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

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

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2025: Geeta Pasi, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

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

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2030: David Reimer, of Ohio, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone

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

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN2101: Brian D. McFeeters, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to Malaysia

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

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. McConnell, at 1:47 a.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 24, 2020.