Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, December 16, 2021

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 (Thursday, December 16)

H.R. 3537 (Rep. Quigley): A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to support research on, and expanded access to, investigational drugs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6256 (Rep. McGovern): A bill to ensure that goods made with forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China do not enter the United States market, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Executive Business (Thursday, December 16)

PN535: Karen Jean Hedlund, of Colorado, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board for a term expiring December 31, 2025

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN726: 35 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Arthur W. Brown and ending with Peter C. Trenchard

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN728-1: 153 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Rahel Aboye and ending with Kyra Turner Zogbekor

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN874: Atul Atmaram Gawande, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development

-- Considered by Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate 12/17/2021.

PN1003: Lisa W. Wang, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1006: Rashad Hussain, of Virginia, to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 12/16/2021.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 85 - 5. Record Vote Number: 505

PN1044: Ramin Toloui, of Iowa, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Economic and Business Affairs)

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 12/16/2021.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 76 - 13. Record Vote Number: 504

PN1056: Thomas Barrett, of Wisconsin, to be Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1057: R. Nicholas Burns, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the People's Republic of China

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 12/16/2021.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 75 - 18. Record Vote Number: 503

-- Cloture motion rendered moot in Senate.

PN1158: Maria Louise Lago, of New York, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1186: Shannon Corless, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, Department of the Treasury

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1303: Rear Adm. Collin P. Green, in the Navy, to be Vice Admiral

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1317: 228 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Adam Jeffrey Abramson and ending with Jessica Torres Yurcheshen

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1318: 6 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Mario D. Ambrosino and ending with Cristobal Zepeda

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1320: 53 nominations in the Foreign Service beginning with Nicholas R. Abbate and ending with Maria E. Snarski

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1328: Adm. Christopher W. Grady, in the Navy, to be Admiral

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1427: Kurt D. DelBene, of Washington, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Information and Technology)

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1461: Todd E. Moszer, in the Army, to be Major

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1463: 8 nominations in the Space Force beginning with Marc D. Daniels and ending with Jay M. Steingold

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Adjournment

Under the authority of the order of today, at 8:37 p.m, the Presiding Officer (Mr. Ossoff in the chair) declared the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.