Senate Floor Activity - Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Mr. Peter Welch, from the State of Vermont, called the Senate to order at 10 a.m., the Chaplain offered a prayer, and Mr. Welch 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 13)

H.R. 2670 (Rep. Rogers): A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense and 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.

-- Point of order that section 7902 of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2670 violates Rule XXVIII raised in Senate.

-- Motion to waive the Rule XXVII point of order re: section 7902 with respect to the measure (conference report to accompany H.R. 2670) agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 65 - 35. Record Vote Number: 342

-- Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 13. Record Vote Number: 343

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S. 229 (Sen. Peters): A bill to require SelectUSA to coordinate with State-level economic development organizations to increase foreign direct investment in semiconductor-related manufacturing and production.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 265 (Sen. Durbin): A bill to reauthorize the rural emergency medical service training and equipment assistance program, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 318 (Sen. Sullivan): A bill to amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Foundation, to amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 499 (Sen. Sinema): A resolution acknowledging the lifetime of service of Sandra Day O'Connor to the United States as a successful Arizona State Senator, trailblazer, expert collaborator, educational advocate, and one of the great Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.

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

S.Res. 500 (Sen. Warnock): A resolution designating November 8, 2023, as "National First-Generation College Celebration Day".

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

S.Res. 501 (Sen. Schumer): A resolution to authorize testimony and representation in United States v. Nformangum.

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

S.Res. 502 (Sen. Schumer): A resolution to authorize testimony and representation in United States v. Antonio.

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

Executive Business (Wednesday, December 13)

PN4: Nickolas Guertin, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN196-3: Col. David J. Berkland, in the Air Force, to be Brigadier General

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN311: Rear Adm. Shoshana S. Chatfield, in the Navy, to be Vice Admiral

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN456-2: 2 nominations in the Air Force beginning with Brig. Gen. Scott A. Cain and ending with Brig. Gen. Paul D. Moga

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN550: Betty Y. Jang, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation for a term expiring December 10, 2029

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN803: Laura Dove, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation for a term expiring November 17, 2029

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN804: Laura Dove, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation for a term expiring November 17, 2023

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN936: Maj. Gen. Michele H. Bredenkamp, in the Army, to be Lieutenant General

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN938: Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Smith, in the Army, to be Lieutenant General

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN981: Christopher Charles Fonzone, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Attorney General

-- 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.

PN1049-7: Brig. Gen. Lawrence G. Ferguson, in the Army, to be Major General

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN1103: Sara E. Hill, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma

-- 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.

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. Schumer, at 7:44 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 10 a.m. tomorrow.