Congressional Record
113th Congress (2013-2014)
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Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
- House agreed to the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2642, Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act.
[Page: D87] GPO's PDF
Senate
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S557-S608
Measures Introduced:
Five bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 1969-1973, S. Res. 341, and S. Con. Res. 31.
Page S599
Measures Passed:
Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act:
Senate passed S. 1417, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize programs under part A of title XI of such Act, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S605-07
OPM IG Act: Senate passed H.R. 2860, to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that the Inspector General of the Office of Personnel Management may use amounts in the revolving fund of the Office to fund audits, investigations, and oversight activities.
Page S607
Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: Committee on Rules and Administration was discharged from further consideration of S.J. Res. 28, providing for the appointment of John Fahey as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and the resolution was then passed.
Page S607
Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: Committee on Rules and Administration was discharged from further consideration of S.J. Res. 29, providing for the appointment of Risa Lavizzo-Mourey as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and the resolution was then passed.
Page S607
National Blood Donor Month: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 31, designating January 2014 as ``National Blood Donor Month''.
Page S607
Measures Considered:
Veterans Medical Services and Benefits:
Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 1950, to improve the provision of medical services and benefits to veterans.
Pages S557-59
Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act--Agreement:
Senate began consideration of S. 1926, to delay the implementation of certain provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and to reform the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers, after agreeing to the motion to proceed, and taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto:
Pages S565-93
Adopted:
Hagan/Pryor Amendment No. 2702, to exempt certain loans from the escrow requirement under section 102(d)(1) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973.
Pages S565-66
Rubio Amendment No. 2704, to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to make publicly available data that provide the basis for risk premium rates for flood insurance, to allow monthly installment payments for premiums, and to ensure that mitigation activities completed by an owner or lessee of real property are accounted for when determining risk premium rates for flood insurance.
Pages S565-66
King/Collins Amendment No. 2705, to clarify that communities that successfully appeal flood elevation determinations based on errors by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Scientific Resolution Panel are eligible for reimbursements for expenses incurred in such appeals.
Pages S565-66
Blunt Amendment No. 2698, to increase the amount of substantial improvement to a property that triggers the loss of flood insurance subsidies.
Pages S565-66
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Reed Amendment No. 2703, to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct a study to assess voluntary community-based flood insurance options.
Pages S574, S588
Whitehouse Amendment No. 2706, to exempt natural resource agencies from fees for flood insurance rate map change requests.
Pages S571-73, S588
Gillibrand Amendment No. 2708, to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to issue guidelines for methods, other than building elevation, that owners of certain urban residential buildings may implement to mitigate against flood risk.
Pages S566-68, S588-89
Pending:
Heller/Lee Amendment No. 2700, to clarify that any private flood insurance policy accepted by a State shall satisfy the mandatory purchase requirement under the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973.
Page S568
Coburn/McCain Amendment No. 2697, to allow States to opt-out of participation in the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers.
Pages S573, S581
Toomey Modified Amendment No. 2707, to adjust phase-ins of flood insurance rate increases.
Pages S577-79, S579-81
Merkley Modified Amendment No. 2709, to establish limitations on force-placed insurance.
Page S579
During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action:
By 64 yeas to 35 nays (Vote No. 15), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the motion to waive all applicable sections of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and applicable budget resolutions with respect to the bill. Subsequently, the point of order that the bill was in violation of section 201(a) of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008, was not sustained, and thus the point of order fell.
Pages S573-74, S588
A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2014, with the time until 11:15 a.m. equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees, with the final ten minutes equally divided between Senator Menendez, or his designee, and Senator Toomey, or his designee, with Senator Toomey controlling the final five minutes; that at 11:15 a.m., Senate vote on or in relation to the following: Toomey Amendment No. 2707, as modified; Coburn Amendment No. 2697; Merkley Amendment No. 2709, as modified; and Heller Amendment No. 2700; that upon disposition of Heller Amendment No. 2700, Senate recess until 2 p.m.; at 2 p.m., when the Senate reconvenes, Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended; there be two minutes of debate prior to each vote, equally divided in the usual form; and that all after the first votes be ten minute votes.
Page S593
Message from the President:
Senate received the following message from the President of the United States:
Transmitting, pursuant to law, the text of a proposed third amendment to the Agreement for Co-operation Between the United States of America and the International Atomic Energy Agency; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (PM-28)
Pages S596-97
Messages from the House:
Page S597
Measures Referred:
Page S597
Executive Communications:
Page S597
Petitions and Memorials:
Pages S597-98
Executive Reports of Committees:
Page S598
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S599-S600
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S600-04
Additional Statements:
Pages S594-96
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S604-05
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Page S605
Privileges of the Floor:
Page S605
Record Votes:
One record vote was taken today. (Total--15)
Page S588
Adjournment:
Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 6:24 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2014. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S608.)
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT AND OVERSIGHT
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs:
Subcommittee on Economic Policy concluded a hearing to examine the annual report and oversight of the Office of Financial Research, after receiving testimony from Richard Berner, Director of the Office of Financial Research, Department of the Treasury.
POSTAL REFORM ACT
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
Committee began consideration of S. 1486, to improve, sustain, and transform the United States D89Postal Service, but did not complete action thereon and recessed subject to the call.
[Page: D89] GPO's PDF
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:
Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Michael Keith Yudin, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, James Cole, Jr., of New York, to be General Counsel, James H. Shelton III, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary, Theodore Reed Mitchell, of California, to be Under Secretary, and Ericka M. Miller, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, all of the Department of Education, France A. Cordova, of New Mexico, to be Director of the National Science Foundation, David Weil, of Massachusetts, to be Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor, and Steven Joel Anthony, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Railroad Retirement Board.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs:
Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 1448, to provide for equitable compensation to the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation for the use of tribal land for the production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
The nomination of Vincent G. Logan, of New York, to be Special Trustee, Office of Special Trustee for American Indians, Department of the Interior.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR TRIBAL SELF-GOVERNANCE ACT
Committee on Indian Affairs:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 919, to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to provide further self-governance by Indian tribes, after receiving testimony from Kevin K. Washburn, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs; W. Ron Allen, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Sequim, Washington; Ronald Trahan, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Pablo, Montana; Jerry Isaac, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks, Alaska; and Mickey Peercy, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Durant.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Committee on the Judiciary:
Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Department of Justice, after receiving testimony from Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General, Department of Justice.
SENTRI ACT
Committee on Rules and Administration:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 1728, to amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to improve ballot accessibility to uniformed services voters and overseas voters, after receiving testimony from Senator Cornyn; Matt Boehmer, Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense; Kevin J. Kennedy, Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Director and General Counsel, Madison; and Don Palmer, Virginia Board of Elections Secretary of the Board, Richmond.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence:
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014, Committee held closed hearings on intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community.
Committee recessed subject to the call.
WORLDWIDE THREAT
Select Committee on Intelligence:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine worldwide threat, after receiving testimony James Clapper, Director, National Intelligence, and Matthew Olson, Director, National Counterterrorism Center, both of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; John Brennan, Director, Central Intelligence Agency; James Comey, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice; and Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense.
House of Representatives
Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced:
21 public bills, H.R. 3958-3978; and 6 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 79-80, and H. Res. 466-469, were introduced.
Pages H1510-11
Additional Cosponsors:
Page H1512
Reports Filed:
Reports were filed today as follows:
H.R. 2798, to amend Public Law 106-206 to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to require annual permits and assess D90annual fees for commercial filming activities on Federal land for film crews of 5 persons or fewer (H. Rept. 113-335, Pt. 1) and
[Page: D90] GPO's PDF
H.R. 2799, to establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, recreational shooting, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 113-336, Pt. 1).
Page H1510
Speaker:
Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Hultgren to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
Page H1483
Journal:
The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by voice vote.
Pages H1483, H1501
Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act--Conference Report:
The House agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2642, to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2018, by a yea-and-nay vote of 251 yeas to 166 nays, Roll No. 31.
Pages H1485-H1501H
H. Res. 465, the rule providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7) and the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 2642), was agreed to yesterday, January 28th.
British-American Interparliamentary Group--Appointment:
The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Members on the part of the House to the British-American Interparliamentary Group: Representatives McIntyre and Delaney.
Page H1501
Meeting Hour:
Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 3 p.m. on Friday, January 31st; and when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet on Monday, February 3rd when it shall convene at 12 noon for Morning Hour Debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.
Page H1501
Moment of Silence:
The House observed a moment of silence in memory of George Wortley, former Member of Congress.
Page H1503
Presidential Message:
Read a message from the President wherein he transmitted the text of a proposed Third Amendment to the Agreement for Co-operation Between the United States of America and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as his written approval, authorization, and determination concerning the Amendment, and an unclassified Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Statement concerning the Amendment--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-89).
Pages H1503-04
Senate Message:
Message received from the Senate by the Clerk and subsequently presented to the House today appears on page H1485.
Senate Referral:
S. 1302 was held at the desk.
Quorum Calls--Votes:
One yea-and-nay vote developed during the proceedings of today and appears on pages H1500-01. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment:
The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 12:31 p.m.
Committee Meetings
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE ARMED SERVICES
Committee on Armed Services:
Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a hearing entitled ``Religious Accommodations in the Armed Services''. Testimony was heard from Brigadier General Charles R. Bailey, Deputy Chief of Chaplains, U.S. Army; Brigadier General Bobby Page, Deputy Chief of Chaplain, U.S. Air Force; Virginia Penrod, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy, Department of Defense; Rear Admiral Lower Half Mark L. Tidd, Chief of Navy Chaplains, U.S. Navy; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs:
Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 938, to strengthen the strategic alliance between the United States and Israel, and for other purposes; and H. Res. 447, supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear. The measures H.R. 938 and H. Res. 447 were ordered reported, as amended.
Joint Meetings
No joint committee meetings were held.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:
Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard, to hold hearings to examine West Coast and Western Pacific perspectives on Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization, 10 a.m., SR-253.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources:
to hold an oversight hearing to examine opportunities and challenges associated with lifting the ban on United States crude oil exports, 9:30 a.m., SD-366.
[Page: D91] GPO's PDF
Committee on Environment and Public Works:
with the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, to hold a joint oversight hearing to examine the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) implementation of the Fukushima Near-Term Task Force recommendations and other actions to enhance and maintain nuclear safety, 9:30 a.m., SD-406.
Committee on Finance:
to hold hearings to examine the nomination of Karen Dynan, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and Richard G. Frank, of Massachusetts, to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, 10 a.m., SD-215.
Committee on Foreign Relations:
to hold hearings to examine civilian nuclear cooperation agreements, focusing on Section 123, 9:30 a.m., SD-419.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia, to hold hearings to examine Federal government closure impacts on the District of Columbia, focusing on the shutdown, 2:30 p.m., SD-342.
Committee on the Judiciary:
business meeting to consider S. 619, to amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent unjust and irrational criminal punishments, S. 1410, to focus limited Federal resources on the most serious offenders, S. 1675, to reduce recidivism and increase public safety, and the nominations of Indira Talwani, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts, James D. Peterson, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin, Nancy J. Rosenstengel, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois, and Debo P. Adegbile, of New York, and John P. Carlin, of New York, both to be an Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, 10 a.m., SD-226.
No hearings are scheduled.
Program for Thursday:
Senate will continue consideration of S. 1926, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, with up to four roll call votes starting at 11:15 a.m., and a vote on final passage of the bill at approximately 2 p.m.
[Page: D92] GPO's PDF
(Following disposition of the Heller Amendment No. 2700, Senate will recess until 2 p.m.)
Program for Friday:
The House will meet in pro forma session at 3 p.m.
HOUSE
Aderholt, Robert B., Ala., E142
Andrews, Robert E., N.J., E139
Barber, Ron, Ariz., E136
Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E138, E143
Bordallo, Madeleine Z., Guam, E139
Brown, Corrine, Fla., E137
Costa, Jim, Calif., E139, E143
DeLauro, Rosa L., Conn., E138
Faleomavaega, Eni F.H., American Samoa, E142
Gingrey, Phil, Ga., E135
Graves, Sam, Mo., E135, E137
Honda, Michael M., Calif., E135
Huffman, Jared, Calif., E138
Jackson Lee, Sheila, Tex., E138, E140, E143
Johnson, Sam, Tex., E136
Lee, Barbara, Calif., E136
Lipinski, Daniel, Ill., E136, E137
Long, Billy, Mo., E141
Miller, Jeff, Fla., E135
Moran, James P., Va., E141
Palazzo, Steven M., Miss., E139
Pascrell, Bill, Jr., N.J., E139
Petri, Thomas E., Wisc., E138
Runyan, Jon, N.J., E138
Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E141, E142
Webster, Daniel, Fla., E136
Welch, Peter, Vt., E137
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