Daily Digest

Thursday, December 6, 2018

HIGHLIGHTS

Senate passed H.J. Res. 143, Further Continuing Appropriations.

Measures Introduced: Eighteen bills and three resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3714–3731, S. Res. 716–717, and S. Con. Res. 58.
Pages S7356–57

Measures Reported:

Report to accompany S. 1403, to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to establish the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps to place youth and veterans in national service positions to conserve, restore, and enhance the great outdoors of the United States. (S. Rept. No. 115–420)

S. 32, to provide for conservation, enhanced recreation opportunities, and development of renewable energy in the California Desert Conservation Area, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 115–421)

Report to accompany S. 1857, to establish a compliance deadline of May 15, 2023, for Step 2 emissions standards for new residential wood heaters, new residential hydronic heaters, and forced-air furnaces. (S. Rept. No. 115–422)

Report to accompany S. 3172, to amend title 54, United States Code, to establish, fund, and provide for the use of amounts in a National Park Service Legacy Restoration Fund to address the maintenance backlog of the National Park Service. (S. Rept. No. 115–423)

S. 1548, to designate certain land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in the State of Oregon as wilderness and national recreation areas and to make additional wild and scenic river designations in the State of Oregon, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Page S7356

Measures Passed:

Major Robert Odell Owens Post Office: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5238, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1234 Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn, New York, as the ``Major Robert Odell Owens Post Office'', and the bill was then passed.
Page S7332


Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act: Senate passed H.R. 1861, to award a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of Lawrence Eugene ``Larry'' Doby in recognition of his achievements and contributions to American major league athletics, civil rights, and the Armed Forces during World War II.
Page S7332


National Law Enforcement Museum Exhibits Act: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1417, to amend the National Law Enforcement Museum Act to allow the Museum to acquire, receive, possess, collect, ship, transport, import, and display firearms, and the bill was then passed.
Page S7332


REAL ID Act Modification for Freely Associated States Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3398, to amend the Real ID Act of 2005 to permit Freely Associated States to meet identification requirements under such Act, and the bill was then passed.
Pages S7332–33


Small Business Runway Extension Act: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6330, to amend the Small Business Act to modify the method for prescribing size standards for business concerns, and the bill was then passed.
Page S7333


National Guard and Reserve Entrepreneurship Support Act: Senate passed S. 3561, to support entrepreneurs serving in the National Guard and Reserve, after agreeing to the committee amendments.
Pages S7333–34


Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act: Senate passed S. 2679, to provide access to and manage the distribution of excess or surplus property to veteran-owned small businesses, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Page S7334


Spurring Business in Communities Act: Senate passed H.R. 4111, to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to improve the number of small business investment companies in underlicensed States.
Pages S7334–35


Further Continuing Appropriations: Senate passed H.J. Res. 143, making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2019.
Page S7337


Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act: Senate passed S. 2597, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the program of payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs.
Page S7365


Savanna's Act: Senate passed S. 1942, to direct the Attorney General to review, revise, and develop law enforcement and justice protocols appropriate to address missing and murdered Indians, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S7365–66


Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act: Senate passed S. 2343, to require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a task force for meeting the connectivity and technology needs of precision agriculture in the United States, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S7367–68


Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act: Senate passed S. 3119, to allow for the taking of sea lions on the Columbia River and its tributaries to protect endangered and threatened species of salmon and other nonlisted fish species, after withdrawing the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Pages S7368–70

Cornyn (for Risch) Amendment No. 4069, in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S7369–70


GAO–IG Act: Senate passed S. 2276, to require agencies to submit reports on outstanding recommendations in the annual budget justification submitted to Congress, after withdrawing the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Pages S7370–71

Cornyn (for Young) Amendment No. 4070, in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S7370–71


Department of Homeland Security Data Framework Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2454, to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a data framework to provide access for appropriate personnel to law enforcement and other information of the Department, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Page S7371

Cornyn (for Johnson) Amendment No. 4071, in the nature of a substitute.
Page S7371


NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation was discharged from further consideration of S. 7, to amend title 51, United States Code, to extend the authority of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to enter into leases of non-excess property of the Administration, and the bill was then passed.
Pages S7371–72


Ashanti Alert Act: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5075, to encourage, enhance, and integrate Ashanti Alert plans throughout the United States, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Page S7372

Cornyn (for Warner/Blumenthal) Amendment No. 4072, in the nature of a substitute.
Page S7372


Improving Access to Maternity Care Act: Senate passed H.R. 315, to amend the Public Health Service Act to distribute maternity care health professionals to health professional shortage areas identified as in need of maternity care health services.
Page S7372

Appointments:

Cyberspace Solarium Commission: The Chair, on behalf of the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, pursuant to Public Law 115–232, appointed the following individuals to serve as members of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission: Tom Fanning of Georgia and Chris Inglis of Maryland.
Page S7372

Muzinich Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination of Justin George Muzinich, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.
Pages S7341–51

A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Thursday, December 6, 2018, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 10, 2018.
Page S7341

Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the following action:

Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session.
Page S7341

Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination.
Page S7341

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXII, Senate resume consideration of the nomination at approximately 4 p.m., on Monday, December 10, 2018; and that the cloture motion on the nomination ripen at 5:30 p.m.
Page S7372

Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:

By 50 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. EX. 254), Bernard L. McNamee, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2020.
Pages S7329–32, S7335–37, S7372

By 50 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. EX. 255), Kathleen Laura Kraninger, of Ohio, to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection for a term of five years.
Pages S7337–41, S7372

1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
Pages S7351, S7372

Messages from the House:
Page S7355

Enrolled Bills Presented:
Page S7355

Executive Communications:
Pages S7355–56

Petitions and Memorials:
Page S7356

Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S7357–58

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S7358–59

Additional Statements:
Pages S7354–55

Amendments Submitted:
Pages S7361–64

Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Pages S7364–65

Privileges of the Floor:
Page S7365

Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--255)
Pages S7337, S7341

Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:14 p.m., until 4 p.m. on Monday, December 10, 2018. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7372.)

AFGHANISTAN

Committee on Armed Services: Committee received a closed briefing on the security situation in Afghanistan from Colin F. Jackson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia, Lieutenant General Thomas W. Bergeson, USAF, Deputy Commander, United States Central Command, and Major General Michael S. Groen, USMC, Director for Intelligence (J2), Joint Chiefs of Staff, all of the Department of Defense.

PROXY PROCESS AND RULES

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine proxy process and rules, focusing on current practices and potential changes, including H.R. 4015, to improve the quality of proxy advisory firms for the protection of investors and the U.S. economy, and in the public interest, by fostering accountability, transparency, responsiveness, and competition in the proxy advisory firm industry, and S. 3614, to amend the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to require proxy advisory firms to register as investment advisers under that Act, after receiving testimony from Michael Garland, Office of New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, New York, New York, and Daniel M. Gallagher, former Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mylan N.V., and Thomas Quaadman, United States Chamber of Commerce Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, both of Washington, D.C.

ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard concluded a hearing to examine preparing for maritime transportation in a changing arctic, after receiving testimony from Captain Edward Page, USCG (Ret.), Marine Exchange of Alaska, Juneau; Kathy Metcalf, Chamber of Shipping of America, Washington, D.C.; and Willie Goodwin, Arctic Waterways Safety Committee, and Andrew Hartsig, Ocean Conservancy, both of Anchorage, Alaska.

ZIMBABWE

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy concluded a hearing to examine Zimbabwe after the elections, after receiving testimony from Matthew Harrington, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa; Todd J. Moss, Center for Global Development, Washington, D.C.; and Joseph Mutizwa, JSM Strategic Pathways, Harare, Zimbabwe.

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Architect of the Capitol's human resources policies, after receiving testimony from Christine A. Merdon, Acting Architect of the Capitol and Chief Operating Officer.

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.

Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 10 public bills, H.R. 7217–7226; and 4 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 144; and H. Res. 1169–1171 were introduced.
Page H9767

Additional Cosponsors:
Page H9768

Reports Filed:Reports were filed today as follows:

H.R. 2987, to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to establish the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps to place youth and veterans in national service positions to conserve, restore, and enhance the great outdoors of the United States, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1066, Part 1); and H.R. 5859, to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to require that a portion of revenues from new Federal mineral and geothermal leases be paid to States for use to supplement the education of students in kindergarten through grade 12 and public support of institutions of higher education, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1067, Part 1).
Page H9767

Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Dr. Bruce Hargrave, Bruce Hargrave Ministries and Charities, Rowlett, TX.
Page H9765

Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2019: The House agreed to discharge from committee and pass H.J. Res. 143, making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2019.
Page H9765

Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12 noon on Monday, December 10th for Morning Hour debate.
Page H9765

Syria Study Group--Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following individual on the part of the House to the Syria Study Group: Dr. Kimberly E. Kagan of Washington, DC.
Page H9765

Senate Referrals: S. 1934 was held at the desk. S. 2736 was held at the desk. S. 3530 was held at the desk. S. Con. Res. 57 was held at the desk.

Senate Message: Message received from the Senate by the Clerk and subsequently presented to the House today appears on page H9766.

Quorum Calls--Votes: There were no Yea and Nay votes, and there were no Recorded votes. There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment: The House met at 12 noon and adjourned at 12:07 p.m.

No hearings were held.

No joint committee meetings were held.

H.R. 7187, to extend the National Flood Insurance Program until December 7, 2018. Signed on December 1, 2018. (Public Law 115–281)

No meetings/hearings scheduled.

Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, hearing entitled ``Reviewing International Child Abduction'', 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn.

Program for Monday: Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Justin George Muzinich, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and vote on the motion to invoke cloture thereon at 5:30 p.m.

Program for Monday: House will meet at 12 noon.

HOUSE

Brooks, Susan W., Ind., E1603, E1608

Buck, Ken, Colo., E1614

Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E1609

Cloud, Michael, Tex., E1604

Coffman, Mike, Colo., E1605, E1609, E1612, E1614

Costa, Jim, Calif., E1607

Eshoo, Anna G., Calif., E1606

Gonzalez, Vicente, Tex., E1608

Gottheimer, Josh, N.J., E1611

Gutiérrez, Luis V., Ill., E1601, E1606

Jackson Lee, Sheila, Tex., E1603, E1605, E1610

Katko, John, N.Y., E1604, E1609

Luetkemeyer, Blaine, Mo., E1613

Messer, Luke, Ind., E1602, E1604, E1606, E1606, E1608, E1609, E1610, E1611, E1612, E1614

Panetta, Jimmy, Calif., E1601, E1607

Poe, Ted, Tex., E1602

Rogers, Harold, Ky., E1601

Rohrabacher, Dana, Calif., E1615

Rooney, Francis, Fla., E1601, E1606

Royce, Edward R., Calif., E1602, E1604, E1606, E1608, E1611, E1614

Ruppersberger, C.A. Dutch, Md., E1607

Ryan, Paul D., Wisc., E1601

Sessions, Pete, Tex., E1613

Sherman, Brad, Calif., E1608

Speier, Jackie, Calif., E1610

Thompson, Bennie G., Miss., E1605, E1607, E1609, E1611, E1612

Thornberry, Mac, Tex., E1612

Walorski, Jackie, Ind., E1603