Daily Digest

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Measures Introduced: Four bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3800–3803, and S. Res. 739–740.
Page S7989

Measures Reported:

Report to accompany S. 3561, to support entrepreneurs serving in the National Guard and Reserve. (S. Rept. No. 115–448)

Report to accompany S. 1995, to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to improve the number of small business investment companies in underlicensed States. (S. Rept. No. 115–449)

Report to accompany S. 1961, to amend the Small Business Act to temporarily reauthorize certain pilot programs under the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program. (S. Rept. No. 115–450)

Report to accompany S. 785, to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide for equitable allotment of land to Alaska Native veterans. (S. Rept. No. 115–451)

Report to accompany S. 526, to amend the Small Business Act to provide for expanded participation in the microloan program. (S. Rept. No. 115–452)

Report to accompany S. 3554, to extend the effective date for the sunset for collateral requirements for Small Business Administration disaster loans. (S. Rept. No. 115–453)
Page S7989

Measures Passed:

Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act: Senate passed S. 512, to modernize the regulation of nuclear energy, after withdrawing the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Pages S7957–62

Sullivan (for Barrasso) Amendment No. 4175, in the nature of a substitute.
Page S7962


Re-refining Used Lubricating Oil: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1733, to direct the Secretary of Energy to review and update a report on the energy and environmental benefits of the re-refining of used lubricating oil, and the bill was then passed.
Page S7962


Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse: Senate passed S. 3800, to designate the United States courthouse located at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the ``Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse''.
Page S7962


Space Frontier Act: Senate passed S. 3277, to reduce regulatory burdens and streamline processes related to commercial space activities, after withdrawing the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Pages S7966–70

Cruz Amendment No. 4176, in the nature of a substitute.
Page S7970


Global Health Innovation Act: Senate passed H.R. 1660, to direct the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to submit to Congress a report on the development and use of global health innovations in the programs, projects, and activities of the Agency.
Page S8002


9/11 Memorial Act: Senate passed H.R. 6287, to provide competitive grants for the operation, security, and maintenance of certain memorials to victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Page S8002

McConnell (for Booker) Amendment No. 4177, to modify the definition of the term ``covered memorial''.
Page S8002


National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. 2432, to amend the charter of the Future Farmers of America, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Page S8002

McConnell (for Young) Amendment No. 4178, in the nature of a substitute.
Page S8002


John Hervey Wheeler United States Courthouse: Committee on Environment and Public Works was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3460, to designate the United States courthouse located at 323 East Chapel Hill Street in Durham, North Carolina, as the ``John Hervey Wheeler United States Courthouse'', and the bill was then passed.
Page S8002


Congratulating the Maryland Terrapins Men's Soccer Team: Senate agreed to S. Res. 739, congratulating the Maryland Terrapins men's soccer team of the University of Maryland, College Park for winning the 2018 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's soccer national championship.
Page S8002

Community Health and Clean Transit Act--Referral: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that S. 3720, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to provide loans for the acquisition of electric buses and related infrastructure, be discharged from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Page S8002

Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the Majority Leader and Senator Young be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions on Thursday, December 20, 2018 and Friday, December 21, 2018.
Page S8002

Messages from the House:
Pages S7986–88

Enrolled Bills Presented:
Page S7988

Executive Communications:
Pages S7988–89

Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S7989–90

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S7990–91

Additional Statements:
Pages S7985–86

Amendments Submitted:
Pages S7991–S8002

Adjournment: Senate convened at 11:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:14 p.m., until 12 noon on Friday, December 21, 2018. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S8002–03.)

No committee meetings were held.

Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 32 public bills, H.R. 7356–7387; and 3 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 146–147; and H. Res. 1184, were introduced.
Pages H10509–11

Additional Cosponsors:
Page H10512

Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:

H.R. 2425, to support the establishment and improvement of communications sites on or adjacent to Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture through the retention and use of rental fees associated with such sites, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1086, Part 1);

H.R. 3535, to restore Federal recognition to the Ruffey Rancheria of California, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1087);

H.R. 6510, to establish, fund, and provide for the use of amounts in a National Park Service and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund to address the maintenance backlog of the National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Indian Education, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1088, Part 1);

H.R. 6255, to amend title 18, United States Code, to establish measures to combat invasive lionfish, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–1089, Part 1);

H. Res. 1183, providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 695) to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a voluntary national criminal history background check system and criminal history review program for certain individuals who, related to their employment, have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–1090);

H.R. 502, to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1091);

H.R. 6939, to protect and ensure multiple use and public access to public lands in Wyoming per the request of the respective counties, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–1092); and Committee on Ethics. In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Elizabeth Esty (H. Rept. 115–1093).
Page H10509

Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by voice vote.
Pages H10339, H10346

Recess: The House recessed at 9:52 a.m. and reconvened at 10:15 a.m.
Page H10344


Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules--Rule for Consideration: The House agreed to H. Res. 1181, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules, by a yea-and-nay vote of 350 yeas to 30 nays, Roll No. 447, after the previous question was ordered without objection.
Pages H10343–44, H10345–46

Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures:
Save Our Seas Act: Concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to S. 756, to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 358 yeas to 36 nays, Roll No. 448;
Pages H10346–66, H10430–31


Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018: H.R. 7328, to reauthorize certain programs under the Public Health Service Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to public health security and all-hazards preparedness and response, to clarify the regulatory framework with respect to certain nonprescription drugs that are marketed without an approved drug application, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 367 yeas to 9 nays, Roll No. 449;
Pages H10366–93, H10431


Ashanti Alert Act of 2018: Concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 5075, to encourage, enhance, and integrate Ashanti Alert plans throughout the United States, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 386 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 450;
Pages H10393–95, H10431–32


Clean Up the Code Act of 2018: H.R. 7093, to eliminate unused sections of the United States Code, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 386 yeas to 5 nays, Roll No. 451;
Pages H10395–96, H10432–33


Justice Against Corruption on K Street Act of 2018: S. 2896, to require disclosure by lobbyists of convictions for bribery, extortion, embezzlement, illegal kickbacks, tax evasion, fraud, conflicts of interest, making false statements, perjury, or money laundering, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 391 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 452;
Pages H10396, H10433


Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018: S. 2961, to reauthorize subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 388 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 453;
Pages H10396–H10401, H10433–34


Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2018: S. 2679, to provide access to and manage the distribution of excess or surplus property to veteran-owned small businesses, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 389 yeas to 1 nay, Roll No. 454;
Pages H10401–02, H10434–35


Taxpayer First Act of 2018: H.R. 7227, amended, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modernize and improve the Internal Revenue Service, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 378 yeas to 11 nays, Roll No. 455;
Pages H10402–14, H10435


Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act of 2018: Concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 4227, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to examine what actions the Department of Homeland Security is undertaking to combat the threat of vehicular terrorism, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 388 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 456;
Pages H10414–15, H10435–36


Stephen Michael Gleason Congressional Gold Medal Act: S. 2652, to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Stephen Michael Gleason, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 390 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 457;
Pages H10415–16, H10436–37


RBIC Advisers Relief Act of 2018: S. 2765, to amend the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to exempt investment advisers who solely advise certain rural business investment companies, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 389 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 458;
Pages H10416–17, H10437


Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act: Concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 5509, to direct the National Science Foundation to provide grants for research about STEM education approaches and the STEM-related workforce, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 378 yeas to 13 nays, Roll No. 459;
Pages H10417–19, H10437–38


NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act of 2018: 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, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 390 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 460;
Pages H10419–20, H10438–39


National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018: S. 2200, to reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 379 yeas to 9 nays, Roll No. 461;
Pages H10420–24, H10439


Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Act: Concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 767, to establish the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training pilot program to address human trafficking in the health care system, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 386 yeas to 6 nays, Roll No. 462;
Pages H10424–25, H10439–40


VA Website Accessibility Act of 2018: H.R. 6418, amended, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study regarding the accessibility of websites of the Department of Veterans Affairs to individuals with disabilities, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 387 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 464;
Pages H10427–28, H10441


Designating the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as the ``Douglas Fournet Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic'': S. 3444, to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as the ``Douglas Fournet Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic'', by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 388 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 465; and
Pages H10428, H10441–42


Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act of 2018: S. 3777, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a tiger team dedicated to addressing the difficulties encountered by the Department of Veterans Affairs in carrying out section 3313 of title 38, United States Code, after the enactment of sections 107 and 501 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 389 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 466.
Pages H10428–30, H10442–43

Order of Business: Agreed by unanimous consent that, during further proceedings today in the House, the Chair be authorized to reduce to two minutes the minimum time for electronic voting on any question that otherwise could be subjected to five minute voting under clause 8 or 9 of rule XX.
Page H10424

Suspensions: The House failed to agree to suspend the rules and pass the following measure:
Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act: S. 2322, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define the term natural cheese, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 230 yeas to 162 nays, Roll No. 463.
Pages H10425–27, H10440–41


Question of Privilege: Representative Pelosi rose to a question of the privileges of the House and submitted a privileged resolution. The Chair ruled that the resolution did not present a question of the privileges of the House. Subsequently, Representative Pelosi appealed the ruling of the chair and Representative McCarthy moved to table the appeal. Agreed to the motion to table the appeal of the ruling of the Chair by a recorded vote of 187 ayes to 170 noes, Roll No. 467.
Pages H10443–45, H10444

Shiloh National Military Park Boundary Adjustment and Parker's Crossroads Battlefield Designation Act: The House concurred in the Senate amendment to H.R. 88, to modify the boundary of the Shiloh National Military Park located in Tennessee and Mississippi, to establish Parker's Crossroads Battlefield as an affiliated area of the National Park System, with an amendment consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115–87, by a yea-and-nay vote of 220 yeas to 183 nays, Roll No. 470.
Pages H10445–77, H10483–84

H. Res. 1180, the rule providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 88) was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 207 yeas to 170 nays, Roll No. 446, after the previous question was ordered without objection.
Pages H10340–43, H10344–45

Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures. Consideration began Wednesday, December 19th.
Stigler Act Amendments: Concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 2606, to amend the Act of August 4, 1947 (commonly known as the Stigler Act), with respect to restrictions applicable to Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 399 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 471; and
Pages H1048–85


Reauthorizing the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route: H.R. 6602, to reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 382 ayes to 9 noes, Roll No. 472.
Page H10500

Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019: The House concurred in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 695, to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a national criminal history background check system and criminal history review program for certain individuals who, related to their employment, have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, with an amendment consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115–88, by a yea-and-nay vote of 217 yeas to 185 nays, Roll No. 472.
Pages H10485–H10500

H. Res. 1183, the rule providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 695) was agreed to by a recorded vote of 221 ayes to 179 noes, Roll No. 469, after the previous question was ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 178 nays, Roll No. 468.
Pages H10477–83

Senate Referrals: S. 3456 was held at the desk. S. 3523 was held at the desk. S. 79 was held at the desk. S. 512 was held at the desk. S. 1023 was held at the desk. S. 3611 was held at the desk. S. 3800 was held at the desk. S. 3277 was held at the desk.

Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate and message received from the Senate by the Clerk and subsequently presented to the House today appear on pages H10346, H10417, and H10477.

Quorum Calls Votes: Twenty-four yea-and-nay votes and four recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H10344–45, H10345, H10430, H10431, H10431–32, H10432–33, H10433, H10433–34, H10434–35, H10435, H10435–36, H10436–37, H10437, H10437–38, H10438–39, H10439, H10440, H10441, H10442, H10442–43, H10444, H10482–83, H10483, H10484, H10484–85, H10499–H10500, and H10500. There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

THE PERIL OF AN IGNORED NATIONAL DEBT

Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``The Peril of an Ignored National Debt''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security''. Testimony was heard from Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.

SENATE AMENDMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018

Committee on Rules: Full Committee concluded a hearing on Senate amendment to H.R. 695, the ``Committee on Appropriations Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018'' [Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019]. The Committee granted, by record vote of 8–2, a rule providing for the consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 695. The rule makes in order a motion offered by the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or his designee that the House concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 695 with an amendment consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115–88. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the motion. The rule provides that the Senate amendment and the motion shall be considered as read. The rule provides one hour of debate on the motion equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations.

BUSINESS MEETING

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a business meeting to consider transmission of Certain Executive Session Materials to the Executive Branch; transmission of Certain Executive Session Transcripts to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for Appropriate Classification Review in Preparation for Public Disclosure related to the following matters: Classified Committee Briefing (December 5, 2016), Classified Committee Briefing (January 10, 2017), and Classified Committee Briefing (March 2, 2017); and pending the Classification Review by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, public release of the following Certain Executive Session Transcripts to the Committee Repository: Classified Committee Briefing (December 5, 2016), Classified Committee Briefing (January 10, 2017), and Classified Committee Briefing (March 2, 2017). The motion to transmit Certain Executive Session Materials to the Executive Branch; the motion to transmit Certain Executive Session Transcripts to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for Appropriate Classification Review in Preparation for Public Disclosure; and the motion that pending the Classification Review by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Committee publicly release Certain Executive Session Witness Transcripts to the Committee Repository passed. This meeting was closed.

No joint committee meetings were held.

H.R. 1872, to promote access for United States diplomats and other officials, journalists, and other citizens to Tibetan areas of the People's Republic of China. Signed on December 19, 2018. (Public Law 115–330)

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. Signed on December 19, 2018. (Public Law 115–331)

H.R. 3996, to amend title 28, United States Code, to permit other courts to transfer certain cases to United States Tax Court. Signed on December 19, 2018. (Public Law 115–332)

H.R. 4111, to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to improve the number of small business investment companies in underlicensed States. Signed on December 19, 2018. (Public Law 115–333)

No meetings/hearings scheduled.

Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee, hearing entitled ``A Legislative Proposal to Provide for a Sustainable Housing Finance System: The Bipartisan Housing Finance Reform Act of 2018'', 9 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.

Program for Friday: Senate will be in a period of morning business.

Program for Friday: To be announced.

HOUSE

Beyer, Donald S., Jr., Va., E1716

Brooks, Susan W., Ind., E1706

Brownley, Julia, Calif., E1694

Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E1704

Castro, Joaquin, Tex., E1719

Cleaver, Emanuel, Mo., E1691, E1705

Comer, James, Ky., E1704

Connolly, Gerald E., Va., E1711, E1714, E1717, E1719, E1720

Cook, Paul, Calif., E1694

Courtney, Joe, Conn., E1718

Cuellar, Henry, Tex., E1712

Davis, Danny K., Ill., E1697

Davis, Rodney, Ill., E1720

DeFazio, Peter A., Ore., E1693

DeSaulnier, Mark, Calif., E1713, E1716, E1721

Delaney, John K., Md., E1718

Denham, Jeff, Calif., E1691, E1692, E1694, E1696, E1697

Flores, Bill, Tex., E1710

Foster, Bill, Ill., E1714

Gianforte, Greg, Mont., E1702

Gomez, Jimmy, Calif., E1701

Gonzalez, Vicente, Tex., E1715

Gosar, Paul, Ariz., E1719

Graves, Sam, Mo., E1707

Gutiérrez, Luis V., Ill., E1705

Hartzler, Vicky, Mo., E1699, E1701, E1701

Hudson, Richard, N.C., E1720

Huizenga, Bill, Mich., E1695

Jeffries, Hakeem S., N.Y., E1694

Jones, Brenda, Mich., E1713, E1717, E1721

Lawrence, Brenda L., Mich., E1721

Lofgren, Zoe, Calif., E1711

McCarthy, Kevin, Calif., E1706, E1708, E1710, E1712, E1716

McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1713

McHenry, Patrick T., N.C., E1704

Moulton, Seth, Mass., E1703, E1706

Norton, Eleanor Holmes, The District of Columbia, E1697

Olson, Pete, Tex., E1721, E1721

Pallone, Frank, Jr., N.J., E1713

Pelosi, Nancy, Calif., E1698

Pittenger, Robert, N.C., E1711

Poe, Ted, Tex., E1695, E1705, E1707, E1709, E1714, E1715

Rogers, Mike, Ala., E1705, E1714

Rokita, Todd, Ind., E1691, E1695

Rosen, Jacky, Nev., E1714

Royce, Edward R., Calif., E1692, E1705, E1708

Schneider, Bradley Scott, Ill., E1703

Scott, Austin, Ga., E1704, E1710

Serrano, José E., N.Y., E1703

Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E1703

Smith, Lamar, Tex., E1692, E1693, E1694, E1697, E1698, E1699, E1700, E1700, E1701, E1701, E1704, E1712

Speier, Jackie, Calif., E1693

Thornberry, Mac, Tex., E1704

Turner, Michael R., Ohio, E1692, E1704

Upton, Fred, Mich., E1717

Valadao, David G., Calif., E1699, E1699, E1700, E1700, E1701, E1706, E1708, E1709, E1711, E1712, E1715, E1718, E1719, E1721

Velázquez, Nydia M., N.Y., E1709

Walorski, Jackie, Ind., E1709

Watson Coleman, Bonnie, N.J., E1708

Wilson, Frederica S., Fla., E1693, E1717, E1718, E1720

Wittman, Robert J., Va., E1711