Daily Digest

Friday, December 21, 2018

Measures Introduced: Two bills were introduced, as follows: S. 3804–3805.
Page S8017

Measures Reported:

Report to accompany S. 2419, to amend the Small Business Act to improve the technical and business assistance services under the SBIR and STTR programs. (S. Rept. No. 115–454)
Page S8011

Measures Passed:

Federal Employee Fair Treatment Act: Senate passed S. 2274, to provide for the compensation of Federal employees affected by lapses in appropriations.
Page S8011


Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 148, directing the Secretary of the Senate to make a correction in the enrollment of the bill S. 3628.
Page S8011

House Messages:

Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act--Agreement: Senate began consideration of the House Message to accompany 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, after agreeing to the motion to proceed, and taking action on the following motion proposed thereto:
Pages S8007–11

Pending:

McConnell motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill.
Page S8007

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

By 48 yeas to 47 nays, Vice President voting yea (Vote No. 274), Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to consideration of the House Message to accompany the bill.
Page S8006

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the House Message to accompany the bill at approximately 12 noon on Saturday, December 22, 2018.
Page S8019

Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the Majority Leader and Senator Daines be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills on Friday, December 21, 2018.
Page S8019

Messages from the House:
Pages S8016–17

Enrolled Bills Presented:
Page S8016

Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S8017–18

Additional Statements:
Pages S8015–16

Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--274)
Pages S8006–07

Adjournment: Senate convened at 12 noon and adjourned at 8:07 p.m., until 12 noon on Saturday, December 22, 2018. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S8019.)

No committee meetings were held.

Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 9 public bills, H.R. 7388–7396; and 5 resolutions, H.J. Res. 146; H. Con. Res. 148–149; and H. Res. 186–187. were introduced.
Pages H10586–87

Additional Cosponsors:
Page H10587

Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:

H.R. 5054, to provide an exemption for emerging growth companies and other smaller companies from the requirements to use Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) for financial statements and other periodic reporting, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–1094);

H.R. 5534, to amend the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to provide procedures for guidance issued by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1095);

H.R. 6158, to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to exclude affiliates and subsidiaries of insured depository institutions in the definition of deposit broker, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–1096);

H.R. 6743, to amend the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to provide a national standard for financial institution data security and breach notification on behalf of all consumers, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1097);

H.R. 4460, to improve the provision of disaster and mitigation assistance to eligible individuals and households and to eligible State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments and certain private nonprofit organizations, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1098, Part 1);

Summary of the Activities of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 115th Congress (H. Rept. 115–1099);

Report on the Activities of the Committee on Armed Services for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress (H. Rept. 115–1100);

H.R. 6468, to direct that certain assessments with respect to toxicity of chemicals be carried out by the program offices of the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–1101, Part 1);

H.R. 5503, to authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1102);

H. Res. 1185, providing for consideration of the bill (S. 2322) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define the term natural cheese (H. Rept. 115–1103);

H.R. 5025, to amend the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act to limit the imposition of penalties against a person fishing on a United States flag fishing vessel in certain areas of the Pacific Ocean based on a report by an observer on such a vessel (H. Rept. 115–1104); and

H.R. 6355, to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to define petition backlogs and provide expedited means for discharging petitions during such a backlog, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–1105).
Pages H10585–86

Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by voice vote.
Pages H10513, H10581

Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures:
Designating room H–226 of the United States Capitol as the ``Lincoln Room'': H. Res. 1063, designating room H–226 of the United States Capitol as the ``Lincoln Room'', by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 366 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 474;
Pages H10514, H10532


Amending the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 to ensure that the Public Buildings Reform Board has adequate time to carry out the responsibilities of the Board: H.R. 7318, to amend the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 to ensure that the Public Buildings Reform Board has adequate time to carry out the responsibilities of the Board, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 372 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 475;
Pages H10514–15. H10532–33


Amending the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 to provide flexibility with respect to the leaseback of certain Federal real property: H.R. 7319, to amend the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 to provide flexibility with respect to the leaseback of certain Federal real property, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 372 yeas to 1 nay, Roll No. 476;
Pages H10515, H10533–34


Making technical corrections to provisions of law enacted by the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018: H.R. 7329, to make technical corrections to provisions of law enacted by the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 378 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 477;
Pages H10515–16, H10534


Department of Transportation Reports Harmonization Act: S. 3367, to amend certain transportation-related reporting requirements to improve congressional oversight, reduce reporting burdens, and promote transparency, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 381 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 478;
Pages H10516–17, H10534–35


Designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 770 Ayrault Road in Fairport, New York, as the ``Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office'': H.R. 7293, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 770 Ayrault Road in Fairport, New York, as the ``Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office'', by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 375 yeas to 6 nays with two answering ``present'', Roll No. 479;
Pages H10517–18, H10535–36


Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act: Concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4174, to amend titles 5 and 44, United States Code, to require Federal evaluation activities, improve Federal data management, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 356 yeas to 17 nays, Roll No. 484;
Pages H10518–27, H10571


Good Accounting Obligation in Government Act: S. 2276, to require agencies to submit reports on outstanding recommendations in the annual budget justification submitted to Congress, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 382 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 480;
Pages H10526, H10536


Federal Personal Property Management Act of 2018: S. 3031, to amend chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, to improve the management of Federal personal property, by a 2/4 yea-and-nay vote of 383 yeas to 1 nay, Roll No. 481;
Pages H10526–27, H10536–37


Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018: S. 3191, to provide for the expeditious disclosure of records related to civil rights cold cases, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 376 yeas to 6 nays, Roll No. 482;
Pages H10527–31, H10537–38


5th Anniversary of World War II Commemoration Act: S. 3661, amended, to provide for a program of the Department of Defense to commemorate the 75th anniversary of World War II, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 370 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 486;
Pages H10538–39, H10572–73


Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act: Concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2200, to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 368 yeas to 7 nays, Roll No. 487;
Pages H10539–44, H10573–74


Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act: S. 1023, to reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 through fiscal year 2021, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 332 yeas to 43 nays, Roll No. 488;
Pages H10544–46, H10574


Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act: S. 1158, to help prevent acts of genocide and other atrocity crimes, which threaten national and international security, by enhancing United States Government capacities to prevent, mitigate, and respond to such crises, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 367 yeas to 4 nays, Roll No. 489;
Pages H10546–47, H10574–75


Protecting Girls' Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings Act: S. 1580, to enhance the transparency, improve the coordination, and intensify the impact of assistance to support access to primary and secondary education for displaced children and persons, including women and girls, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 362 yeas to 5 nays, Roll No. 490;
Pages H10547–50, H10575–76


Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act: S. 1862, to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to modify the criteria for determining whether countries are meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 370 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 491;
Pages H10548–50, H10576


Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018: S. 3247, to improve programs and activities relating to women's entrepreneurship and economic empowerment that are carried out by the United States Agency for International Development, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 352 yeas to 18 nays, Roll No. 492;
Pages H10550–53, H10576–77


Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act: S. 512, to modernize the regulation of nuclear energy, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 361 yeas to 10 nays, Roll No. 493;
Pages H10553–58, H10577–78


9/11 Memorial Act: Concur in the Senate amendment to 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, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 371 yeas to 3 nays, Roll No. 495;
Pages H10569–70, H10578–79


Redesignating Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge as the Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge: S. 3456, to redesignate Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge as the Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 365 yeas to 5 nays with two answering ``present'', Roll No. 496;
Pages H10560, H10579–80


Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make certain corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 4174: H. Con. Res. 149, directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make certain corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 4174, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 362 yeas to 12 nays, Roll No. 483;
Pages H10570, H10570–71


Reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program: S. 3628, to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 315 yeas to 48 nays, Roll No. 500; and
Pages H10581–82, H10583–84


Directing the Secretary of the Senate to make a correction in the enrollment of the bill S. 3628: H. Con. Res. 148, directing the Secretary of the Senate to make a correction in the enrollment of the bill S. 3628, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 344 yeas to 25 nays, Roll No. 499.
Pages H10582–83

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 H10527

Recess: The House recessed at 9:33 a.m. and reconvened at 9:45 a.m.
Page H10531

Recess: The House recessed at 12:03 p.m. and reconvened at 3:36 p.m.
Page H10569

Suspension: The House failed to agree to suspend the rules and pass the following measures:
Space Frontier Act of 2018: S. 3277, to reduce regulatory burdens and streamline processes related to commercial space activities, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 239 yeas to 137 nays, Roll No. 485;
Pages H10560–67, H10572


Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act: S. 1934, to prevent catastrophic failure or shutdown of remote diesel power engines due to emission control devices, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 202 yeas to 171 nays, Roll No. 494; and
Pages H10558–60, H10578


Extending the National Flood Insurance Program: H.R. 7388, to extend the National Flood Insurance Program, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 148 yeas to 226 nays, Roll No. 497.
Pages H10567–69, H10580

Motion to Fix Next Convening Time: Agreed to the Collins (GA) motion that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12 noon tomorrow, December 22nd, by a recorded vote of 187 ayes to 184 noes, Roll No. 498.
Pages H10580–81

Recess: The House recessed at 6:24 p.m. and reconvened at 6:56 p.m.
Page H10584

Senate Referral: S. 2432 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 H10569.

Quorum Calls--Votes: Twenty-six yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H10532, H10532–33, H10533–34, H10534, H10535, H10535–36, H10536, H10537, H10537–38, H10570, H10571, H10572, H10572–73, H10573, H10574, H10574–75, H10575–76, H10576, H10576–77, H10577–78, H10578, H10578–79, H10579–80, H10580, H10580–81, H10583 and H10583–84. There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 6:57 p.m.

A LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE FOR A SUSTAINABLE HOUSING FINANCE SYSTEM: THE BIPARTISAN HOUSING FINANCE REFORM ACT OF 2018

Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``A Legislative Proposal to Provide for a Sustainable Housing Finance System: The Bipartisan Housing Finance Reform Act of 2018''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

CODIFYING USEFUL REGULATORY DEFINITIONS ACT

Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on S. 2322, the ``Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act''. The Committee granted, by record vote of 6–2, a closed rule providing for the consideration of S. 2322. The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the bill shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against provisions in the bill. The rule provides one motion to commit. Testimony was heard from Representatives Long, Pallone, and Gallagher.

No joint committee meetings were held.

H.R. 2, to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2023. Signed on December 20, 2018. (Public Law 115–334)

H.R. 1918, to oppose loans at international financial institutions for the Government of Nicaragua unless the Government of Nicaragua is taking effective steps to hold free, fair, and transparent elections. Signed on December 20, 2018. (Public Law 115–335)

H.R. 5759, to improve executive agency digital services. Signed on December 20, 2018. (Public Law 115–336)

S. 1050, to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the Chinese-American Veterans of World War II, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II. Signed on December 20, 2018. (Public Law 115–337)

S. 2101, to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the crew of the USS Indianapolis, in recognition of their perseverance, bravery, and service to the United States. Signed on December 20, 2018. (Public Law 115–338)

No meetings/hearings scheduled.

No hearings are scheduled.

Program for Saturday: Senate will continue consideration of the House Message to accompany H.R. 695, Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act.

Program for Saturday: To be announced.

HOUSE

Bustos, Cheri, Ill., E1728, E1730

Comer, James, Ky., E1726

Costa, Jim, Calif., E1726, E1730

Demings, Val Butler, Fla., E1725

Duffy, Sean, P., Wisc., E1729

Espaillat, Adriano, N.Y., E1725, E1730

Evans, Dwigt, Pa., E1726

Foxx, Virginia, N.C., E1723

Gutiérrez, Luis V., Ill., E1726

Jackson Lee, Sheila, Tex., E1729

Johnson, Eddie Bernice, Tex., E1730

Lewis, Jason, Minn., E1724

Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E1728

McMorris Rodgers, Cathy, Wash., E1727

Nunes, Devin, Calif., E1733

Peterson, Collin C., Minn., E1731

Reed, Tom, N.Y., E1725, E1727

Reichert, David G., Wash., E1731

Rogers, Harold, Ky., E1724

Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana, Fla., E1728, E1731

Rosen, Jacky, Nev., E1730

Royce, Edward R., Calif., E1728

Rutherford, John H., Fla., E1727

Sanford, Mark, S.C., E1731

Smith, Jason, Mo., E1724, E1725

Suozzi, Thomas R., N.Y., E1724

Swalwell, Eric, Calif., E1729

Thompson, Mike, Calif., E1726, E1729

Vargas, Juan, Calif., E1728

Yarmuth, John A., Ky., E1725

Yoder, Kevin, Kans., E1733