The President pro tempore called the Senate to order at 10 a.m., the Chaplain offered a prayer, and the President pro tempore led the Senate in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
Legislative Business (Tuesday, December 8)
H.R. 5663 (Rep. Guthrie):
A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices.
-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
-- Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
S.Amdt. 2694 (Sen. Alexander):
In the nature of a substitute.
--Amendment SA 2694 proposed by Senator Portman for Senator Alexander.
--Amendment SA 2694 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
H.R. 6395 (Rep. Smith):
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 for military activities of the Department of Defense, 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 papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
S. 461 (Sen. Scott, of SC):
A bill to strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of historically Black colleges and universities through robust public-sector, private-sector, and community partnerships and engagement, and for other purposes.
-- Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
S. 1869 (Sen. Peters):
A bill to require the disclosure of ownership of high-security space leased to accommodate a Federal agency, and for other purposes.
-- Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1869 by Unanimous Consent.
S. 3325 (Sen. Cornyn):
A bill to amend part D of title IV of the Social Security Act to allow States to use incentive payments available under the child support enforcement program to improve parent-child relationships, increase child support collections, and improve outcomes for children by supporting parenting time agreements for noncustodial parents in uncontested agreements, and for other purposes.
-- Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
-- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
S. 3729 (Sen. Wicker):
A bill to provide relief for the recipients of financial assistance awards from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and for other purposes.
-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
S. 4138 (Sen. Lankford):
A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to make permanent the authority of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to conduct a telework travel expenses program.
-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
S. 4460 (Sen. Collins):
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to waive certain eligibility requirements for a veteran to receive per diem payments for domiciliary care at a State home, and for other purposes.
-- Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
S.Res. 797 (Sen. Cardin):
A resolution honoring the life and achievements of former United States Senator Paul Spyros Sarbanes and expressing condolences to the family of Paul Spyros Sarbanes on his passing.
-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
S.Con.Res. 51 (Sen. Peters):
A concurrent resolution correcting the enrollment of S. 1869.
-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Executive Business (Tuesday, December 8)
PN1384:
Stephen Sidney Schwartz, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years
-- Considered by Senate.
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 47. Record Vote Number:
256
PN2237:
Allen Dickerson, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30 , 2025
-- Cloture motion withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 12/9/2020.
PN2239:
Nathan A. Simington, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years from July 1, 2019
-- Considered by Senate.
-- Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 47. Record Vote Number:
255
-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 46. Record Vote Number:
257
PN2302:
Shana M. Broussard, of Louisiana, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2023
-- Cloture motion withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 12/9/2020.
PN2303:
Sean J. Cooksey, of Missouri, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2021
-- Cloture motion withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 12/9/2020.
