Congressional Record
Proceedings, Debates of the U.S. Congress
September 8, 2016
114th Congress, 2nd Session
Issue: Vol. 162, No. 135 — Daily Edition
Entire Issue (PDF)
Sections in This Issue:
Daily Digest
Daily Digest Section (PDF)
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Daily Digest
Senate
Chamber Action
Measures Introduced:
Nine bills and three resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3299–3307, S.J. Res. 39, and S. Res. 549–550.
Pages S5469–70
Measures Reported:
S. 815, to provide for the conveyance of certain Federal land in the State of Oregon to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 114–345)
S. 1007, to amend the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to rename a site of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. (S. Rept. No. 114–346)
S. 1448, to designate the Frank Moore Wild Steelhead Sanctuary in the State of Oregon, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 114–347)
S. 2309, to amend title 54, United States Code, to establish within the National Park Service the U.S. Civil Rights Network, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 114–348)
Page S5469
Measures Passed:
Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean VA Clinic:
Committee on Veterans' Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3969, to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Laughlin, Nevada, as the ``Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean VA Clinic'', and the bill was then passed.
Page S5482Service of Aviation's First Responders:
Senate agreed to S. Res. 549, expressing a commitment by the Senate to never forget the service of aviation's first responders.
Page S548240th Anniversary of Women at the United States Naval Academy Week:
Senate agreed to S. Res. 550, designating the week of September 5 through September 9, 2016, as ``Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of Women at the United States Naval Academy Week''.
Pages S5482–83
Measures Considered:
Pages S5424–44, S5445
Inhofe (for Heller/Heinrich) Amendment No. 4981 (to Amendment No. 4979), to ensure the proper implementation of the rural Western water program.
Page S5435
Inhofe (for Merkley/Wyden) Amendment No. 4991 (to Amendment No. 4979), to provide loan forgiveness under Clean Water State Revolving Funds to local irrigation districts.
Page S5435
McConnell (for Inhofe) Amendment No. 4979, in the nature of a substitute.
Page S5424
Inhofe Amendment No. 4980 (to Amendment No. 4979), to make a technical correction.
Page S5424
A motion was entered to close further debate on McConnell (for Inhofe) Amendment No. 4979 (listed above) and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of September 8, 2016, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, September 12, 2016.
Page S5445
A motion was entered to close further debate on the bill, and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of McConnell (for Inhofe) Amendment No. 4979.
Page S5445
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the filing deadline for first-degree amendments for the cloture motion on McConnell (for Inhofe) Amendment No. 4979 and the cloture motion on the bill be at 3:30 p.m., on Monday, September, 12, 2016.
Page S5483[Page:D891]
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, September 12, 2016, Senate resume consideration of the bill.
Page S5483
Nomination Confirmed:
Senate confirmed the following nomination:
By a unanimous vote of 92 yeas (Vote No. EX. 137), Peter Michael McKinley, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil.
Pages S5444–45, S5486
Nominations Received:
Senate received the following nominations:
1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.
Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, and Navy.
Pages S5483–86
Messages from the House:
Page S5464
Measures Referred:
Page S5464
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
Page S5464
Executive Communications:
Pages S5464–69
Executive Reports of Committees:
Page S5469
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S5470–71
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S5471–74
Additional Statements:
Pages S5462–64
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S5474–82
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Page S5482
Record Votes:
One record vote was taken today. (Total--137)
Page S5445
Adjournment:
Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 5:09 p.m., until 3 p.m. on Monday, September 12, 2016. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S5483.)
Committee Meetings
PAKISTAN
Committee on Foreign Relations:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine Pakistan, focusing on challenges for United States interests, after receiving testimony from Toby Dalton, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Nuclear Policy Program, Daniel S. Markey, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Global Policy Program, and Robert L. Grenier, ERG Partners, all of Washington, D.C.
INDEPENDENT AGENCY RULEMAKING
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management concluded a hearing to examine reviewing independent agency rulemaking, after receiving testimony from Robert R. Gasaway, Kirkland and Ellis LLP, and Adam J. White, Hoover Institution, both of Washington, D.C.; and Cary Coglianese, University of Pennsylvania Penn Program on Regulation, Philadelphia.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary:
Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Danny C. Reeves, of Kentucky, and Charles R. Breyer, of California, both to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission, and Kathleen Marie Sweet, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of New York.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence:
Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.
House of Representatives
Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced:
32 public bills, H.R. 5951–5976; 32 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 149; and H. Res. 849–853, were introduced.
Pages H5222–24
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages H5225–26
Reports Filed:
Reports were filed today as follows:
H.R. 5587, to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114–728); and
H.R. 5226, to amend chapter 3 of title 5, United States Code, to require the publication of information relating to pending agency regulatory actions, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 114–729).
Page H5222
Speaker:
Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Fleischmann to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
Page H5165
Recess:
The House recessed at 11:17 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon.
Page H5173
Suspension--Proceedings Resumed:
The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measure which was debated on Wednesday, September 7th:
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to support the territorial integrity of Georgia:
H. Res. 660, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to support the territorial integrity of Georgia, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 410 yeas to 6 nays, Roll No. 491.
Pages H5187–88
Accelerating Access to Capital Act:
The House passed H.R. 2357, to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to revise Form S–3 so as to add listing and registration of a class of common equity securities on a national securities exchange as an additional basis for satisfying the requirements of General Instruction I.B.1. of such form and to remove such listing and registration as a requirement of General Instruction I.B.6. of such form, by a recorded vote of 236 ayes to 178 noes, Roll No. 493.
Pages H5188–H5201[Page:D892]
Rejected the Kilmer motion to recommit to recommit the bill to the Committee on Financial Services with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 180 yeas to 233 nays, Roll No. 492.
Pages H5199–H5200
Pursuant to the Rule, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 114–62 shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule.
Page H5198
H. Res. 844, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 2357) and (H.R. 5424) was agreed to by a recorded vote of 237 ayes to 181 noes, Roll No. 490, after the previous question was ordered by a recorded vote of 238 ayes to 180 noes, Roll No. 489.
Pages H5178–87
Quorum Calls--Votes:
Two yea-and-nay votes and three recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H5186, H5186–87, H5187–88, H5199–H5200, and H5200–01. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment:
The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:06 p.m.
Committee Meetings
VIEWS ON H.R. 4298: VIETNAM HELICOPTER CREW MEMORIAL ACT AND H.R. 5458: VETERAN'S TRICARE CHOICE ACT
Committee on Armed Services:
Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a hearing entitled ``Views on H.R. 4298: Vietnam Helicopter Crew Memorial Act and H.R. 5458: Veteran's TRICARE Choice Act''. Testimony was heard from Representative Amodei; Patrick Hallinan, Executive Director, Arlington National Cemetery; and public witnesses.
EXAMINING LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH
Committee on Energy and Commerce:
Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``Examining Legislation to Improve Public Health''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
RURAL CALL QUALITY AND RELIABILITY
Committee on Energy and Commerce:
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Rural Call Quality and Reliability''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
FUELING TERROR: THE DANGERS OF RANSOM PAYMENTS TO IRAN
Committee on Financial Services:
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Fueling Terror: The Dangers of Ransom Payments to Iran''. Testimony was heard from Lisa Grosh, State Assistant Legal Advisor, Office of International Claims and Investment Disputes, Department of State; Christopher R. Backemeyer, State Deputy Assistant Secretary, Iranian Affairs, Department of State; Mary McCord, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, Department of Justice; Paul Ahern, Assistant General Counsel, Enforcement and Intelligence, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses.
REFORMING THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Committee on Foreign Affairs:
Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Reforming the National Security Council: Efficiency and Accountability''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ENERGY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. REGIONAL PRIORITIES
Committee on Foreign Affairs:
Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa; and the Subcommittee on Energy of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, held a joint hearing entitled ``Eastern Mediterranean Energy: Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Regional Priorities''. Testimony was heard from Amos J. Hochstein, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, Bureau of Energy Resources, Department of State; and Jonathan Elkind, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, Department of Energy.
ASIA'S GROWING HUNGER FOR ENERGY: U.S. POLICY AND SUPPLY OPPORTUNITIES
Committee on Foreign Affairs:
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held a hearing entitled ``Asia's Growing Hunger for Energy: U.S. Policy and Supply Opportunities''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
STATE AND LOCAL PERSPECTIVES ON FEDERAL INFORMATION SHARING
Committee on Homeland Security:
Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence held a hearing entitled ``State and Local Perspectives on Federal Information Sharing''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary:
Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 3438, the ``Require Evaluation before Implementing Executive Wishlists Act of 2015''. H.R. 3438 was ordered reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources:
Full Committee concluded a markup on H.R. 3764, the ``Tribal Recognition Act of 2015''; H.R. 4564, the ``Robert Emmet Park Act of 2016''; H.R. 5032, to allow certain property in the town of Louisa, Virginia, to be used for purposes related to compliance with water quality standards, and for other purposes; and H.R. 5259, the ``Certainty for States and Tribes Act''. The following bills were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 3764 and H.R. 5259. The following bills were ordered reported, without amendment: H.R. 4564 and H.R. 5032.
EXAMINING FOIA COMPLIANCE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform:
Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Examining FOIA Compliance at the Department of State''. Testimony was heard from the following Department of State officials: Patrick F. Kennedy, Under Secretary for Management; Janice Jacobs, Transparency Coordinator; Karin Lang, Director, Executive Secretariat; and Clarence N. Finney, Jr., Deputy Director for Correspondence, Records, and Staffing Division, Executive Secretariat.
STRUGGLING TO GROW: ASSESSING THE CHALLENGES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN RURAL AMERICA
Committee on Small Business:
Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access held a hearing entitled ``Struggling to Grow: Assessing the Challenges for Small Businesses in Rural America''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means:
Full Committee held a markup H.R. 5942, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other purposes; and H.R. 954, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt from the individual mandate certain individuals who had coverage under a terminated qualified health plan funded through the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO–OP) program. H.R. 954 and H.R. 5942 were ordered reported, as amended.
Joint Meetings
FEDERAL DEBT
Joint Economic Committee:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine Federal debt, focusing on direction, drivers, and dangers, after receiving testimony from former Senator Judd Gregg, Campaign to Fix the Debt, and Alice M. Rivlin, Brookings Institution, both of Washington, D.C.; and Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
ENERGY POLICY MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2016
Conferees
met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House adopted versions of S. 2012, to provide for the modernization of the energy policy of the United States, but did not complete action thereon.
No meetings/hearings scheduled.
Committee on Energy and Commerce
, Subcommittee on Health, hearing entitled ``An Examination of Federal Mental Health Parity Laws and Regulations'', 9 a.m., 2322 Rayburn.
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets, hearing entitled ``Oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Response to the Baton Rouge Flood Disaster'', 8:30 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
Program for Monday:
Senate will resume consideration of S. 2848, Water Resources Development Act, and vote on the motion to invoke cloture on McConnell (for Inhofe) Amendment No. 4979, at 5:30 p.m.
Program for Friday:
Consideration of H.R. 5424--Investment Advisers Modernization Act of 2016. Consideration of the following measure under suspension of the rules: S. 2040--Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act.
HOUSE
Bilirakis, Gus M., Fla., E1223
Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E1225
Coffman, Mike, Colo., E1227
Comstock, Barbara, Va., E1224, E1227
Cook, Paul, Calif., E1226
Cooper, Jim, Tenn., E1230
Deutch, Theodore E., Fla., E1229
Diaz-Balart, Mario, Fla., E1222
Duckworth, Tammy, Ill., E1230
Farr, Sam, Calif., E1222
Grijalva, Raúl M., Ariz., E1229
Hice, Jody B., Ga., E1221
Hurt, Robert, Va., E1228
Johnson, Eddie Bernice, Tex., E1225
Jones, Walter B., N.C., E1226
Levin, Sander M., Mich., E1228
McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1227
Miller, Candice S., Mich., E1221, E1224, E1229
Moore, Gwen, Wisc., E1228
Poe, Ted, Tex., E1221, E1222
Renacci, James B., Ohio, E1221
Rice, Tom, S.C., E1222
Richmond, Cedric L., La., E1223
Roskam, Peter J., Ill., E1223
Rothfus, Keith J., Pa., E1221
Schakowsky, Janice D., Ill., E1225
Sinema, Kyrsten, Ariz., E1224, E1227, E1229
Smith, Lamar, Tex., E1223
Torres, Norma J., Calif., E1225, E1227
Van Hollen, Chris, Md., E1227
Walberg, Tim, Mich., E1224
Zeldin, Lee M., N.Y., E1228